Isaiah Chapter 38
Hezekiah was hella sick, like almost outta here. Isaiah pulled up and said, "Ayo, God says you better get your life straight, you’re about to dip out."
In those days was Hezekiah sick unto death. And Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz came unto him, and said unto him, Thus saith the LORD, Set thine house in order: for thou shalt die, and not live. {Set...: Heb. Give charge concerning thy house}
Turning to the wall, Hezekiah prayed, like, “God, I need a miracle.”
Then Hezekiah turned his face toward the wall, and prayed unto the LORD,
He was like, “Yo, remember me, God? I’ve been keeping it 100 and living right. I’ve done solid things. No cap, I’m crying hard here.”
And said, Remember now, O LORD, I beseech thee, how I have walked before thee in truth and with a perfect heart, and have done {that which is} good in thy sight. And Hezekiah wept sore. {sore: Heb. with great weeping}
So God literally hit up Isaiah with a word.
Then came the word of the LORD to Isaiah, saying,
“Go and tell Hezekiah that the God of David’s crew heard your prayer and peeped your tears. Bet, I’m adding 15 years to your timeline.”
Go, and say to Hezekiah, Thus saith the LORD, the God of David thy father, I have heard thy prayer, I have seen thy tears: behold, I will add unto thy days fifteen years.
“I got your back and this city from the Assyrian king; I’ll keep this place safe.”
And I will deliver thee and this city out of the hand of the king of Assyria: and I will defend this city.
“Here’s a sign from God: He’s about to make it happen.”
And this {shall be} a sign unto thee from the LORD, that the LORD will do this thing that he hath spoken;
“Peep this, I’m turning back the shadow on the sundial by 10 degrees. The sun rolled back, like it was magic.”
Behold, I will bring again the shadow of the degrees, which is gone down in the sun dial of Ahaz, ten degrees backward. So the sun returned ten degrees, by which degrees it was gone down. {sun dial: Heb. degrees by, or, with the sun}
This is Hezekiah’s recap after he got super sick and made a comeback.
The writing of Hezekiah king of Judah, when he had been sick, and was recovered of his sickness:
“I thought I was done for, like heading to the grave, feeling like my years slipped away.”
I said in the cutting off of my days, I shall go to the gates of the grave: I am deprived of the residue of my years.
“I said I won’t see God in the land of the living; I won’t see peeps again.”
I said, I shall not see the LORD, {even} the LORD, in the land of the living: I shall behold man no more with the inhabitants of the world.
“My life’s gone, like a shepherd’s tent, and I’m cut off like a weaver. It’s like I’m sick for ages, and you’re gonna finish this.”
Mine age is departed, and is removed from me as a shepherd's tent: I have cut off like a weaver my life: he will cut me off with pining sickness: from day {even} to night wilt thou make an end of me. {with...: or, from the thrum}
“I pondered it all night, feeling like a lion crushing my bones; it’s like I’m toast.”
I reckoned till morning, {that}, as a lion, so will he break all my bones: from day {even} to night wilt thou make an end of me.
“I was chirping like a bird, mourning like a dove. My eyes are drained looking up; God, I need you to come through.”
Like a crane {or} a swallow, so did I chatter: I did mourn as a dove: mine eyes fail {with looking} upward: O LORD, I am oppressed; undertake for me. {undertake...: or, ease me}
“What can I even say? God spoke, and now it’s real. I’m just gonna chill and take it easy, feeling weighed down.”
What shall I say? he hath both spoken unto me, and himself hath done {it}: I shall go softly all my years in the bitterness of my soul.
“God, this is how we roll, and you’re the vibe for my soul. So, you’re gonna help me bounce back.”
O Lord, by these {things men} live, and in all these {things is} the life of my spirit: so wilt thou recover me, and make me to live.
“I had mad bitterness for peace, but you showed love and pulled my soul up from the pit. You tossed my sins behind you.”
Behold, for peace I had great bitterness: but thou hast in love to my soul {delivered it} from the pit of corruption: for thou hast cast all my sins behind thy back. {for peace...: or, on my peace came great bitterness} {thou hast in...: Heb. thou hast loved my soul from the pit}
“The grave can’t give you praise, and death can’t celebrate you. Those heading to the pit can’t hold onto your truth.”
For the grave cannot praise thee, death can {not} celebrate thee: they that go down into the pit cannot hope for thy truth.
“The living will vibe with you, like I’m doing now. Parents will share your truth with their kids.”
The living, the living, he shall praise thee, as I {do} this day: the father to the children shall make known thy truth.
“God was ready to save me, so we’re gonna jam with instruments every day in God’s crib.”
The LORD {was ready} to save me: therefore we will sing my songs to the stringed instruments all the days of our life in the house of the LORD.
“Isaiah said, ‘Grab some figs, put them on the boil, and you’ll be all good.’”
For Isaiah had said, Let them take a lump of figs, and lay {it} for a plaister upon the boil, and he shall recover.
“Hezekiah asked, ‘What’s the sign that I can roll to God’s crib?’”
Hezekiah also had said, What {is} the sign that I shall go up to the house of the LORD?