Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Isaiah 38:18
Isaiah 38:18. For the grave, &c.— See Psalms 6:5; Psalms 30:9; Psalms 30:12. read more
Isaiah 38:18. For the grave, &c.— See Psalms 6:5; Psalms 30:9; Psalms 30:12. read more
18. death—that is, the dead; Hades and its inhabitants ( :-; see on Isaiah 38:3). Plainly Hezekiah believed in a world of disembodied spirits; his language does not imply what skepticism has drawn from it, but simply that he regarded the disembodied state as one incapable of declaring the praises of God before men, for it is, as regards this world, an unseen land of stillness; "the living" alone can praise God on earth, in reference to which only he is speaking; Isaiah 57:1; Isaiah 57:2 shows... read more
Hezekiah’s record of his crisis 38:9-22The bulk of this section is a psalm of lamentation and thanksgiving that Hezekiah composed after his recovery (Isaiah 38:10-20). It is the only extant narrative in the Old Testament written by a king of Judah after the time of Solomon. [Note: The New Scofield . . ., p. 744. ] Compare King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon’s similar testimony of praise, after God delivered him from insanity (Daniel 4:34-35). This psalm is also chiastic in structure. It begins with... read more
Those who die cannot thank and praise God for delivering them from death, but Hezekiah could because God had promised him mercy. read more
Sickness and Recovery of HezekiahContinuation of the historical appendix to Isaiah’s prophecies. The chapter is parallel to 2 Kings 20:1-11 (where see notes), but contains a considerable addition in the shape of Hezekiah’s song of thanks-giving upon his recovery. Chronologically this chapter precedes 36 and 37: see on Isaiah 36:1.1-8. To Hezekiah in his sickness Isaiah promises 15 more years of life, and confirms the promise by a sign. 9-20. Hezekiah’s song of thanksgiving. 21, 22. The remedy... read more
(18) For the grave . . .—i.e., Sheol, or Hades. We return to the king’s thoughts of the dim shadow-world, Death and Sheol (joined together, as in Isaiah 28:15; Psalms 6:5). In that region of dimness there are no psalms of thanksgiving, no loud hallelujahs. The thought of spiritual energies developed and intensified after death is essentially one which belongs to the “illuminated” immortality (2 Timothy 1:10), of Christian thought. (Comp. Psalms 6:5; Psalms 30:9; Psalms 88:11-12; Psalms 115:17;... read more
Added Years Isaiah 38:5 I. God adds Years to Many Men's Lives. For example: a. In recovery from sickness. The sickness seems unto death. Hope is gone, or wellnigh gone. But a 'favourable turn,' as we say, is taken, and another course of years is added unto the man's days. b. In the gradual strengthening of the constitution. A new and deeper spring seems to be found in the blood, which has 'earnest in it of far springs to be'. The delicate youth becomes a strong man. c. In escape from... read more
CHAPTER XXVIHAD ISAIAH A GOSPEL FOR THE INDIVIDUAL?THE two narratives, in which Isaiah’s career culminates-that of the Deliverance of Jerusalem {Isaiah 36:1-22; Isaiah 37:1-38} and that of the Recovery of Hezekiah {Isaiah 38:1-22; Isaiah 39:1-8}-cannot fail, coming together as they do, to suggest to thoughtful readers a striking contrast between Isaiah’s treatment of the community and his treatment of the individual, between his treatment of the Church and his treatment of single members. For... read more
CHAPTER 38 Hezekiah’s Sickness and Healing 1. Isaiah’s startling message (Isaiah 38:1 ) 2. Hezekiah’s prayer (Isaiah 38:2-3 ) 3. The prayer heard and the sign (Isaiah 38:4-8 ) 4. The king’s sorrow and joy, a psalm of praise (Isaiah 38:9-20 ) 5. The remedy for the recovery (Isaiah 38:21-22 ) The message of approaching death startled the king because at that time he had no son. If he had died what then would have become of the Messianic hope through the house of David? Beautiful it is... read more
Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Isaiah 38:18
"For Sheol cannot praise thee, death cannot celebrate thee:They that go down into the pit cannot hope for thy truth.The living, the living, he shall praise thee, as I do this day:The father to the children shall make known thy truth.Jehovah is ready to save me.Therefore we will sing my songs with stringed instrumentsAll the days of our life in the house of Jehovah."The theme here is rejoicing over the recovery which came from the special blessing of the Lord. The language used in portions of... read more