Isaiah 38:1-8
_In those days was Hezekiah sick_ See notes on 2 Kings 20:1.... [ Continue Reading ]
_In those days was Hezekiah sick_ See notes on 2 Kings 20:1.... [ Continue Reading ]
Grotius is of opinion that this song was dictated by Isaiah. But it is more probable, as Hezekiah was a truly pious man, and inspired by the Holy Spirit, that he was moved thereby to write this form of thanksgiving, both as a testimony of his own gratitude to God, and for the instruction of future a... [ Continue Reading ]
_I said_ Within myself; I concluded, _in the cutting off of my days_ When my days were cut off by the sentence of God, related Isaiah 38:1; _I shall go to the gates of the grave_ I perceive that I must die without any hopes of prevention. The grave is called man's _long home, Ecclesiastes 12:5_; and... [ Continue Reading ]
_Mine age is departed_ The time of my life is expired; _and is removed as a shepherd's tent_ Which is easily and speedily removed: _I have cut off_ Namely, by my sins, provoking God to do it; or, I have concluded, and declare that my life is, or will be, soon cut off: for men are often said, in the... [ Continue Reading ]
_I reckoned till morning_, &c. When night came I reckoned I should die before the next morning, my pains being as great as if my bones had been broken, and the whole frame of my body crushed by a lion. Bishop Lowth reads: _I roared until the morning like the lion; so did he break to pieces all my bo... [ Continue Reading ]
_What shall I say?_ I want words sufficiently to express my deep sense of God's dealings with me; _he hath spoken_, &c. He foretold it by his word, and effected it by his hand. In this verse he seems to make a transition into the thanksgiving, which is undoubtedly contained in the following verses,... [ Continue Reading ]
_By these things men live_ By virtue of thy gracious word, or promise, and powerful work; or, by thy promises, and thy performance of them: and therefore it is not strange that one word of God hath brought me back from the jaws of death. _And in all these things is the life of my spirit_ As all men'... [ Continue Reading ]
_Behold, for peace I had great bitterness_ “When I perceived and feared no evil, and seemed to enjoy my usual health, then this terrible evil came upon me.” The Hebrew, however, לשׁלום מר לו מר, may be properly rendered, _Behold my grievous anguish is turned into ease;_ or, _My great bitterness_ was... [ Continue Reading ]
_For the grave cannot praise thee_ The dead cannot be instruments of promoting thy glory among men upon earth, or of making thy goodness known to others, which I desire and determine to do. _They cannot hope for thy truth_ Cannot expect nor receive the accomplishment of thy promised goodness in this... [ Continue Reading ]
_For Isaiah had said, Let them take a lump of figs_ See note on 2 Kings 20:7. _Hezekiah also had said_ Or, _for Hezekiah had said; What is the sign that I shall go up_ Namely, within three days, as is more fully related 2Ki 20:5; 2 Kings 20:8; _to the house of the Lord?_ For thither he designed to g... [ Continue Reading ]