God Restoring the World!

“Extra Innings”

Devos for 4/29/18

This final section of Isaiah’s first 39 chapters serves as a transition to the latter third of the book. As previously noted, Isaiah mirrors the structure of the Bible, of which it is a part. The first 39 chapters, focus mainly on judgment, mirroring the larger Old Testament of the Bible, and containing the same theme. While the latter 27 chapters of Isaiah are consumed primarily with the comfort and restoration of God’s people (the world), in much the same way that the 27 chapters of the New Testament cover the same general themes. This of course culminates in the redemptive work of Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection, (See 1 Corinthians 15:1–3), which in a cyclical way, fulfills all to which Isaiah points, alludes, foreshadows, and prophecies.

Here in this last section we see the move from the immediate Assyrian threat, to the eventual threat of the Babylonian empire- to which Judah will be exiled in a little more than 100 years after Isaiah’s writing.

Contained herein are the intimate prayers of a good king, who finishes poorly, and an opportunity for us to continue to learn of the greatness of God, the reliability of His Word, and exhortation to mind how we finish our time on this earth.

Main Point- There are both national and individual applications that can be drawn from this section of the book of Isaiah, we’ll focus mostly on the individual. Hezekiah provides both healthy and poor models for us to consider how we pray, praise, and put our house in order when facing the end of life, or even a major change or shift in our life situations.

(Parallel accounts in 2 Kings 20 & 2 Chronicles 32)

Monday- READ- Isaiah 38–39 Grace and Finishing Well

Hezekiah, after experiencing the miraculous deliverance of God, contracts a life-threatening illness, and in a place of absolute despair, cries out to the Lord for healing. Upon being healed, he becomes prideful in the extension of his life, ending his days concerned only for himself. What can we learn from Hezekiah? If you are in life’s later seasons, what is the lesson for you? How can we emulate his prayer life, but avoid his pride?

Tuesday- READ- Isaiah 38:1–3 Hezekiah’s Prayer

Hezekiah, who was clearly a man of prayer, still had trouble in his private life trusting in God’s providing care for him. Put yourself in Hezekiah’s shoes, would you want to know the timing of your death- who or why not? What would you do differently if you knew it was this week or this month?

Wednesday- READ- Isaiah 38:4–8 Sunlight Miracle

Both Joshua’s long day and Hezekiah’s “sunlight miracle” were once held to be verified through some calculations of NASA, but this has been debunked as mostly urban legend. Does this make this miracle any less believable? (Start with bodily resurrection of Jesus if you have trouble believing in miracles). More importantly, what does this account say about the Lord, and about his care for his people?

Thursday- READ- Isaiah 38:9–20 Poetry of Praise

Hezekiah’s poem, is an honest expose of his heart in both lament over death in verses 9–14, and in his rejoicing in verses 15–20. (Understand that Hezekiah had an Old Testament, pre-Christ, Jewish understanding of death and the afterlife, vs.18). How can Hezekiah’s prayer be instructive for your own prayer life? (See also 36:18–19)

Friday- READ- Isaiah 39:1–1–2 Pride

Unfortunately, Hezekiah’s finish sees him becoming prideful and forgetting the source of both his greatmness, and even in a sense losing sight of the source and purpose of his recovery and fifteen year life extension. 1 John 2:16 (KJV) says… For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. You can make the case that loosely applied, these “categories” of sin are areas that we struggle with in life’s different season. I.e. The lust of the flesh is a young person’s struggle, the lust of the eyes (materialism) is a middle-aged person’s primary area of struggle, and that the “pride of life” is the plague of those later in life. How does Hezekiah’s failure here fit this thinking? Which category is the biggest area of weakness for you?

Saturday- READ- Isaiah 39:3–7 Rebuke

Isaiah pronounces the consequences of Hezekiah’s sin to be generational in nature- the fallout will come on his descendants, namely to be fulfilled in the Babylonian siege and exile in 586BC. (See ch.14:3–4 and here in ch.39:6). What is the nature of generational consequences in the Bible? Do you think these ramifications apply today? How does the Cross and repentance free us from individual sin, patterns of sin, and a heritage of sin? (See Romans 6–8:18)

Sunday- READ- Isaiah 39:8 Lessons

What is the tragedy of Hezekiah’s end? Notice that when sin takes root, life, and one’s outlook turns inward, isolated, unconcerned with others. As you prepare to worship this morning confess any patterns of sin in your life. Ask the Lord to give you His heart for others, a heart unconcerned with your own circumstances, and even fate, as you trust and rest in His loving care in Christ!