◄ Isaiah 38:2 ►
Then Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed to the LORD,
Study Bible
Then Hezekiah turned his face to the wall
Hezekiah's action of turning his face to the wall signifies a personal and intimate moment of prayer, seeking privacy and focus away from distractions. In the cultural context of ancient Near Eastern practices, turning to the wall could symbolize turning away from the world and towards God. This act reflects a deep sense of urgency and desperation, as Hezekiah was facing a terminal illness. The wall may also represent a boundary, indicating Hezekiah's desire to separate himself from his current circumstances and seek divine intervention.

and prayed to the LORD
Hezekiah's prayer to the LORD demonstrates his faith and reliance on God during a time of crisis. This moment is significant as it shows Hezekiah's understanding of the LORD as the ultimate source of help and healing. The act of prayer is a central theme throughout the Bible, emphasizing the importance of communication with God. Hezekiah's prayer is a model of earnest supplication, reflecting the biblical principle that God hears and responds to the prayers of the righteous (James 5:16). This event is also connected to other instances where prayer led to divine intervention, such as Elijah's prayer for rain (1 Kings 18:42-45) and Daniel's prayer for understanding (Daniel 9:3-23).

Persons / Places / Events
1. Hezekiah
The king of Judah, known for his faithfulness to God and his efforts to restore proper worship in the temple. He is the central figure in this passage, demonstrating a personal and earnest prayer life.

2. The Wall
Represents a private and intimate setting where Hezekiah turns away from distractions to focus solely on God in prayer. This act signifies a deep, personal plea to the Lord.

3. The LORD
The covenant name of God, Yahweh, to whom Hezekiah directs his prayer. This highlights the personal relationship between Hezekiah and God.

4. Isaiah the Prophet
Although not mentioned in this specific verse, Isaiah plays a crucial role in the surrounding account as the messenger of God's word to Hezekiah.

5. Jerusalem
The city where these events take place, serving as the political and spiritual center of Judah during Hezekiah's reign.
Teaching Points
The Power of Personal Prayer
Hezekiah's act of turning to the wall signifies a moment of personal and undistracted communication with God. Believers are encouraged to find their own "wall" or quiet place to seek God earnestly.

Faith in Times of Crisis
Hezekiah's immediate response to his dire situation was to pray. This teaches us to turn to God first in our times of need, trusting in His power and sovereignty.

God's Response to Sincere Prayer
The account shows that God hears and responds to sincere prayers. This encourages believers to pray with faith and expectancy.

The Importance of a Relationship with God
Hezekiah's prayer life reflects a deep relationship with God, reminding us of the importance of cultivating a personal and ongoing relationship with the Lord.

Seeking God's Will
While Hezekiah prayed for healing, his ultimate trust was in God's will. This teaches us to submit our desires to God's greater plan.
Bible Study Questions
1. What does Hezekiah's action of turning his face to the wall teach us about the nature of personal prayer?

2. How can we apply Hezekiah's example of faith in times of crisis to our own lives today?

3. In what ways does Hezekiah's prayer reflect a deep relationship with God, and how can we cultivate a similar relationship?

4. How does the account of Hezekiah's prayer and God's response encourage us to pray with faith and expectancy?

5. What other biblical examples of prayer can we find that demonstrate God's faithfulness in responding to His people's cries? How do these examples inspire our own prayer life?
Connections to Other Scriptures
2 Kings 20:1-11
Provides a parallel account of Hezekiah's illness and prayer, offering additional details about the events and God's response.

James 5:16
Highlights the power of a righteous person's prayer, which is exemplified by Hezekiah's earnest prayer and God's subsequent healing.

Psalm 102:17
Speaks of God hearing the prayer of the destitute, which aligns with Hezekiah's desperate plea for healing.

