April 22

Thou hast in love to my soul delivered it from the pit of corruption. - Isaiah 38:17.

THE writing of Hezekiah, king of Judah, when he had been sick. Observe, First, His perilous situation. It was the “pit of corruption,” that means the grave; he was on the verge of the eternal world. We see how unimportant the distinctions of the world are. He was a great king, and very successful, but a disorder arrests him and lays him low. One day he is on the throne, another on the bed of languishing. No human greatness can secure a man from the ordinary infirmities of nature or the common calamities of life.

Observe, Secondly, His restoration from this perilous state. He was delivered, that is, recovered. He speaks of it as a privilege. “Life is yours,” saith the Apostle Paul; and it is an inestimable blessing, and capable of infinite improvement. With regard to the Christian’s personal enjoyment, he may say, “It is better to depart and be with Christ,” but to abide in the flesh may be more useful to others. It is, indeed, the only season of usefulness. This is the only opportunity Christians have of serving their generation, and of glorifying their Saviour.

Thirdly, Observe also the Author of his deliverance. It is the Lord’s doing. He bringeth down to the grave, and he raiseth up. Hezekiah was recovered by the application of prescribed and proper means; but this only shows God’s order in working. God chooses to use means in his agency, and therefore we must use means too. But whatever means we employ we must rely for their success entirely upon him; for “without him we can do nothing.”

Observe, Lastly, That he received this deliverance as springing from the divine favour. “Thou hast in love to my soul” done it. Our temporal mercies never have so sweet a relish as when we taste the love of God in them. God sometimes denies his people in love. When through ignorance they implore things which would be injurious to them, his kindness leads him to refuse their desires. So he sometimes grants in wrath. The Israelites, discontented with the manna, desired flesh. God gave them their heart’s desire, but sent leanness into their souls.