Isaiah 38 - Bible Study in 5 Minutes

Isaiah 38 Short Summary:

Isaiah 38 contains a short record about King Hezekiah of Judah. Hezekiah became very sick, and the prophet Isaiah told him to prepare for death. Distraught and saddened, Hezekiah reached out to the Lord in prayer. God showed Hezekiah grace and agreed to let him live for 15 more years.  

Isaiah 38 Bible Study

TIMELINE:

• The prophetic ministry of Isaiah spanned the reigns of King Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah.

• The Assyrians attempted to besiege Jerusalem around 701 BC. The events of this chapter precede that event (38:6). Generally accepted dates for Hezekiah’s reign are 716-687 BC, which would place these events 15 years prior to his death (38:5) around 702 BC.

KEY CHARACTERS:

• Isaiah – The son of Amoz (1:1). God commissioned Isaiah as His prophet to Judah.

• Hezekiah – King of Judah

DEFINITIONS:

• Sun Dail (38:8) – An early form of timekeeping. It tracks time based on the shadow cast by the sun as it follows its daily course across the sky.

OUTLINE:

• HEZEKIAH HEALED OF A TERMINAL SICKNESS (38:1-8):

  • Some time before the Assyrians attempted to attack Jerusalem, Hezekiah became very sick, so sick that Isaiah told him to make arrangements for his death.

  • Hezekiah prayed to the Lord, saying, “Please, O Lord, remember how I have walked before you in faithfulness and with a whole heart, and have done what is good in your sight” (38:3).

  • God heard Hezekiah’s plea and sent Isaiah back to him with a message.

  • God granted Hezekiah 15 more years of life.

  • Isaiah was to apply a “cake of figs” to a boil that was afflicting Hezekiah. The fig cake would heal the king (38:21).  

  • God also promised to deliver Jerusalem from the threat of Assyria.

  • As a sign of the truth of His words, God gave Hezekiah a sign. He turned the shadow on the sundial back 10 steps.

• HEZEKIAH PRAISES THE LORD (38:9-22):

  • The remainder of the chapter is comprised of words of praise written by Hezekiah after God healed him (38:9).

  • Hezekiah was certain he was going to die and be confined “to the gates of Sheol,” but God restored him and gave him new life.

  • He was glad that he was allowed to remain in the land of the living so he could worship God.

APPLICATION:

• Why do you want to live longer?

• Seriously?! What is the point of living longer?

• If God guaranteed you 15 more years of life, how would you plan to use them?

• Would you make the most of them? Or would you twiddle them away doing meaningless things?

• I imagine Hezekiah determined to make those 15 years meaningful, but it shouldn’t take a miraculous healing for us to want to use our years well.

• Most of use watching these Bible studies probably have 5, or 10, or maybe even 15 years of life left (Lord willing). Let’s set goals to use those years well! Let’s make big, long-term, ambitious, and specific plans for what we can accomplish in our spiritual lives, in our communities, and in the Church.

• If God is going to give us time, let’s do our best to use it well and make it eternally meaningful.