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Commentary on Isaiah 38 verses 1–8
We may hence observe, among others, these good lessons: - 1. That neither men's greatness nor their goodness will exempt them from the arrests of sickness and death. Hezekiah, a mighty potentate on earth and a mighty favourite of Heaven, is struck with a disease, which, without a miracle, will certainly be mortal; and this in the midst of his days, his comforts, and usefulness. Lord, behold, he whom thou lovest is sick. It should seem, this sickness seized him when he was in the midst of his triumphs over the ruined army of the Assyrians, to teach us always to rejoice with trembling. 2. It concerns us to prepare when we see death approaching: "Set thy house in order, and thy heart especially; put both thy affections and thy affairs into the best posture thou canst, that, when thy Lord comes, thou mayest be found of him in peace with God, with thy own conscience, and with all men, and mayest have nothing else to do but to die." Our being ready for death will make it come never the sooner, but much the easier: and those that are fit to die are most fit to live. 3. Is any afflicted with sickness? Let him pray, Jam 5:13. Prayer is a salve for every sore, personal or public. When Hezekiah was distressed by his enemies he prayed; now that he was sick he prayed. Whither should the child go, when any thing ails him, but to his Father? Afflictions are sent to bring us to our Bibles and to our knees. When Hezekiah was in health he went up to the house of the Lord to pray, for that was then the house of prayer. When he was sick in bed he turned his face towards the wall, probably towards the temple, which was a type of Christ, to whom we must look by faith in every prayer. 4. The testimony of our consciences for us that by the grace of God we have lived a good life, and have walked closely and humbly with God, will be a great support and comfort to us when we come to look death in the face. And though we may not depend upon it as our righteousness, by which to be justified before God, yet we may humbly plead it as an evidence of our interest in the righteousness of the Mediator. Hezekiah does not demand a reward from God for his good services, but modestly begs that God would remembers, not how he had reformed the kingdom, taken away the high places, cleansed the temple, and revived neglected ordinances, but, which was better than all burnt-offerings and sacrifices, how he had approved himself to God with a single eye and an honest heart, not only in these eminent performances, but in an even regular course of holy living: I have walked before thee in truth and sincerity, and with a perfect, that is, an upright, heart; for uprightness is our gospel perfection. 5. God has a gracious ear open to the prayers of his afflicted people. The same prophet that was sent to Hezekiah with warning to prepare for death is sent to him with a promise that he shall not only recover, but be restored to a confirmed state of health and live fifteen years yet. As Jerusalem was distressed, so Hezekiah was diseased, that God might have the glory of the deliverance of both, and that prayer too might have the honour of being instrumental in the deliverance. When we pray in our sickness, though God send not to us such an answer as he here sent to Hezekiah, yet, if by his Spirit he bids us be of good cheer, assures us that our sins are forgiven us, that his grace shall be sufficient for us, and that, whether we live or die, we shall be his, we have no reason to say that we pray in vain. God answers us if he strengthens us with strength in our souls, though not with bodily strength, Psa 138:3. 6. A good man cannot take much comfort in his own health and prosperity unless withal he see the welfare and prosperity of the church of God. Therefore God, knowing what lay near Hezekiah's heart, promised him not only that he should live, but that he should see the good of Jerusalem all the days of his life (Psa 128:5), otherwise he cannot live comfortably. Jerusalem, which is now delivered, shall still be defended from the Assyrians, who perhaps threatened to rally again and renew the attack. Thus does God graciously provide to make Hezekiah upon all accounts easy. 7. God is willing to show to the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, that they may have an unshaken faith in it, and therewith a strong consolation. God had given Hezekiah repeated assurances of his favour; and yet, as if all were thought too little, that he might expect from him uncommon favours, a sign is given him, an uncommon sign. None that we know of having had an absolute promise of living a certain number of years to come, as Hezekiah had, God thought fit to confirm this unprecedented favour with a miracle. The sign was the going back of the shadow upon the sun-dial. The sun is a faithful measurer of time, and rejoices as a strong man to run a race; but he that set that clock a going can set it back when he pleases, and make it to return; for the Father of all lights is the director of them.
