Isa 38 | TNotes | STEP | Summary for Isa 38:1-9: 38:1-9 The story of Hezekiah’s healing connects Hezekiah’s extension of life with Jerusalem’s relief from the Assyrians. The events of this story took place before Jerusalem’s rescue from the Assyrians but were placed in a thematic rather than chronological order. One theme is the importance of prayer (see 37:14-20 ; 38:2-3 ). The Lord does listen! Hezekiah had learned the lesson of trust that his father, Ahaz, refused. As a result, Judah and Jerusalem were spared total destruction by the Assyrians. Yet Hezekiah was not the Messiah, the Son of David promised in 7:14 ; 9:1-7 ; 11:1-16 ; 16:5 ; 32:1 , and 33:17-22 . Thus, these accounts of his failure and mortality (chs 38–39 ) prepare the reader for the revelation of the true Messiah that follows (chs 40–66 ). 38:1 About that time (literally in those days ): This is a very general time statement. Hezekiah’s illness and subsequent healing probably preceded Jerusalem’s rescue (chs 36–37 ), even though Isaiah places it afterward. Merodach-baladan’s reign in Babylon (39:1 ) ended before Sennacherib’s invasion in 701 BC . The order in the text indicates a connection between these two events (see 38:6 ).

Summary for Isa 38:1-9: 38:1-9 ^a The story of Hezekiah’s healing connects Hezekiah’s extension of life with Jerusalem’s relief from the Assyrians. The events of this story took place before Jerusalem’s rescue from the Assyrians but were placed in a thematic rather than chronological order. One theme is the importance of prayer (see 37:14-20 ^b; 38:2-3 ^c). The Lord does listen! Hezekiah had learned the lesson of trust that his father, Ahaz, refused. As a result, Judah and Jerusalem were spared total destruction by the Assyrians. Yet Hezekiah was not the Messiah, the Son of David promised in 7:14 ^d; 9:1-7 ^e; 11:1-16 ^f; 16:5 ^g; 32:1 ^h, and 33:17-22 ⁱ. Thus, these accounts of his failure and mortality (chs 38–39 ^j) prepare the reader for the revelation of the true Messiah that follows (chs 40–66 ^k). 38:1 ^l About that time (literally in those days): This is a very general time statement. Hezekiah’s illness and subsequent healing probably preceded Jerusalem’s rescue (chs 36–37 ^m), even though Isaiah places it afterward. Merodach-baladan’s reign in Babylon (39:1 ⁿ) ended before Sennacherib’s invasion in 701 BC. The order in the text indicates a connection between these two events (see 38:6 ^o).
38:3 ^p I have always been faithful to you: Hezekiah’s heart was right with the Lord for most of his reign (2 Kgs 18:1-5 ^q), although his dependence on Egypt was a time of weakness when he did not act faithfully (Isa 31:1-9 ^r).
38:5 ^s the God of your ancestor David: Hezekiah faithfully walked in David’s footsteps (see 37:35 ^t; 38:1-22 ^u).
38:6 ^v I will rescue you ... I will defend this city: This promise refers to the rescue of Jerusalem (chs 36–37 ^w); it also provides a greater context for understanding Hezekiah’s sickness and healing. Just as Hezekiah received another fifteen years, Jerusalem also received a temporary reprieve (see ch 39 ^x).
Summary for Isa 38:9-20: 38:9-20 ^y Hezekiah’s poem contains both lament (38:9-14 ^z) and praise (38:15-20 ^aa), although the praise is distinctly muted until the final verse.
38:10 ^ab enter the place of the dead? (literally enter the gates of Sheol?): This image comes from an ancient idea that people enter death through gates (see 14:9 ^ac). Old Testament believers did not understand the afterlife as the New Testament reveals it. It was a shadowy place where all the dead were together and where no praise of God existed (see 38:18 ^ad; Pss 88:10 ^ae; 115:17 ^af).
38:11 ^ag Hezekiah lamented that if he died, he would not enjoy fellowship with God, his family, and his friends.
38:12 ^ah These images depicted the brevity of life (cp. 2 Cor 5:1 ^ai).
38:15 ^aj I will walk humbly: Hezekiah might have previously taken his life and good health for granted. Now he recognized that these gifts from the Lord can be withdrawn at any time.
38:16 ^ak God’s restoration of Hezekiah’s health also symbolized the restoration from exile that Judah would experience in the future.
Summary for Isa 38:21-22: 38:21-22 ^al Hezekiah received a sign, reminiscent of another sign the prophet had offered Ahaz (7:11 ^am). Ahaz and Hezekiah were two bookends to a long story. Ahaz represented the ungodly king and Hezekiah the godly king. The former brought disaster on his people, while the latter rescued his people (but see ch 39 ^an).
38:22 ^ao Hezekiah could not go to the Temple with an infection (see Lev 13 ^ap), so going to the Temple signifies restored health.