Isaiah 38:3

And said, Remember now, O LORD, I beseech thee, how I have walked before thee in truth and with a perfect heart, and have done [that which is] good in thy sight. And Hezekiah wept sore.

And said {H559}, Remember {H2142} now, O LORD {H3068}, I beseech {H577} thee, how I have walked {H1980} before {H6440} thee in truth {H571} and with a perfect {H8003} heart {H3820}, and have done {H6213} that which is good {H2896} in thy sight {H5869}. And Hezekiah {H2396} wept {H1058}{H1065} sore {H1419}.

"I plead with you, ADONAI, remember now how I have lived before you truly and wholeheartedly, and how I have done what you see as good." And he cried bitter tears.

saying, “Please, O LORD, remember how I have walked before You faithfully and with wholehearted devotion; I have done what was good in Your sight.” And Hezekiah wept bitterly.

and said, Remember now, O Jehovah, I beseech thee, how I have walked before thee in truth and with a perfect heart, and have done that which is good in thy sight. And Hezekiah wept sore.

Commentary on Isaiah 38:3 (KJV)

Isaiah 38:3 presents King Hezekiah's fervent prayer in a moment of profound crisis. Having just been informed by the prophet Isaiah that he would die from his illness, Hezekiah turns immediately to the Lord, pleading for mercy based on his past conduct as a righteous king.

Context

This verse is situated at a critical juncture in King Hezekiah's reign over Judah. The prophet Isaiah had delivered a direct message from God: "Set thine house in order: for thou shalt die, and not live" (Isaiah 38:1). Instead of despairing or accepting his fate silently, Hezekiah immediately responds with a passionate, tearful prayer. His appeal is not a demand but a humble petition, grounded in a life lived in devotion to God, a hallmark of his reign, which included significant religious reforms (see 2 Kings 18:3-6).

Key Themes

  • Desperate Prayer: Hezekiah's prayer is immediate, heartfelt, and born out of deep distress. It demonstrates that even when a divine decree seems final, earnest prayer can still be offered.
  • Appeal to Righteousness: The king appeals to God's memory of his faithful service: "how I have walked before thee in truth and with a perfect heart, and have done [that which is] good in thy sight." This is not a boast of sinless perfection but a plea based on a life of genuine devotion and obedience to God's commands.
  • Sincerity and Integrity: The phrases "in truth" and "with a perfect heart" emphasize the authenticity and wholeness of Hezekiah's commitment to God, distinguishing his worship and rule from that of many predecessors.
  • Profound Sorrow: "And Hezekiah wept sore" highlights the depth of his anguish and sincerity. His tears underscore the gravity of his situation and the intensity of his plea, echoing themes of lament found throughout the Psalms (e.g., Psalm 6:6).

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "perfect heart" (Hebrew: shalem lev) does not signify sinless perfection, but rather a heart that is whole, complete, or undivided in its devotion to God. It indicates sincerity, integrity, and single-minded loyalty, contrasting with a double-minded or hypocritical heart. To "walked before thee" (Hebrew: halak lifneicha) implies living one's life consciously in God's presence, according to His will and commands, as a form of consistent obedience and accountability.

Practical Application

Hezekiah's prayer in Isaiah 38:3 offers powerful lessons for believers today:

  1. The Power of Earnest Prayer: Even when circumstances seem dire or a divine decision appears set, we are called to pray. God often responds to the cries of His people, as He did for Hezekiah, granting him an additional fifteen years of life.
  2. Living a Life of Integrity: While we do not earn God's favor through our works for salvation, living a life of truth and sincere devotion (a "perfect heart") establishes a foundation of relationship with God. In times of crisis, the memory of our faithfulness can be a source of comfort and a basis for our appeals to His mercy.
  3. Humility in Suffering: Hezekiah's weeping demonstrates a humble and raw response to suffering. It reminds us that it is appropriate to express deep sorrow and distress to God, who hears our cries and collects our tears (Psalm 56:8).
Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Hebrews 6:10

    For God [is] not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister.

  • Hebrews 5:7

    Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared;

  • Psalms 18:20

    ¶ The LORD rewarded me according to my righteousness; according to the cleanness of my hands hath he recompensed me.

  • Psalms 18:27

    For thou wilt save the afflicted people; but wilt bring down high looks.

  • Nehemiah 13:14

    Remember me, O my God, concerning this, and wipe not out my good deeds that I have done for the house of my God, and for the offices thereof.

  • 2 Chronicles 31:20

    And thus did Hezekiah throughout all Judah, and wrought [that which was] good and right and truth before the LORD his God.

  • 2 Chronicles 31:21

    And in every work that he began in the service of the house of God, and in the law, and in the commandments, to seek his God, he did [it] with all his heart, and prospered.

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