What is the meaning of Isaiah 38:13? I composed myself until the morning “I composed myself until the morning.” (Isaiah 38:13a) • Hezekiah speaks from a sickbed, forcing himself to stay calm through the long, fearful night. • Waiting through darkness for dawn is a recurring picture of faith that clings to God when feelings falter (Psalm 30:5; Lamentations 3:22-23). • The phrase shows resolve: instead of surrendering to panic, Hezekiah chooses to trust that God can bring relief with the sunrise (Psalm 27:13-14). Like a lion He breaks all my bones “Like a lion He breaks all my bones.” (Isaiah 38:13b) • The imagery is raw—God’s discipline feels as savage as a lion tearing apart its prey (Job 10:16; Lamentations 3:1-4). • Bones represent the deepest part of a person; when they ache, every movement hurts (Psalm 22:13-17). • Hezekiah is not accusing God of cruelty; he is confessing that the weight of divine judgment is overwhelming, stripping away every pretense of self-reliance (Hebrews 12:5-6). From day until night You make an end of me “From day until night You make an end of me.” (Isaiah 38:13c) • The king senses his life ebbing away hour by hour, as though each daylight span finishes another measure of his strength (Psalm 39:4-5). • By repeating “day” and “night,” he underscores the relentless pace of his decline—no respite, no pause (Habakkuk 3:16). • Yet the personal address, “You,” shows Hezekiah still knows whose hand is in control; even under judgment, he turns toward the very One who afflicts him (2 Samuel 12:22-23). summary Isaiah 38:13 captures a night of severe testing for Hezekiah: steadying himself until morning, feeling the crushing force of God’s discipline, and sensing life slipping away without relief. In each phrase he acknowledges God’s sovereignty, confessing pain yet clinging to the hope that the same Lord who breaks can restore. The verse invites believers to endure affliction with honest lament and unwavering trust, confident that every dark night remains under the Father’s faithful watch. |
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