Isaiah 38:9-14 – Life is transitory, so make it count

Isaiah 38:9-20 is a poem that Hezekiah composed after he recovered from his near-death encounter. They contained thoughts of his harrowing experience and struggles with the thought of death. Although much of this poem contained the morbid reflection of death and life-after, he did make space to describe God’s response to his prayer and to show his gratitude. Looking at this poem in perspective, it is more a lament than a thanksgiving song. Reflecting on this poem portion by portion, today’s  reflection will cover verses 10-14.

In verses 10-11, Hezekiah whined about death that had threatened him at the prime of his life. In this crushing condition, he felt as if he was heading for Sheol, the place of the departed spirit. He saw it as a place deprived of meaningful engagement with God and worship. Besides, he felt in that place, he would be cut off from interaction with other mankind. It’s true that in death he would be cut off from all meaningful engagement with other fellow human beings.

In verses 12-14, he then described the transitory nature of human existence. Life, he surmised, was like a tent of the traveling shepherds or the desert Bedouins. Like a tent, it would be folded and rolled up to be transported, to be pitched in another place. Life, Hezekiah felt, was also like hanging on a single thread of a weaved web that God could cut off at any time. Struggling with the pain and the thought of impending death, Hezekiah looked to God in anguish. He was struggling as it were like the prey of a lion whose bones had been crushed and waiting to die. He also likened himself to a crane or swallow anxiously twitting, or a dove pining for her companion. So he turned to God, yearning for the safety that He alone could provide.   

What can we learn as we consider death and the brevity of life that Hezekiah had reflected? Firstly, we must adopt the right attitude in life and make every living minute we have, count. Secondly, we must make time for God and depend on Him absolutely, for both the big and small things of life. Thirdly, we must discern the lesson of each moment and each encounter, to keep on improving life, so that we can become the person God intends for us to be.