the Fourth Week after Easter
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Daily Devotionals
Day by Day Devotional - Year 3 of 5
Isaiah 38:1-16
Here Hezekiah’s faith obtains an even greater answer from the LORD than that of the previous chapter. Death presents itself as an unwelcome visitor. The despair which the king feels when faced with it seems to show one thing: he does not know the promise which God made through Isaiah’s mouth: "He will swallow up death in victory; and the Lord God will wipe away tears from off all faces" (Isaiah 25:8). Hezekiah, who lived at the time of promises for the earth (Psalms 116:9), cannot see beyond the extension of his days. He does not have before him the certainty of resurrection which believers possess today. He does not know that "to die is gain", for to depart is "to be with Christ, which is far better" (Philippians 1:21-23). However, God hears his prayer, sees his tears . . . and relents (Psalms 34:6). On this occasion as well, He adds a sign of grace to His answer: the shadow moves backwards on the sun dial as a picture of judgment being postponed.
V. 3 brings to mind Hebrews 5:7 and the tears of Gethsemane. Who other than the Lord Jesus could fully enter into these words?
This beautiful account has already been related in 2 Kings 20:1-11, but it is only here that we find the moving "writing of Hezekiah" which accompanies his healing.
