Isaiah

Isaiah 38: God gives life and receives praise

Begin in prayer

Before we watch Hezekiah pray through tears and sing after his recovery, let us seek the Lord. Ask Him to teach our family to value the life He gives and find forgiveness through Jesus.

For you have delivered my soul from death, my eyes from tears, and my feet from falling.

Psalm 116:8

Father in heaven, please open our eyes as we read Your Word. Help us bring our weakness and guilt before You. Show us Your mercy in Christ and teach us to praise You for the days You give. Make us more like Jesus. And please bless our family as we worship You together. In Jesus' name, Amen.

See where we're going

Isaiah tells the sick Hezekiah to put his house in order because he will die. Hezekiah turns to the wall, recalls his faithful walk before God and prays with bitter tears. God hears him, promises fifteen more years and the city’s defense, and gives a sign as the sundial’s shadow returns ten steps. In his written song, Hezekiah recalls life being taken away like a shepherd’s tent and cut off like cloth from a loom. He describes crushing pain and weak cries before thanking God for restoring him and casting his sins behind His back. The living king promises praise in the LORD’s house and says fathers should make God’s truth known to their children. Isaiah had told them to lay a cake of figs on the boil, and Hezekiah had asked for a sign.

As you read Isaiah 38, look for the answers:

Reflect together

Key truth

God lovingly restores life and forgives sin, giving His people reason to praise Him.

The news of approaching death strips the king of control over his remaining days. His prayer recalls a sincere life, yet his song also acknowledges sins needing God’s pardon. God answers with a particular promise of fifteen years, not a promise of the same recovery for every praying person. The returning shadow confirms that He will do what He has said. A tent being removed and cloth cut from a loom picture life ending before the king expected. His cries resemble birds, and he asks the Lord to be his security. God’s loving rescue turns anguish toward peace, and sins cast behind His back picture forgiveness. Restored life gives Hezekiah time to praise God among the living and pass His truth to children.

How does Isaiah 38 show us that God lovingly restores life and forgives sin, giving His people reason to praise Him?

Our remaining days belong to God.

Hezekiah cannot secure another year by his position as king. He prays and weeps before the LORD. God hears him and gives fifteen added years, confirming His promise through the returning shadow.

God’s mercy reaches both life and guilt.

Hezekiah describes his illness as anguish and his recovery as God’s loving rescue. He also thanks God for casting his sins behind His back. Forgiveness gives him reason to praise beyond the relief of his body.

The living should praise God and teach children.

The king contrasts his expected silence in the grave with the praise he can now offer among the living. He promises songs in the LORD’s house. Fathers are to make God’s truth known to their children.

Memorise

You have in love for my soul delivered it from the pit of corruption; for you have cast all my sins behind your back.

Isaiah 38:17

Looking to Jesus in my life

Ask yourself in your heart, how am I using the days God gives while needing forgiveness through Jesus?

Hezekiah thanks God, “for you have cast all my sins behind your back.” His restored years are a gift, and forgiveness gives his praise its hope. His song directs our attention to the mercy we need before death.

Jesus died for His people, bearing their sins and the judgment against them at the cross. He rose, so death could not keep Him, and it cannot keep His people. Every believer’s guilt has been dealt with in full, so death cannot overturn the pardon He gives. Added years on earth cannot give the peace that His pardon brings.

Turn from sin and believe in Jesus for forgiveness. He receives everyone who puts their trust in Him. Bring Him your fear of death and your need of mercy. Use the life God gives to praise Him and make His truth known, looking to the risen Savior for lasting life.

Parent's note

Tell your children that God forgives sin and restores life, and that Jesus gives everlasting life to all who trust Him. Please explain that the fifteen added years were God’s promise to Hezekiah alone. Please do not tell them they are saved just because they grew up in a Christian home. Call each child to turn from sin and trust Jesus, and pray that God would give them a new heart.

Pray together

Now please close your time together in prayer. Thank God that He gives life and pardons sin through His mercy, and bring the heart question to Him. Every child can pray, so let each one say a short prayer if they want to.

Jesus said to him, “Assuredly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise.

Luke 23:43

Merciful Father, thank You for every day of life and for forgiveness through Jesus. Please help us trust Him with our guilt and our fear of death. Help the sick people we know, and teach us to praise You with the strength You give. Let us speak Your truth to one another this week. Amen.