In those days Hezekiah became mortally ill. The prophet Isaiah son of Amoz came to him and said, "This is what the LORD says: 'Put your house in order, for you are about to die; you will not recover.'" In those daysThis phrase situates the events within a specific historical context. "In those days" refers to the period of King Hezekiah's reign over Judah, a time marked by political turmoil and spiritual challenges. Historically, this was around the late 8th century BC, a period when the Assyrian Empire was a dominant force in the region. The phrase invites readers to consider the broader narrative of Judah's history and Hezekiah's role as a reformer king who sought to restore the worship of Yahweh amidst idolatrous practices. Hezekiah
Hezekiah was the 13th king of Judah, known for his faithfulness to God and his efforts to purify the temple and restore proper worship. His name in Hebrew, "Chizkiyahu," means "Yahweh strengthens," reflecting his reliance on God during his reign. Hezekiah's leadership is significant in the biblical narrative as he is often remembered for his trust in God during the Assyrian siege of Jerusalem and his subsequent miraculous deliverance. became mortally ill
This phrase indicates a severe illness that threatened Hezekiah's life. The Hebrew term used here suggests a sickness that was beyond natural healing, emphasizing the gravity of his condition. In the ancient Near Eastern context, illness was often seen as a sign of divine displeasure or a test of faith. Hezekiah's illness sets the stage for a profound encounter with God, highlighting themes of mortality, divine intervention, and the power of prayer. and the prophet Isaiah son of Amoz
Isaiah, a major prophet in the Hebrew Bible, was a contemporary of Hezekiah. His role as a prophet was to convey God's messages to the people and the king. The mention of "son of Amoz" distinguishes him from other Isaiahs and underscores his prophetic authority. Isaiah's involvement in this narrative underscores the importance of prophetic guidance and the role of God's messengers in delivering divine truth and hope. came to him
This action signifies a direct and personal communication from God to Hezekiah through the prophet Isaiah. The act of coming to someone in biblical times often implied bringing an important message or offering counsel. It highlights the intimate relationship between God, the prophet, and the king, and sets the stage for a pivotal moment of revelation and decision. and said, This is what the LORD says
This phrase introduces a divine oracle, a common feature in prophetic literature. "This is what the LORD says" is a formulaic expression that asserts the authority and authenticity of the message as coming directly from Yahweh, the covenant God of Israel. It prepares the reader for a message of great significance, emphasizing the seriousness and divine origin of the words that follow. Put your house in order
This command reflects the urgency and seriousness of Hezekiah's situation. To "put your house in order" means to prepare for death, ensuring that one's affairs are settled. In the ancient world, this would involve making arrangements for succession, settling debts, and ensuring the well-being of one's family. Spiritually, it also implies a call to repentance and readiness to meet God, underscoring the transient nature of life and the importance of living in accordance with God's will. for you are about to die
This stark pronouncement underscores the inevitability of death, a common theme in biblical wisdom literature. It serves as a reminder of human mortality and the limits of earthly power. For Hezekiah, a king with significant responsibilities, this message would have been both a personal and political crisis, challenging him to trust in God's sovereignty even in the face of death. you will not recover
