it's a wonderful thing that we have such a compassionate and loving God!!! who gives us, like hezekiah, chances to live and celebrate His goodness and His majesty... we are truly instruments of celebration, and while we are often so ready to attribute disasters and terrible things to His power, i can so often forget to celebrate the great gift of life that God gave me...
sometimes, a disaster, or some negative event, is what it takes to bring us closer to the Lord... jus as hezekiah saw, in hindsight, his life-threatening illness as a blessing that helped him to live the rest of his days for God (verse 17), our own difficulties are often used in our lives to similarly strengthen our relationship with God too... trials help us see things in perspective, and to be more grateful for the many blessings we receive... and all the more, we should never take things for granted!!!
hezekiah recounted his times and saw the Lord's loving hand in his life... and because his eyes were opened, he could not help but celebrate and praise God, and spread the news of the Lord's goodness...
verse 20 is cool too, especially for violinists like me, "The Lord will save me, and we will sing with stringed instruments all the days of our lives in the temple of the Lord" ;p
so yah, celebrate all the wonderful blessings we have, praise the Lord!!!
Isaiah 38:10-20
10 I said, "In the prime of my life
must I go through the gates of death
and be robbed of the rest of my years?"
11 I said, "I will not again see the LORD ,
the LORD , in the land of the living;
no longer will I look on mankind,
or be with those who now dwell in this world.
12 Like a shepherd's tent my house
has been pulled down and taken from me.
Like a weaver I have rolled up my life,
and he has cut me off from the loom;
day and night you made an end of me.
13 I waited patiently till dawn,
but like a lion he broke all my bones;
day and night you made an end of me.
14 I cried like a swift or thrush,
I moaned like a mourning dove.
My eyes grew weak as I looked to the heavens.
I am troubled; O Lord, come to my aid!"
15 But what can I say?
He has spoken to me, and he himself has done this.
I will walk humbly all my years
because of this anguish of my soul.
16 Lord, by such things men live;
and my spirit finds life in them too.
You restored me to health
and let me live.
17 Surely it was for my benefit
that I suffered such anguish.
In your love you kept me
from the pit of destruction;
you have put all my sins
behind your back.
18 For the grave cannot praise you,
death cannot sing your praise;
those who go down to the pit
cannot hope for your faithfulness.
19 The living, the living-they praise you,
as I am doing today;
fathers tell their children
about your faithfulness.
20 The LORD will save me,
and we will sing with stringed instruments
all the days of our lives
in the temple of the LORD .
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