O Lord, by such things men live, and in all of them my spirit finds life. You have restored me to health and have let me live. O LordThe phrase "O Lord" is a direct address to God, acknowledging His sovereignty and authority. In Hebrew, the word used here is "Yahweh," the personal name of God revealed to Moses. This name signifies God's eternal presence and unchanging nature. It is a reminder of the covenant relationship between God and His people, emphasizing His faithfulness and the personal nature of His care and intervention in the lives of believers. by such things
This phrase refers to the events and experiences that have been described earlier in the chapter, particularly Hezekiah's illness and recovery. The Hebrew word "zot" (such things) encompasses the trials and divine interventions that shape a believer's life. It highlights the idea that through life's challenges and God's responses, we gain understanding and growth. This reflects the biblical theme that God uses circumstances to teach and refine His people. men live
The Hebrew word for "live" is "chayah," which means to have life, to remain alive, or to be restored to life. This phrase underscores the belief that true life is found in God and His sustaining power. It is not merely physical existence but a life enriched by spiritual vitality and purpose. In the context of Hezekiah's experience, it points to the understanding that life is a gift from God, and it is through His mercy and intervention that we continue to live. and in all these things
This phrase suggests a comprehensive view of life's experiences, both good and bad. The Hebrew word "kol" (all) indicates the totality of circumstances that contribute to one's existence. It reflects the biblical teaching that God is sovereign over every aspect of life, and nothing is outside His control. This assurance provides comfort and hope, knowing that God is working through all situations for the good of those who love Him. is the life of my spirit
The "spirit" here, translated from the Hebrew word "ruach," refers to the immaterial part of a person, encompassing mind, will, and emotions. The phrase emphasizes that the essence of life is not just physical but deeply spiritual. It is a recognition that our true vitality and strength come from a relationship with God. Hezekiah acknowledges that his spirit is sustained and invigorated by God's presence and actions, reinforcing the idea that spiritual health is paramount. You restore me
The act of restoration is central to the biblical narrative, where God is seen as the restorer of life and hope. The Hebrew word "chayah" is used again, indicating a return to life or health. This phrase highlights God's power to heal and renew, both physically and spiritually. It is a testament to His compassion and ability to bring about transformation and renewal in the lives of His people. and make me live
This concluding phrase reaffirms the theme of divine sustenance and life. The repetition of the concept of living, using the Hebrew "chayah," emphasizes the completeness of God's work in restoring and sustaining life. It is a declaration of faith in God's ability to not only preserve life but to enrich it with purpose and meaning. This assurance of life, both now and eternally, is a cornerstone of Christian hope and trust in God's promises. Persons / Places / Events 1. HezekiahThe king of Judah who fell ill and prayed to God for healing. His life was extended by fifteen years as a result of God's intervention. 2. IsaiahThe prophet who delivered God's message to Hezekiah, including the promise of healing and extended life. 3. JerusalemThe capital of Judah, where Hezekiah reigned and where these events took place. 