DAWN
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Discover the Arts! Each day a different image from the Literary, Performing, or Visual Arts representing a portion of Scripture plus an explanation with links 2015 September 28
Sundials: from The Ambassadors (detail) - (1533)
Hans Holbein the Younger (c. 1497 - 1543)
Northern Renaissance Style
National Gallery, London, England, United Kingdom
Image Source: Web Gallery of Art
Explanation: Isaiah 38 records the healing of Hezekiah's deadly sickness (also 2 Kings 18-20; 2 Chronicles 32). The LORD sent Isaiah to Hezekiah to tell him he would die of his sickness; but Hezekiah pleaded for healing citing his obedience (1-3). The LORD then sent Isaiah back to Hezekiah promising Hezekiah an additional 15 years and gave him a sign of deliverance from his sickness and from the King of Assyria by causing the shadow of his sundial to go back by 10 degrees (4-8, 21-22). Hezekiah then wrote a song of deliverance describing the mourning and agony of soul he experienced as death approached and offering the LORD lifelong praise for being ready to save him (9-20).
God delivered Hezekiah not only from Sennacherib's siege but also from a fatal illness (20:1-11). As a sign of deliverance God made the shadow on his sundial go back ten degrees. " 'This sickness,' " says [Jewish commentator] Jarchi, 'took place three days before the defeat of Sennacherib.' " (Adam Clarke, Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible). " That it must have been before this defeat, is evident. Hezekiah reigned only twenty-nine years, 2 Kings 18:2. He had reigned fourteen years when the war with Sennacherib began, 2 Kings 18:13, and he reigned fifteen years after this sickness, 2 Kings 20:6; therefore 14+15=29, the term of his reign." (Adam Clarke, Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible). So the account presents 2 miracles within days of one another. [From an unpublished manuscript by the present author: Overview of Scripture, Scott Souza, 2010]
Today's painting depicts sundials, in reference to the sundial mentioned in today's chapter.
[ THEMATICALLY AND CHRONOLOGICALLY RELATED SCRIPTURES: 2 Kings 18 - 19. 2 Chronicles 32. Isaiah 36. Isaiah 37. Isaiah 38. Isaiah 39. ]
[ CHRONOLOGY: GENERAL. Patriarchs (Traditional). Judges # 1. Judges # 2. Kings # 1. Kings # 2. Prophets # 1. Prophets # 2. NT # 1. NT # 2. NT # 3. ]
[ MAPS: Maps # 1. Maps # 2. Maps # 3. Maps # 4. Maps # 5. ]
[ COMMENTARIES, ETC: GENERAL: Bible Study Tools; Bible Hub: Study Light; Blue Letter Bible // PSALMS: Monergism: Precept Austin: The Treasury of David; John Gill; John Calvin - Volumes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
[ MUSIC: GENERAL: The Cyber Hymnal // PSALMS: Genevan Psalter (Instrumental). VARIOUS ARTISTS: Micha'el Ben David. Sons of Korah. Fernando Ortega. Janet Isaac Morrison. Music of the Bible Revealed - Suzanne Haik-Vantoura. Dr. David Erb. Gregorian Chants. ]
Isaiah 38
Comments by Isaiah on Historical Events Related to Certain Prophecies (36:1 - 39:8)
1. Fulfillments (36:1 - 38:22)
a. Partial Captivity of Judah (36:1)
b. Deliverance of Jerusalem (36:2 - 37:38)
c. Cure of Hezekiah's Deadly Sickness (38:1-22)
2. Prophecy: Pending Captivity in Babylon after Receiving its Ambassadors (39:1-8)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
c. Cure of Hezekiah's Deadly Sickness (38:1-22)
1 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.
2 Then Hezekiah turned his face toward the wall, and prayed unto the LORD,
3 And said, Remember now, O LORD, I beseech thee [this], 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.
4 Then came the word of the LORD to Isaiah, saying,
5 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.
6 And I will deliver thee and this city out of the hand of the king of Assyria: and I will defend this city.
7 And this shall be a sign unto thee from the LORD, that the LORD will do this thing that he hath spoken;
8 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.
9 The writing of Hezekiah king of Judah, when he had been sick, and was recovered of his sickness:
10 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.
11 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.
12 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.
13 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.
14 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.
15 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.
16 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.
17 Behold, for peace I had great bitterness [bitterness flowing-bitterly]: 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.
18 For the grave cannot praise thee, death can not celebrate thee: they that go down into the pit cannot hope for thy truth.
19 The living, the living, he shall praise thee, as I do this day: the father to the children shall make known thy truth.
20 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.
21 For Isaiah had said, Let them take a lump of figs, and lay it for a plaister upon the boil, and he shall recover.
22 Hezekiah also had said, What is the sign that I shall go up to the house of the LORD?
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