Isaiah 38:22

What is the sign that I shall go up to the house of the Lord?

Seeking a sign

Real religion is the same in every country and every age. Hence we have so much of the history and experience of the people of God recorded in the Scriptures of truth, that we may compare our experience with theirs. Let us take these words and consider them four ways--

I. AS THE LANGUAGE OF A MAN DESIROUS OF LIFE. There are persons who can talk lightly of death; but it is a solemn thing to die. What was the fortitude of Hume when dying, joking of Charon and his boat, but like “whistling aloud to keep his courage up”? But we have to observe that death is not always inviting even to a good man.

1. We live under a blessed dispensation; but, though the revelation of God’s will is complete, there are those who are not yet led into all its truths.

2. Sometimes a good man’s connections draw him back and attach him still to life. A minister may wish “to depart and be with Christ,” but he sees a congregation which hang upon his lips; a husband and father may be looking for that blessed hope, and rejoicing in it, but he knows that his death will make the wife a widow and the children fatherless. You talk of self-denial! Who is it that denies himself like that man who is assured of heaven, and yet is willing to forego the blessedness from year to year, who is willing to weep on and war on for the sake of usefulness to others?

3. A good man’s evidences of glory are not always clear; this will affect his experience.

4. There may be an event to which the believer may attach some importance, that has not taken place, and which may produce some hesitation in his mind. There was something of this kind, surely, in regard to David; he therefore pleaded for sparing mercy--“O spare me, that I may recover strength, before I go hence, and be no more seen.” Simeon, too, had the assurance that he should not see death till he had seen the Lord’s Christ.

5. There is also a constitutional timidity in some. If they are not afraid of death itself, they are afraid of dying. The very apostles wished to enter heaven, if possible, without being unclothed, and therefore said, “We that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality may be swallowed up of life.” The fear of death is not sinful. Nature must abhor its own destruction, and if there be anything that can reconcile us to it, it must be supernatural.

II. AS THE LANGUAGE OF A MAN ATTACHED TO THE HOUSE OF GOD: for he does not inquire, “What is the sign that I shall ascend my throne?” or “that I shall give audience to ambassadors, or commands to generals? What is the sign that I shall head my army, or that I shall travel through my country?” No, but “What is the sign that I shall go up to the house of the Lord?” What is it that attaches a good man so much to the house of God?

1. Perhaps ‘tis his birthplace: we refer to his second birth; and if you are not born twice before you die once, it would have been well if you had never been born at all.

2. It is a place of intercourse.

3. It is a place of instruction.

4. It is also a place of devotion. “My house shall be called the house of prayer.” If Hezekiah loved the house of God before, you may be sure he did not love it less now, having been detained so long from it by sickness. We commonly know best the worth of our mercies by the want of them. How pleasing is the morning after the darkness of the night! How alluring is the spring after the dreary winter! How health is sweetened after the bitterness of pain! and how is liberty endeared by the sufferings of bondage!

III. AS THE LANGUAGE OF A MAN CONCERNED TO SHOW HIS GRATITUDE FOR MERCIES RECEIVED. He wished this, not only for the enjoyment of a privilege, but for the performance of a duty. Having experienced delivering mercy, he knew he ought to praise God, by acknowledging His goodness publicly, and dedicating himself afresh to His glory. So did David Psalms 66:13, &c.). This is not always the case. There are many whose only concern when in affliction is to escape from it: whereas, a good man dreads the removal of it, unless it be sanctified, and the end of God be answered in bringing him nearer to Himself. A proper improvement of deliverance from sickness does not lie simply in the offering up of a single thanksgiving: it requires a great deal more than this, which will be mere formality and mockery in the sight of God, unless accompanied with real gratitude, and thankful views and feelings; and unless the actions and the life correspond therewith. Hezekiah had a sad falling off. “Hezekiah rendered not again according to the benefit done unto him; for his heart was lifted up.”

IV. AS THE LANGUAGE OF A MAN WHOSE FAITH REQUIRES CONFIRMATION. “What is the sign that I shall go up to the house of the Lord?” Why? Had he not been assured of this by good Isaiah? He ought to have been satisfied. He did not believe it, and he did believe it. Ah, Christians! you know how to explain such an experience as this. (W. Jay, M. A.)

Fear of dying

The excellent Dr. Conyers often said, “I am not afraid of death, but I am afraid of dying; I am not afraid of the end, but of the passage.” He therefore often said in prayer, “O Lord, if it be Thy blessed will, let me die in Thy blessed service!” And his wish was granted, for he sank down in the church, and even in the pulpit. (W. Jay, M. A.)

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