
Isaiah 38:1-22
38:1-9 | There is a marked contrast between Hezekiah, a man of faith and his father, Ahaz, who refused to trust the Lord and rejected the sign offered from the Lord. Hezekiah gladly sought a divine sign, which he received at the sundial (stairs) of Ahaz.
38:10-20 | When King Hezekiah was told he would die, he did not fatalistically accept this announcement from God but instead petitioned Him for healing. The Lord’s favorable response illustrates His willingness to alter His stated intentions when His people pray (Ex. 32:9-14; Num. 14:11-20; Ps. 106:19-23).
38:18 | Hezekiah’s prayer reveals the ancient Hebrew understanding of death. Sheol or “grave” is the place of the dead. The NT gives a clearer understanding of the afterlife: in 1 Corinthians 15, Paul speaks of a physical resurrection from the dead, with new bodies suited for life in the eternal presence of God.