Philippians 4:6-7
Encourages believers to present their requests to God with thanksgiving, promising peace, similar to Hezekiah's approach in prayer.
Sermons
Private and Personal PrayerR. Tuck Isaiah 38:2
A Vision of DeathW. Clarkson Isaiah 38:1-3
Sickness and Recovery of HezekiahE. Johnson Isaiah 38:1-8
A Good Man's PleaW. Day, M. A.Isaiah 38:2-3
A Natural Shrinking from DeathJ. Parker, D. D.Isaiah 38:2-3
Hezekiah's Distress and PrayerE. W. Shalders, B. A.Isaiah 38:2-3
Hezekiah's Face Turned to the WallJ. A. Alexander.Isaiah 38:2-3
Hezekiah's Face Turned to the WallE. W. Shalders, B. A.Isaiah 38:2-3
Hezekiah's Prayer in AfflictionHomiletic MagazineIsaiah 38:2-3
Hezekiah's TearsHomilistIsaiah 38:2-3
Self-RetirementF. Delitzsch, D. D.Isaiah 38:2-3
People
Ahaz, Amoz, David, Hezekiah, Isaiah
Places
Assyria
Topics
Face, Hezekiah, Hezeki'ah, Prayed, Prayer, Prayeth, Round, Saying, Towards, Turneth, Turning, Wall
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Isaiah 38:2

     5604   walls

Isaiah 38:1-2

     5831   depression

Isaiah 38:1-5

     1120   God, repentance of
     5298   doctors

Isaiah 38:1-6

     8614   prayer, answers

Isaiah 38:1-8

     5333   healing

Isaiah 38:1-10

     8610   prayer, asking God

Isaiah 38:2-3

     5945   self-pity
     5952   sorrow
     8653   importunity, to God

Library
The Life of the Spirit
(First Sunday after Christmas.) Isaiah xxxviii. 16. O Lord, by these things men live, and in all these things is the life of my spirit. These words are the words of Hezekiah, king of Judah; and they are true words, words from God. But, if they are true words, they are true words for every one--for you and me, for every one here in this church this day: for they do not say, By these things certain men live, one man here and another man there; but all men. Whosoever is really alive, that is, has …
Charles Kingsley—Town and Country Sermons

No Man Cometh to the Father but by Me.
This being added for further confirmation of what was formerly said, will point out unto us several necessary truths, as, I. That it is most necessary to be sound and clear in this fundamental point of coming to God only in and through Christ. For, 1. It is the whole marrow of the gospel. 2. It is the hinge of our salvation, Christ is "the chief corner stone," Isa. xxxviii. 16. 1 Pet. i. 5, 6; and, 3. The only ground of all our solid and true peace and comfort. 4 An error or a mistake here, is most …
John Brown (of Wamphray)—Christ The Way, The Truth, and The Life

Epistle ii. To Anastasius, Bishop of Antioch.
To Anastasius, Bishop of Antioch. Gregory to Anastasius, Patriarch of Antioch. I have received the letters of your most sweet Blessedness, which flowed with tears for words. For I saw in them a cloud flying aloft as clouds do; but, though it carried with it a darkness of sorrow, I could not easily discover at its commencement whence it came or whither it was going, since by reason of the darkness I speak of I did not fully understand its origin. Yet it becomes you, most holy ones, ever to recall …
Saint Gregory the Great—the Epistles of Saint Gregory the Great

Sign Seekers, and the Enthusiast Reproved.
(Galilee on the Same Day as the Last Section.) ^A Matt. XII. 38-45; ^C Luke XI. 24-36. ^c 29 And when the multitudes were gathering together unto him, ^a 38 Then certain of the scribes and Pharisees answered him, saying, Teacher, we would see a sign from thee. [Having been severely rebuked by Jesus, it is likely that the scribes and Pharisees asked for a sign that they might appear to the multitude more fair-minded and open to conviction than Jesus had represented them to be. Jesus had just wrought …
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