(Vers. 4 seqq.) And the word of the Lord came to Isaiah, saying: Go and tell Hezekiah: Thus says the Lord God of David, your father: I have heard your prayer, I have seen your tears. Behold, I will add fifteen years to your days, and I will deliver you and this city from the hand of the king of Assyria, and I will protect it. And this shall be a sign to you from the Lord, that the Lord will do this word that he has spoken: Behold, I will turn back the shadow of the steps by which it has gone down on the sun dial of Ahaz ten steps backwards: and the sun returned ten steps by the same steps that it had gone down. The history, which is read consecutively in the volume of Kings, is referred to in a seemingly backwards order, as if it were a prophetic account. While Hezekiah was weeping with great sorrow, before Isaiah had left the middle part of the courtyard, the word of the Lord came to him, saying: Return and tell Hezekiah, the leader of my people: I have heard your prayer and seen your tears. Behold, I will heal you. And Hezekiah said to Isaiah: What will be the sign that the Lord will heal me? To whom did the prophet respond: This will be the sign from the Lord that the Lord will do the word he has spoken: Do you want the shadow to approach by so many lines, or do you want it to go back the same number of steps? To whom Hezekiah said: It is easy for the shadow to advance ten lines, but I do not want it to happen; rather, I want it to go back ten steps. And when Isaiah invoked the power of the Lord, the sign was fulfilled. Isaiah was commanded to have a lump of fresh figs brought, which they did, and they placed it on the wound, and he was healed. But the Prophet of the Lord returns to the king by the command, in order to heal the one who had struck him; and he is called Hezekiah, the leader of his people, and the son of David, whose works he followed, for he did what was right in all things as David his father had done; and his prayer is heard, and tears are seen, for he walked before the Lord in truth and with a perfect heart, and he wept with great weeping; and he did what was pleasing in his eyes. Fifteen years are added to his life, which he did not ask for, and moreover, while he is still alive, the security of the kingdom is promised to him. But if, as some think, to live in the body is a condemnation, and according to what is said: Return, my soul, into your rest (Ps. 114:7). And in another place: Bring my soul out of prison (Ps. 141:8), death is to be desired so that we may be freed from prison: how then does the Lord now grant as a favor that he who was to be set free should still live for fifteen years in prison? However, a sign is given that the sun turns back by ten degrees, which we turn according to Symmachus into lines and a sundial, which understood the degrees in the lines in order to make a clearer sense to those reading. Whether the steps were constructed with mechanical skill, so that as the shadow descended, it would mark the hours. This sign was a type of both the present time and the future, so that just as the sun would return to the beginning of its course, so would Hezekiah's life return to the disclosed years; and for us who live in the week and the octave, through the resurrection of Christ, the spaces of life are extended. The holy places in this province are accustomed to show within the enclosed Temple the steps of the house of Hezekiah, or of Ahaz, which the sun descended through them. But I will never believe, not to mention Ahaz, who was a wicked king; but of any righteous king, that their house was in the Temple of God: since it is said that Solomon, among other things, offended God because he built on a high place, from where he used to look down on the courtyard of the Temple while walking in the tower of the palace (3 Kings 9).
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SUMMARY
Isaiah 38:4 marks a pivotal moment in the narrative of King Hezekiah's life, serving as the divine turning point where the word of the LORD comes directly to the prophet Isaiah with a new message for the ailing king. This verse signals God's immediate and merciful response to Hezekiah's fervent prayer, reversing the previously declared death sentence and demonstrating God's dynamic interaction with humanity in the face of sincere petition. It underscores the authority of divine communication channeled through His chosen prophet.