4. GodThe central figure who hears Hezekiah's prayer and grants him healing and additional years of life. 5. The IllnessA significant event in Hezekiah's life that led to his fervent prayer and subsequent divine healing. Teaching Points The Power of PrayerHezekiah's earnest prayer demonstrates the importance of turning to God in times of distress. Believers are encouraged to seek God wholeheartedly, trusting in His power to heal and restore. God's Sovereignty and MercyGod's response to Hezekiah's prayer highlights His sovereignty and mercy. He is in control of life and death, and His compassion leads to acts of grace and healing. Life's Purpose and GratitudeHezekiah's extended life serves as a reminder to live with purpose and gratitude. Believers should reflect on how they can use their time to honor God and fulfill His purposes. Faith in God's PromisesThe fulfillment of God's promise to Hezekiah encourages believers to have faith in God's promises, knowing that He is faithful to His word. The Role of Prophets and God's WordIsaiah's role in delivering God's message underscores the importance of listening to and heeding God's word, as conveyed through Scripture and spiritual leaders. Bible Study Questions 1. How does Hezekiah's response to his illness challenge or inspire your own approach to prayer in difficult times? 2. In what ways can you relate Hezekiah's experience of God's mercy to your own life experiences? 3. How do the additional scriptures connected to Isaiah 38:16 enhance your understanding of God's healing and restoration? 4. What steps can you take to live with greater purpose and gratitude, as Hezekiah did after his healing? 5. How can you apply the lessons from Hezekiah's account to strengthen your faith in God's promises today? 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 described in Isaiah 38. Psalm 30:2-3This psalm reflects a similar theme of calling upon the Lord for healing and being restored to life, echoing Hezekiah's experience. James 5:15This New Testament verse speaks to the power of prayer in healing, connecting to Hezekiah's prayerful response to his illness. Philippians 1:21Paul's declaration about life and death provides a New Testament perspective on living for the Lord, which can be related to Hezekiah's renewed life purpose. Psalm 103:2-4These verses praise God for His healing and redemption, paralleling the restoration Hezekiah experienced. | Affliction as Related to Life | W. M. Taylor, D. D. | Isaiah 38:16 | | Luther's Life Enriched by Trial | W. M. Taylor, D. D. | Isaiah 38:16 | | Physical Benefit May Accrue from Sickness | W. Johnston, D. D. | Isaiah 38:16 | | Spoil from the Fight with Death | E. W. Shalders, B. A. | Isaiah 38:16 | | Sympathy Engendered by Trouble | W. M. Taylor, D. D. | Isaiah 38:16 | | The Life of Our Life | W. Clarkson | Isaiah 38:16 | | The Life of the Spirit | C. Kingsley, M. A. | Isaiah 38:16 | | The Life of the Spirit | Family Sermons | Isaiah 38:16 | | The Restoration of Belief | S. A. Brooke, D. D. | Isaiah 38:16 | | The Uses of Affliction | W. Johnston, D. D. | Isaiah 38:16 | | Face to Face with Death | W. Wheeler. | Isaiah 38:9-20 | | Hezekiah's Experience | E. Payson, D. D. | Isaiah 38:9-20 | | Hezekiah's Poem | E. W. Shalders, B. A. | Isaiah 38:9-20 | | Hezekiah's Recovery | R. Harris, D. D. | Isaiah 38:9-20 | | Hezekiah's Return to Health | P. M. Muir. | Isaiah 38:9-20 | | Hezekiah's Sickness and Recovery | H. J. Gamble. | Isaiah 38:9-20 | | Hezekiah's Song | R. Harris, D. D. | Isaiah 38:9-20 | | Sickness and Recovery | J. Leifchild, D. D. | Isaiah 38:9-20 | | The Fear of Death | P. M. Muir. | Isaiah 38:9-20 | | The Prayer of Hezekiah | P. M. Muir. | Isaiah 38:9-20 | | The Wisdom of Keeping a Record of One's Life | J. Leifchild, D. D. | Isaiah 38:9-20 | | The Song of Hezekiah | E. Johnson | Isaiah 38:9-22 | | The Great Disclosure | W. Clarkson | Isaiah 38:11, 18, 19 | | Going Softly After Sickness | R. Tuck | Isaiah 38:15, 16 |
People Ahaz, Amoz, David, Hezekiah, IsaiahPlaces AssyriaTopics Altogether, Cause, Finds, Hast, Health, O, Oh, Recover, Recovered, Rest, Restore, Restored, Savest, Spirit, Therein, Waiting, Wherefore, Wholly, WiltDictionary of Bible Themes Isaiah 38:16 6634 deliverance
8150 revival, personal 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 38:16 NIVIsaiah 38:16 NLTIsaiah 38:16 ESVIsaiah 38:16 NASBIsaiah 38:16 KJV
Isaiah 38:16 Commentaries
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