Letter Xliv Concerning the Maccabees but to whom Written is Unknown.
Concerning the Maccabees But to Whom Written is Unknown. [69] He relies to the question why the Church has decreed a festival to the Maccabees alone of all the righteous under the ancient law. 1. Fulk, Abbot of Epernay, had already written to ask me the same question as your charity has addressed to your humble servant by Brother Hescelin. I have put off replying to him, being desirous to find, if possible, some statement in the Fathers about this which was asked, which I might send to him, rather …
Saint Bernard of Clairvaux—Some Letters of Saint Bernard, Abbot of Clairvaux

Grace Abounding to the Chief of Sinners:
A BRIEF AND FAITHFUL RELATION OF THE EXCEEDING MERCY OF GOD IN CHRIST TO HIS POOR SERVANT, JOHN BUNYAN; WHEREIN IS PARTICULARLY SHOWED THE MANNER OF HIS CONVERSION, HIS SIGHT AND TROUBLE FOR SIN, HIS DREADFUL TEMPTATIONS, ALSO HOW HE DESPAIRED OF GOD'S MERCY, AND HOW THE LORD AT LENGTH THROUGH CHRIST DID DELIVER HIM FROM ALL THE GUILT AND TERROR THAT LAY UPON HIM. Whereunto is added a brief relation of his call to the work of the ministry, of his temptations therein, as also what he hath met with …
John Bunyan—The Works of John Bunyan Volumes 1-3

Meditations for the Sick.
Whilst thy sickness remains, use often, for thy comfort, these few meditations, taken from the ends wherefore God sendeth afflictions to his children. Those are ten. 1. That by afflictions God may not only correct our sins past, but also work in us a deeper loathing of our natural corruptions, and so prevent us from falling into many other sins, which otherwise we would commit; like a good father, who suffers his tender babe to scorch his finger in a candle, that he may the rather learn to beware …
Lewis Bayly—The Practice of Piety

Assurance
Q-xxxvi: WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS WHICH FLOW FROM SANCTIFICATION? A: Assurance of God's love, peace of conscience, joy in the Holy Ghost, increase of grace, and perseverance therein to the end. The first benefit flowing from sanctification is assurance of God's love. 'Give diligence to make your calling and election sure.' 2 Pet 1:10. Sanctification is the seed, assurance is the flower which grows out of it: assurance is a consequent of sanctification. The saints of old had it. We know that we know …
Thomas Watson—A Body of Divinity

The Power of God
The next attribute is God's power. Job 9:19. If I speak of strength, lo, he is strong.' In this chapter is a magnificent description of God's power. Lo, he is strong.' The Hebrew word for strong signifies a conquering, prevailing strength. He is strong.' The superlative degree is intended here; viz., He is most strong. He is called El-shaddai, God almighty. Gen 17:7. His almightiness lies in this, that he can do whatever is feasible. Divines distinguish between authority and power. God has both. …
Thomas Watson—A Body of Divinity

I Will Pray with the Spirit and with the Understanding Also-
OR, A DISCOURSE TOUCHING PRAYER; WHEREIN IS BRIEFLY DISCOVERED, 1. WHAT PRAYER IS. 2. WHAT IT IS TO PRAY WITH THE SPIRIT. 3. WHAT IT IS TO PRAY WITH THE SPIRIT AND WITH THE UNDERSTANDING ALSO. WRITTEN IN PRISON, 1662. PUBLISHED, 1663. "For we know not what we should pray for as we ought:--the Spirit--helpeth our infirmities" (Rom 8:26). ADVERTISEMENT BY THE EDITOR. There is no subject of more solemn importance to human happiness than prayer. It is the only medium of intercourse with heaven. "It is …
John Bunyan—The Works of John Bunyan Volumes 1-3

Isaiah
CHAPTERS I-XXXIX Isaiah is the most regal of the prophets. His words and thoughts are those of a man whose eyes had seen the King, vi. 5. The times in which he lived were big with political problems, which he met as a statesman who saw the large meaning of events, and as a prophet who read a divine purpose in history. Unlike his younger contemporary Micah, he was, in all probability, an aristocrat; and during his long ministry (740-701 B.C., possibly, but not probably later) he bore testimony, as …
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

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