The finality of this statement emphasizes the seriousness of Hezekiah's condition. In the Hebrew text, the phrase suggests a definitive outcome, yet it also sets the stage for a dramatic reversal through prayer and divine intervention. This part of the verse invites reflection on the power of faith, the possibility of divine mercy, and the belief in God's ability to alter circumstances in response to sincere supplication. Persons / Places / Events 1. HezekiahThe king of Judah, known for his faithfulness to God and reforms to restore proper worship in the kingdom. He is the central figure in this passage, facing a life-threatening illness. 2. IsaiahA major prophet in the Old Testament, son of Amoz, who served as God's messenger to Judah and its kings, including Hezekiah. He delivers God's message to Hezekiah in this passage. 3. JudahThe southern kingdom of Israel, where Hezekiah reigned as king. It is the setting for the events of this passage. 4. IllnessHezekiah's critical condition serves as the catalyst for the events in this chapter, prompting divine intervention and a prophetic message. 5. Prophetic MessageThe message from God delivered by Isaiah, instructing Hezekiah to prepare for his impending death, which sets the stage for Hezekiah's response and subsequent events. Teaching Points The Certainty of MortalityLife is fragile, and we must be prepared for the reality of death. Hezekiah's situation reminds us to live with an eternal perspective. The Role of Prophetic MessagesGod uses His prophets to communicate important truths. We should be attentive to God's word and its implications for our lives. The Power of PrayerHezekiah's response to his illness was to pray fervently. This teaches us the importance of turning to God in times of crisis. The Importance of Spiritual Readiness"Put your house in order" is a call to ensure our lives are aligned with God's will. We should regularly evaluate our spiritual condition. God's Sovereignty and MercyWhile God is sovereign over life and death, He is also merciful and responsive to sincere prayer and repentance. Bible Study Questions 1. How does Hezekiah's response to his illness challenge or inspire your own approach to crises in life? 2. In what ways can we "put our house in order" spiritually, and why is this important even when we are not facing immediate threats? 3. How does the account of Hezekiah's illness and recovery deepen your understanding of the power and purpose of prayer? 4. What can we learn from Isaiah's role as a prophet in this passage about the importance of delivering and receiving God's messages? 5. How do the additional scriptures connected to this passage enhance your understanding of God's character and His interaction with humanity? Connections to Other Scriptures 2 Kings 20:1-11This passage provides a parallel account of Hezekiah's illness and recovery, offering additional details about the events and God's response to Hezekiah's prayer. 2 Chronicles 32:24-26This scripture also recounts Hezekiah's illness and highlights his prayer and God's mercy, emphasizing the importance of humility and repentance. James 5:14-15This New Testament passage discusses the power of prayer in healing, connecting to Hezekiah's prayerful response to his illness. Psalm 39:4-5These verses reflect on the brevity of life and the importance of being prepared for death, resonating with the message given to Hezekiah. | A Sick Man's Glass | R. Hachet, D. D. | Isaiah 38:1 | | A True Life the Best Preparation for Death | Sunday School Chronicle | Isaiah 38:1 | | Contemplating the Time of Death | H. E. Manning, D. D. | Isaiah 38:1 | | Death | J. Badcock, LL. B. | Isaiah 38:1 | | Death Sometimes Sudden and Unexpected | J. Badcock, LL. B. | Isaiah 38:1 | | Death, the Ringing of the Curfew Bell | T. De Witt Talmage, D. D. | Isaiah 38:1 | | Every Disease is a Little Death | T. Adams. | Isaiah 38:1 | | Facing Death | H. O. Mackey. | Isaiah 38:1 | | Hezekiah Warned | J. Parker, D. D. | Isaiah 38:1 | | Hezekiah Warned | J. Parker, D. D. | Isaiah 38:1 | | Hezekiah's Disease | Sir Risdon Bennett, M. D. , LL. D. | Isaiah 38:1 | | Hezekiah's Sickness | T. Seeker, LL. D. | Isaiah 38:1 | | Hezekiah's Sickness and Recovery | Sir E. Strachey, Bart. | Isaiah 38:1 | | Hezekiah's Sickness and Recovery | W. Reading, M. A. | Isaiah 38:1 | | Hezekiah's Sickness: the Historical Framework | F. Delitzsch, D. D. | Isaiah 38:1 | | Hezekiah's Sincerity | J. A. Alexander. | Isaiah 38:1 | | Human Mortality | J. W. Colenso, D. D. | Isaiah 38:1 | | Looking Over the Brink | Sunday School Chronicle | Isaiah 38:1 | | New Year's Thoughts | T. J. Judkin. | Isaiah 38:1 | | Preparation for Death | | Isaiah 38:1 | | Preparation for the End of Time | Homilist | Isaiah 38:1 | | Preparing for the End | Homiletic Review | Isaiah 38:1 | | Set Thine House in Order | C. Schwartz. | Isaiah 38:1 | | Supreme Attention to Spiritual Concerns | W. Graham. | Isaiah 38:1 | | The Biography of Death | Homiletic Review | Isaiah 38:1 | | The Duties of the Sick | T. Seeker, LL. D. | Isaiah 38:1 | | The Habitual Thought of Death not Painful | E. Garbett, M. A. | Isaiah 38:1 | | The Human Body, Beautiful Yet Frail | J. Badcock, LL. B. | Isaiah 38:1 | | The Parallel Passage | J. A. Alexander. | Isaiah 38:1 | | The Strain of Notice to Die | R. Tuck | Isaiah 38:1 | | What was Hezekiah's Disease? | Sir Risdon Bennett, M. D. , LL. D. | Isaiah 38:1 | | A Vision of Death | W. Clarkson | Isaiah 38:1-3 | | Sickness and Recovery of Hezekiah | E. Johnson | Isaiah 38:1-8 |
People Ahaz, Amoz, David, Hezekiah, IsaiahPlaces AssyriaTopics Amoz, Charge, Death, Die, Disease, Dying, Hezekiah, Hezeki'ah, Ill, Isaiah, Mortal, Mortally, Order, Point, Prophet, Recover, Says, Sick, ThusDictionary of Bible Themes Isaiah 38:1 1429 prophecy, OT fulfilment
5340 house
5561 suffering, nature of
7773 prophets, role
8329 readiness
9021 death, natural Isaiah 38:1-2 5831 depression Isaiah 38:1-5 1120 God, repentance of
5298 doctors Isaiah 38:1-6 8614 prayer, answers Isaiah 38:1-8 5333 healing Isaiah 38:1-10 8610 prayer, asking God Library The Life of the Spirit
(First Sunday after Christmas.) Isaiah xxxviii. 16. O Lord, by these things men live, and in all these things is the life of my spirit. These words are the words of Hezekiah, king of Judah; and they are true words, words from God. But, if they are true words, they are true words for every one--for you and me, for every one here in this church this day: for they do not say, By these things certain men live, one man here and another man there; but all men. Whosoever is really alive, that is, has …
Charles Kingsley—Town and Country SermonsNo Man Cometh to the Father but by Me.
This being added for further confirmation of what was formerly said, will point out unto us several necessary truths, as, I. That it is most necessary to be sound and clear in this fundamental point of coming to God only in and through Christ. For, 1. It is the whole marrow of the gospel. 2. It is the hinge of our salvation, Christ is "the chief corner stone," Isa. xxxviii. 16. 1 Pet. i. 5, 6; and, 3. The only ground of all our solid and true peace and comfort. 4 An error or a mistake here, is most …
John Brown (of Wamphray)—Christ The Way, The Truth, and The Life Epistle ii. To Anastasius, Bishop of Antioch.
To Anastasius, Bishop of Antioch. Gregory to Anastasius, Patriarch of Antioch. I have received the letters of your most sweet Blessedness, which flowed with tears for words. For I saw in them a cloud flying aloft as clouds do; but, though it carried with it a darkness of sorrow, I could not easily discover at its commencement whence it came or whither it was going, since by reason of the darkness I speak of I did not fully understand its origin. Yet it becomes you, most holy ones, ever to recall …
Saint Gregory the Great—the Epistles of Saint Gregory the Great Sign Seekers, and the Enthusiast Reproved.
(Galilee on the Same Day as the Last Section.) ^A Matt. XII. 38-45; ^C Luke XI. 24-36. ^c 29 And when the multitudes were gathering together unto him, ^a 38 Then certain of the scribes and Pharisees answered him, saying, Teacher, we would see a sign from thee. [Having been severely rebuked by Jesus, it is likely that the scribes and Pharisees asked for a sign that they might appear to the multitude more fair-minded and open to conviction than Jesus had represented them to be. Jesus had just wrought …
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel Letter Xliv Concerning the Maccabees but to whom Written is Unknown.
