Daily Devotions
Isaiah
"You have lovingly delivered my soul"
Text: Isaiah 38:17
THE GREAT BITTERNESS FELT
There was great bitterness felt when Hezekiah was told of his imminent death. He cried out to the LORD with bitter tears. On reflection, he realised that this experience he had was good for his soul.
“Indeed it was for my own peace
That I had great bitterness;
But You have lovingly delivered my soul from the pit of corruption,
For You have cast all my sins behind Your back.
For Sheol cannot thank You,
Death cannot praise You;
Those who go down to the pit cannot hope for Your truth.”
Isaiah 38:17-18
1. Great bitterness felt.
a) Hezekiah was unprepared for death.
b) He felt that he had done so much for the nation and he did not “deserve”
an early death.
c) There were still years remaining of what may be called a normal life span.
2. Turning his feelings into prayer.
a) Hezekiah channelled his bitterness to seek God in earnest and humble prayer.
b) He sought the LORD for grace and mercy.
c) Looking back, he realised his bitterness helped him spiritually.
d) It resulted in “peace”.
3. Looking at how God answered him.
a) God had delivered his soul from the grave.
b) The grave was called “the pit of corruption”.
c) Hezekiah realised that there were many sins in his life.
d) But because of mercy and grace, his sins were cast behind God’s back.
i) His sins were no longer before God’s face.
ii) They were cast away (“behind God’s back”).
4. Sheol
a) This was the “pit of corruption”.
b) This was another name for “the grave”.
c) In the grave, Sheol:
i) The voice would be silent.
ii) It cannot offer praise to God.
iii) It cannot hope for God’s truth to be fulfilled.