Isaías 38

1 EN aquellos días cayó Ezechîas enfermo para morir. Y vino á él Isaías profeta, hijo de Amoz, y díjole: Jehová dice así: Ordena tu casa, porque tú morirás, y no vivirás.

2 Entonces volvió Ezechîas su rostro á la pared, é hizo oración á Jehová.

3 Y dijo: Oh Jehová, ruégote te acuerdes ahora que he andado delante de ti en verdad y con íntegro corazón, y que he hecho lo que ha sido agradable delante de tus ojos. Y lloró Ezechîas con gran lloro.

4 Entonces fué palabra de Jehová á Isaías, diciendo:

5 Ve, y di á Ezechîas: Jehová Dios de David tu padre dice así: Tu oración he oído, y visto tus lágrimas: he aquí que yo añado á tus días quince años.

6 Y te libraré, y á esta ciudad, de mano del rey de Asiria; y á esta ciudad ampararé.

7 Y esto te será señal de parte de Jehová, que Jehová hará esto que ha dicho:

8 He aquí que yo vuelvo atrás la sombra de los grados, que ha descendido en el reloj de Achâz por el sol, diez grados. Y el sol fué tornado diez grados atrás, por los cuales había ya descendido.

9 Escritura de Ezechîas rey de Judá, de cuando enfermó y sanó de su enfermedad.

10 Yo dije: En el medio de mis días iré á las puertas del sepulcro: Privado soy del resto de mis años.

11 Dije: No veré á JAH, á JAH en la tierra de los que viven: Ya no veré más hombre con los moradores del mundo.

12 Mi morada ha sido movida y traspasada de mí, como tienda de pastor. Como el tejedor corté mi vida; cortaráme con la enfermedad; Me consumirás entre el día y la noche.

13 Contaba yo hasta la mañana. Como un león molió todos mis huesos: De la mañana á la noche me acabarás.

14 Como la grulla y como la golondrina me quejaba; Gemía como la paloma: alzaba en lo alto mis ojos: Jehová, violencia padezco; confórtame.

15 ¿Qué diré? El que me lo dijo, él mismo lo ha hecho. Andaré recapacitando en la amargura de mi alma todos los años de mi vida.

16 Oh Señor, sobre ellos vivirán tus piedades, Y á todos diré consistir en ellas la vida de mi espíritu; Pues tú me restablecerás, y me harás que viva.

17 He aquí amargura grande me sobrevino en la paz: Mas á ti plugo librar mi vida del hoyo de corrupción. Porque echaste tras tus espaldas todos mis pecados.

18 Porque el sepulcro no te celebrará, ni te alabará la muerte; Ni los que descienden al hoyo esperarán tu verdad.

19 El que vive, el que vive, éste te confesará, como yo hoy: El padre hará notoria tu verdad á los hijos.

20 Jehová para salvarme; Por tanto cantaremos nuestros salmos En la casa de Jehová todos los días de nuestra vida.

21 Y había dicho Isaías: Tomen masa de higos, y pónganla en la llaga, y sanará.

22 Había asimismo dicho Ezechîas: ¿Qué señal tendré de que he de subir á la casa de Jehová?

Isaías 38 Commentary

Chapter 38

Hezekiah's sickness and recovery. (1-8) His thanksgiving. (9-22)

Verses 1-8 When we pray in our sickness, though God send not to us such an answer as he here sent to Hezekiah, yet, if by his Spirit he bids us be of good cheer, assures us that our sins are forgiven, and that, whether we live or die, we shall be his, we ( 2 Kings. 20:1-11 )

Verses 9-22 We have here Hezekiah's thanksgiving. It is well for us to remember the mercies we receive in sickness. Hezekiah records the condition he was in. He dwells upon this; I shall no more see the Lord. A good man wishes not to live for any other end than that he may serve God, and have communion with him. Our present residence is like that of a shepherd in his hut, a poor, mean, and cold lodging, and with a trust committed to our charge, as the shepherd has. Our days are compared to the weaver's shuttle, ( Job 7:6 ) , passing and repassing very swiftly, every throw leaving a thread behind it; and when finished, the piece is cut off, taken out of the loom, and showed to our Master to be judged of. A good man, when his life is cut off, his cares and fatigues are cut off with it, and he rests from his labours. But our times are in God's hand; he has appointed what shall be the length of the piece. When sick, we are very apt to calculate our time, but are still at uncertainty. It should be more our care how we shall get safe to another world. And the more we taste of the loving-kindness of God, the more will our hearts love him, and live to him. It was in love to our poor perishing souls that Christ delivered them. The pardon does not make the sin not to have been sin, but not to be punished as it deserves. It is pleasant to think of our recoveries from sickness, when we see them flowing from the pardon of sin. Hezekiah's opportunity to glorify God in this world, he made the business, and pleasure, and end of life. Being recovered, he resolves to abound in praising and serving God. God's promises are not to do away, but to quicken and encourage the use of means. Life and health are given that we may glorify God and do good.

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO ISAIAH 38

This chapter gives an account of Hezekiah's sickness, recovery, and thanksgiving on that account. His sickness, and the nature of it, and his preparation for it, as directed to by the prophet, Isa 38:1, his prayer to God upon it, Isa 38:2,3 the answer returned unto it, by which he is assured of living fifteen years more, and of the deliverance and protection of the city of Jerusalem from the Assyrians, Isa 38:4-6, the token of his recovery, the sun going back ten degrees on the dial of Ahaz, Isa 38:7,8, a writing of Hezekiah's upon his recovery, in commemoration of it, Isa 38:9, in which he represents the deplorable condition he had been in, the terrible apprehensions he had of things, especially of the wrath and fury of the Almighty, and his sorrowful and mournful complaints, Isa 38:10-14, he observes his deliverance according to the word of God; expresses his faith in it; promises to retain a cheerful sense of it; owning that it was by the promises of God that he had lived as other saints did; and ascribes his preservation from the grave to the love of God to him, of which the forgiveness of his sins was an evidence, Isa 38:15-17, the end of which salvation was, that he might praise the Lord, which he determined to do, on stringed instruments, Isa 38:18-20, and the chapter is closed with observing the means of curing him of his boil; and that it was at his request that the sign of his recovery was given him, Isa 38:21,22.