Concerning the Maccabees But to Whom Written is Unknown. [69] He relies to the question why the Church has decreed a festival to the Maccabees alone of all the righteous under the ancient law. 1. Fulk, Abbot of Epernay, had already written to ask me the same question as your charity has addressed to your humble servant by Brother Hescelin. I have put off replying to him, being desirous to find, if possible, some statement in the Fathers about this which was asked, which I might send to him, rather …
Saint Bernard of Clairvaux—Some Letters of Saint Bernard, Abbot of Clairvaux Grace Abounding to the Chief of Sinners:
A BRIEF AND FAITHFUL RELATION OF THE EXCEEDING MERCY OF GOD IN CHRIST TO HIS POOR SERVANT, JOHN BUNYAN; WHEREIN IS PARTICULARLY SHOWED THE MANNER OF HIS CONVERSION, HIS SIGHT AND TROUBLE FOR SIN, HIS DREADFUL TEMPTATIONS, ALSO HOW HE DESPAIRED OF GOD'S MERCY, AND HOW THE LORD AT LENGTH THROUGH CHRIST DID DELIVER HIM FROM ALL THE GUILT AND TERROR THAT LAY UPON HIM. Whereunto is added a brief relation of his call to the work of the ministry, of his temptations therein, as also what he hath met with …
John Bunyan—The Works of John Bunyan Volumes 1-3 Meditations for the Sick.
Whilst thy sickness remains, use often, for thy comfort, these few meditations, taken from the ends wherefore God sendeth afflictions to his children. Those are ten. 1. That by afflictions God may not only correct our sins past, but also work in us a deeper loathing of our natural corruptions, and so prevent us from falling into many other sins, which otherwise we would commit; like a good father, who suffers his tender babe to scorch his finger in a candle, that he may the rather learn to beware …
Lewis Bayly—The Practice of Piety Assurance
Q-xxxvi: WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS WHICH FLOW FROM SANCTIFICATION? A: Assurance of God's love, peace of conscience, joy in the Holy Ghost, increase of grace, and perseverance therein to the end. The first benefit flowing from sanctification is assurance of God's love. 'Give diligence to make your calling and election sure.' 2 Pet 1:10. Sanctification is the seed, assurance is the flower which grows out of it: assurance is a consequent of sanctification. The saints of old had it. We know that we know …
Thomas Watson—A Body of Divinity The Power of God
The next attribute is God's power. Job 9:19. If I speak of strength, lo, he is strong.' In this chapter is a magnificent description of God's power. Lo, he is strong.' The Hebrew word for strong signifies a conquering, prevailing strength. He is strong.' The superlative degree is intended here; viz., He is most strong. He is called El-shaddai, God almighty. Gen 17:7. His almightiness lies in this, that he can do whatever is feasible. Divines distinguish between authority and power. God has both. …
Thomas Watson—A Body of Divinity I Will Pray with the Spirit and with the Understanding Also-
OR, A DISCOURSE TOUCHING PRAYER; WHEREIN IS BRIEFLY DISCOVERED, 1. WHAT PRAYER IS. 2. WHAT IT IS TO PRAY WITH THE SPIRIT. 3. WHAT IT IS TO PRAY WITH THE SPIRIT AND WITH THE UNDERSTANDING ALSO. WRITTEN IN PRISON, 1662. PUBLISHED, 1663. "For we know not what we should pray for as we ought:--the Spirit--helpeth our infirmities" (Rom 8:26). ADVERTISEMENT BY THE EDITOR. There is no subject of more solemn importance to human happiness than prayer. It is the only medium of intercourse with heaven. "It is …
John Bunyan—The Works of John Bunyan Volumes 1-3 Isaiah
CHAPTERS I-XXXIX Isaiah is the most regal of the prophets. His words and thoughts are those of a man whose eyes had seen the King, vi. 5. The times in which he lived were big with political problems, which he met as a statesman who saw the large meaning of events, and as a prophet who read a divine purpose in history. Unlike his younger contemporary Micah, he was, in all probability, an aristocrat; and during his long ministry (740-701 B.C., possibly, but not probably later) he bore testimony, as …
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament Links Isaiah 38:1 NIVIsaiah 38:1 NLTIsaiah 38:1 ESVIsaiah 38:1 NASBIsaiah 38:1 KJV
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