Read Isaiah 38—39
In those days Hezekiah became ill and was at the point of death.
The prophet Isaiah son of Amoz went to him and said, “This is
what the LORD says: Put your house in order, because you are
going to die; you will not recover.”
Isaiah 38:1
In the beautiful meditation in Isaiah 38, King Hezekiah tells us how
he felt during his experience of illness and recovery.
God gave him a new appreciation of life (vv. 9–12). He also
had a new appreciation of prayer (vv. 13–14). Were it not for prayer,
Hezekiah could not have made it. At night, the king felt like a frail
animal being attacked by a fierce lion; and in the daytime, he felt like
a helpless bird. During this time of suffering, Hezekiah examined his
own heart and confessed his sins, and God forgave him.
The king ended with a new appreciation of opportunities for service
(vv. 15–20). There was a new humility in his walk, a deeper love
for the Lord in his heart, and a new song of praise on his lips. He had
a new determination to praise God all the days of his life, because now
those days were very important to him.
Something to Ponder
What can you remember from this story the next time you are facing
a seemingly hopeless and final situation?