Daily Devotions
Isaiah
"The writing of Hezekiah king of Judah"
Text: Isaiah 38:9
A WRITTEN TESTIMONY OF HEZEKIAH
Isaiah included a written testimony of King Hezekiah. His testimony reflects what was in his heart when he cried to the LORD in sad and bitter tears.
“This is the writing of Hezekiah king of Judah,
when he had been sick and had recovered from his sickness:
I said,
‘In the prime of my life
I shall go to the gates of Sheol;
I am deprived of the remainder of my years.’
I said,
‘I shall not see YAH,
The LORD in the land of the living;
I shall observe man no more among the inhabitants of the world.'”
Isaiah 38:9-11
1. The Testimony of Hezekiah.
a) This was a reflective Testimony.
b) Hezekiah wrote this after he had recovered from his serious illness.
2. Deep sadness felt.
a) Isaiah came to Hezekiah and informed him of his impending demise.
b) This came as a shock to Hezekiah.
i) He felt that he was in the prime of his health.
ii) He pondered over what he felt was “the remainder of (his) years”.
iii) His death sounded like a “deprivation”.
iv) “Sheol” was the usual word to call “the abode of the dead”.
v) It is another way of describing “the grave”.
c) Hezekiah was totally unprepared for death.
3. What Hezekiah would have missed.
a) The word “YAH” is a reference to the “LORD”.
b) He would miss seeing the LORD in the land of the living.
i) God’s Presence.
ii) God’s Protection.
iii) God’s Provision.
c) He would also miss:
i) Seeing people.
ii) Being with people.
iii) Hezekiah would miss “observing” people that he does normally.