Rsbc
August 19, 2001
Sunday Night
The Book of Isaiah
Text- Isaiah 38-1-8
Intro- This chapter has been used by many to try to substantiate their belief that God does change his mind, that you can pray and under certain circumstances, and in most cases they believe that to be faith that you can change Gods mind about a thing...
I personally do not believe this verse here would contradict other passages of the word of God that emphatically teaches that the LORD does not change let me read one of them to you...
Malachi 3:6 For I [am] the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.
It does appear upon first glance that GOD does indeed change his mind in this text but I assure you he does not. The change is in our minds and the fact that we sometimes cannot reconcile in our hearts and minds certain things in the word of the Lord.
What ever happened here was decreed by God before the world began so what was going on was the lesson that GOD was teaching Hezekiah...
I.... “ HIS SICKNESS AND THE WORD SENT TO HIM CONCERNING THAT SICKNESS..VS 1
B. H. Carroll seem’s to think that, this boil that he had was the beginning of Leprosy, and that the King was so moved by it, because the plague of leprosy was believed to be the stoke of GOD upon those that had it for some sin they had committed and this was their punishment.
1. That no matter who we are we are not exempt from sickness...
We see recorded through out the bible that sickness is with the human race to stay, and that sometime the Lord is gracious to us by delivering us from certain sickness...
Page # 2
Matthew 4:23 And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people.
2. That some sickness indeed is unto death...
A. It is inescapable... Solomon said...
Ecclesiastes 8:8 [There is] no man that hath power over the spirit to retain the spirit; neither [hath he] power in the day of death: and [there is] no discharge in [that] war; neither shall wickedness deliver those that are given to it.
B. It is order by the Lord...
Deuteronomy 32:39 See now that I, [even] I, [am] he, and [there is] no god with me: I kill, and I make alive; I wound, and I heal: neither [is there any] that can deliver out of my hand.
C. The fact of it should cause us to be motivated to serve the Lord more fervently..
Ecclesiastes 9:10 Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do [it] with thy might; for [there is] no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest.
d. It is an appointed time that we cannot pass...
Job 14:5 Seeing his days [are] determined, the number of his months [are] with thee, thou hast appointed his bounds that he cannot pass;
3. Since we are going to die as the text clearly teaches we have a responsibility as did the King.. “ set your house in order”
Preparation to die is very important...two ways
1. Make your calling and election sure...
Page # 3
2 Peter 1:10 Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:
2. By clearing all things out of your life that you and I should not face death with...
II... “ THE RESPONSE OF HEZEKIAH TO THE WORD OF THE LORD”...VS 2-3
1. He turns to the Lord in prayer...
We have no one else that we can turn to in a time of great need when his whole world came crumbling in on him... lesson we must learn to turn to the Lord more often in sickness and health we need to turn to him.
2 Chronicles 15:4 But when they in their trouble did turn unto the LORD God of Israel, and sought him, he was found of them.
Joel 2:13 And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the LORD your God: for he [is] gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil.
2. He turns in humility..vs 3
In most cases and in most people the idea of facing the unknown, coming to the end of our life will cause us to be humble. It is the wicked and the lost who fear death, who face it will pride and try to kick it but are unable to do so.
David that great man of God said... yea though I walk through the valley of death I will fear not evil for thou art with me, he said to Solomon I go the way of all the earth today...
III... “ THE LORD RESPONSE TO HIM”..VS 4-8
Note with me the three things that God said in this passage...
1. I have heard... We do not serve a God that does not hear what we are saying to him in earnest of heart.. How many times does the bible reveal to us that God wants his people to communicate with him...
Page # 4
Jeremiah 33:3 Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.
2. I have seen.. The Lord being able to see all things could see beyond his human jesters and into his very soul.
Acts 7:34 I have seen, I have seen the affliction of my people which is in Egypt, and I have heard their groaning, and am come down to deliver them. And now come, I will send thee into Egypt.
3. I will add.. Once again it appears that God is changing but not so, he is revealing his purpose to the King...
4. I will deliver...vs 6
We see the purpose of God in this whole event if we but think and study.. Let me point it out if I may... To humble the King, to cause him to look unto the Lord, To deliver them out of the Assyrian hand.
The sign he gives...vs 7-8