Our Selfless Deliverer

King Hezekiah was ill.
But Isaiah didn't bring good news...
Put your affairs in order,
for you are about to die;
you will not recover.
Isaiah 38:1b

So just as before, when Hezekiah got bad news, he turned it over to the Lord and prayed. But this time, the attitude of his heart sounds a bit different. For it is not his fear of an enemy storming the gates, nor a set of circumstances that set his mind to worry.

This is a prayer lifting forth his soul to eternity. For Hezekiah has been told by a very reliable source that his end is truly near.

And I wonder what sort of prayer I might pray if that were my news of today? I wonder if I would have the courage, the boldness, as Hezekiah did to ask God to change His mind?

Because that's exactly what happened as the sun's shadow returned ten steps, adding 15 years to Hezekiah's life.

And when this king realized the miracle,
his admission poured out...
What can I say?
He has spoken to me,
and He Himself has done it.
I walk along slowly all my years
because of the bitterness of my soul,

Lord, because of these promises people live,
and in all of them is the life of my spirit as well;
You have restored me to health
and let me live.

Indeed, it was for my own welfare
that I had such great bitterness;
but Your love has delivered me
from the Pit of destruction,
for You have thrown
​all my sins behind Your back
Isaiah 38:15-17

How selfless is our Deliverer...
throwing our sins upon His back
as He bled and died upon that cross.

Indeed it was for my own welfare
that I had such great bitterness.
But Your love has delivered me.
Thank You, Jesus...
Your love has delivered me!