CONTEXT
EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
Key Word Analysis
Verse Breakdown
Literary Devices
The verse primarily employs Direct Revelation and Conciseness. Direct Revelation is profoundly evident as the "word of the LORD" is explicitly stated to "come to Isaiah, saying," positioning Isaiah as a direct and immediate conduit for God's divine communication. This device powerfully establishes the unquestionable divine authority and origin of the message that follows. The Conciseness of the verse, a mere six words in the KJV, lends it a sense of profound urgency and directness. There is no elaborate preamble or descriptive flourish; only the stark, impactful statement of divine communication, which dramatically heightens the sense of divine immediacy and prepares the reader for the astonishing message of healing and extended life that immediately follows.
THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Isaiah 38:4 serves as a profound theological statement on the nature of God's interaction with humanity. It reveals a God who is not distant or immutable in a way that precludes responsiveness, but rather one who hears, cares, and actively intervenes in the lives of His people. The swift arrival of "the word of the LORD" immediately after Hezekiah's prayer powerfully illustrates the efficacy of fervent petition and God's compassionate willingness to alter circumstances in response to genuine repentance and faith. This verse underscores the dynamic relationship between divine sovereignty and human agency, demonstrating that while God's ultimate purposes remain steadfast, His specific dealings with individuals can be influenced by their heartfelt appeals. It is a testament to God's character as both just and merciful, capable of reversing a decree of death and extending life, revealing His profound personal engagement with His covenant people.
REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Isaiah 38:4 offers immense encouragement to believers today, reminding us that God is intimately involved in our lives and profoundly attentive to our prayers. Hezekiah's story, punctuated by this verse, teaches us that even when circumstances seem dire or a divine decree appears final, sincere and humble prayer can move the heart of God. This is not to suggest that God changes His character or His ultimate, eternal plan, but rather that His interaction with us is dynamic, inviting our participation through prayer and responding within the framework of His perfect wisdom and love. It challenges us to approach God with boldness and unwavering faith, believing that He hears us and is capable of intervention beyond our expectations or human limitations. This verse calls us to cultivate a consistent and fervent prayer life, trusting that our petitions are not unheard, and that God, in His sovereign wisdom and boundless mercy, delights to respond to the earnest cries of His children.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
Does Isaiah 38:4 imply that God changes His mind?
Answer: Isaiah 38:4 does not imply that God changes His mind in a way that suggests fickleness, imperfection, or a lack of foreknowledge. Instead, it reveals the dynamic and relational nature of God's covenant with humanity. God's ultimate character, eternal purposes, and overarching plan remain constant, but His interactions and specific decrees can be conditional upon human response, particularly prayer, repentance, and obedience. In this instance, Hezekiah's heartfelt prayer and his appeal to his faithful walk with God (Isaiah 38:2-3) provided a new context for God's mercy to be extended. This demonstrates God's willingness to respond to His people's cries, fulfilling His promise to hear those who call upon Him in truth (Psalm 145:18). It's less about God changing His mind and more about His comprehensive plan including His gracious response to the faithful prayers of His people.
CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
While Isaiah 38:4 directly concerns God's word to King Hezekiah, it finds a profound Christ-centered fulfillment in the ultimate "Word of the LORD" who came to humanity: Jesus Christ. Just as the word came to Isaiah, bringing life and healing to Hezekiah, so too did the eternal Word, God's very self-expression and perfect revelation, become flesh in Jesus (John 1:14). Hezekiah's temporary reprieve from death and extension of physical life foreshadows the ultimate victory over death achieved by Christ, who is the resurrection and the life for all who believe (John 11:25). The divine word in Isaiah 38:4 brought physical healing and an extension of earthly life, but Jesus, the living Word, offers eternal life and spiritual healing from the bondage of sin to all who believe in Him (John 3:16). Moreover, while the prophet Isaiah acted as a human mediator of God's word, Christ is the ultimate and perfect Mediator between God and humanity, embodying the divine message, fulfilling all prophecy, and making reconciliation possible through His atoning sacrifice (1 Timothy 2:5). Thus, Isaiah 38:4, with its emphasis on the powerful, life-altering word of God, points forward to the person and work of Jesus, through whom God's most complete, redemptive, and life-giving word was spoken to the world.