Isaiah 38:19
The living, only the living, can thank You, as I do today; fathers will tell their children about Your faithfulness.
Sermons
Claims of ChildrenFamily CircleIsaiah 38:19
Ingratitude CommonJ. N. Norton.Isaiah 38:19
MotivesT. Boston.Isaiah 38:19
Parental ObligationW. Clarkson Isaiah 38:19
Parental Relationship a Medium of Divine RevelationW. O. Lilley.Isaiah 38:19
Praising GodT. Boston.Isaiah 38:19
Propagating ReligionT. Boston.Isaiah 38:19
Thanksgiving and ThankslivingIsaiah 38:19
The Christian View of LifeW. W. Jackson, M. A.Isaiah 38:19
The Father to the ChildrenT. Boston.Isaiah 38:19
The Importance of the Present LifeW. W. Jackson, M. A.Isaiah 38:19
The Jew Valued the Present LifeW. W. Jackson, M. A.Isaiah 38:19
The Obligation to Propagate ReligionT. Boston.Isaiah 38:19
The Peculiar Mercy and Business of LifeT. Boston.Isaiah 38:19
The Praise of the LivingD. F. Jarman, B. A.Isaiah 38:19
The Right LifeHomilistIsaiah 38:19
The Value and Use of LifeJ. Brewster.Isaiah 38:19
Face to Face with DeathW. Wheeler.Isaiah 38:9-20
Hezekiah's ExperienceE. Payson, D. D.Isaiah 38:9-20
Hezekiah's PoemE. W. Shalders, B. A.Isaiah 38:9-20
Hezekiah's RecoveryR. Harris, D. D.Isaiah 38:9-20
Hezekiah's Return to HealthP. M. Muir.Isaiah 38:9-20
Hezekiah's Sickness and RecoveryH. J. Gamble.Isaiah 38:9-20
Hezekiah's SongR. Harris, D. D.Isaiah 38:9-20
Sickness and RecoveryJ. Leifchild, D. D.Isaiah 38:9-20
The Fear of DeathP. M. Muir.Isaiah 38:9-20
The Prayer of HezekiahP. M. Muir.Isaiah 38:9-20
The Wisdom of Keeping a Record of One's LifeJ. Leifchild, D. D.Isaiah 38:9-20
The Song of HezekiahE. Johnson Isaiah 38:9-22
The Great DisclosureW. Clarkson Isaiah 38:11, 18, 19
A Sense of Pardoned SinIsaiah 38:17-19
Deliverance from DestructionA. Littleton, D. D.Isaiah 38:17-19
Hezekiah's Return of Praise for His RecoveryA. Littleton, . D. D.Isaiah 38:17-19
Love's Medicines and MiraclesIsaiah 38:17-19
Miracles of LoveIsaiah 38:17-19
Pardon RealisedW. O. Lilley.Isaiah 38:17-19
Sins Behind God's BackW. O. Lilley.Isaiah 38:17-19
Soul-PitsW. O. Lilley.Isaiah 38:17-19
The Assurance of FaithJohn Cennick.Isaiah 38:17-19
The Pains and Pleasures Attending ReligionJohn Rippon.Isaiah 38:17-19
The Purpose of God's LoveJ. Parker, D. D.Isaiah 38:17-19
Hezekiah in Prospect of DeathBp. Harvey Goodwin, D. D.Isaiah 38:18-19
The Praiseful LifeJ. G. Pilkington, M. A.Isaiah 38:18-19














The father to the children shall make known thy truth.

I. THAT TRUTH IS THE COMMON HERITAGE OF THE RACE. Of all open and common things truth is that to which our right is most indisputable. The air, the light, the sea, the sky, the beauty of the landscape, etc., are open to us all; but truth, above all these things, is common property.

II. THAT REVEALED TRUTH IS PECULIARLY PRECIOUS TO MANKIND. All truth may be said to be "thine" - to be God's. For it would never find illustration or apprehension without his action. But the truth which he has specially revealed is more peculiarly his - the truth which is contained in his Word, and, most especially, that which was revealed in (and by) his Son. This is the truth which is our very life (ver. 16), raising the fallen, bringing peace to the penitent, calling man into fellowship with God, comforting the afflicted, arming against temptation, preparing for the battle of life and for the hour of. death and the requirements of the eternal world.

III. THAT IT IS THE PART OF EVERY PARENT TO COMMUNICATE AND TO ENFORCE THIS TRUTH OF GOD. "The father to the children shall make known," etc.

1. To communicate Divine truth to the young is the parent's work; for

(1) he has access to his children which no one else can gain, in the time when they are docile and responsive;

(2) he can exert an influence upon them which no one else can acquire;

(3) he has a responsibility laid upon him by God of which no one else can relieve him;

(4) he has an interest in their well-being which no one else possesses, - the joy or the sorrow of his later years will depend very largely on the choices they make and the courses they pursue.

2. To instil Divine truth into their minds should be his daily effort. This is to be effected by instruction, by example, by prayer. - C.

The living, the living, he shall praise Thee.
Homilist.
The right life is a praise-giving life. Such a life is —

I. THE MOST HONOURABLE.

II. THE MOST BENEFICIAL TO THE MAN HIMSELF.

III. THE MOST BENEFICIAL TO OTHERS. "The father to the children shall make known Thy truth."

IV. THE CONSIDERATION OF THE SHORTNESS OF LIFE OUGHT TO INDUCE US TO SPEND OUR TIME IS PRAISING GOD. Hezekiah felt that the years given him to live on the earth would soon come to an end, hence the emphasis placed on "the living, the living."

(Homilist.)

I. THE WORSHIPPER. "The living."

II. THE OBJECT AND NATURE OF THE PRAISE RENDERED. The prolongation of life is a legitimate cause for Christian thanksgiving. It is only in our state as "the living" that we have an opportunity of uttering that which we may term practical and generative praise — a praise which induces others to join us in our work — a praise which begets praise, and tends to propagate itself, by God's blessing, throughout the length and breadth of an ungrateful world. It is evident that Hezekiah referred to such praise as this; for he says, "The father to the children shall make known Thy truth."

(D. F. Jarman, B. A.)

I. THE DUTY OF SERIOUSLY MEDITATING ON OUR BEING MERCIFULLY SPARED among the living. It is right and rational to rejoice in this prolongation of your life; but such rejoicing is useless, unless it be founded on a serious thought of the blessing received. To rejoice in being alive, for the sole selfish enjoyment which you hope to derive from life, is nothing better than the natural instinct of a mere animal.

II. THE IMPORTANCE OF SUCH A BLESSING. There is nothing in creation more amazing than what is called life; a miracle, indeed, perpetually witnessed, and therefore generally overlooked; but curious to be contemplated, and most difficult to be comprehended in its various attendant circumstances.

1. As a mere object of curiosity, a mere piece of machinery, the lowest living creature is above the utmost reach of human intelligence.

2. But how much more important is life when considered as a means of enjoyment.

3. How much higher still does life rise in its interest and importance when considered in connection with an understanding mind.

4. Yet all this is the least of the matter; and if the life of man were nothing more than what we see of it here, wonderful as it is, it would be only as an empty show, or as a fleeting meteor, bursting on the view and gazed at for a moment, but gone for ever, even before it could be understood.

5. But this very fleeting nature of life imparts an additional value to its possession, when viewed in its true light, namely, as connected with an eternal state.

6. How much more exalted still does our idea of life become, when it is connected with salvation!

III. THE WAY IN WHICH YOU SHOULD EXPRESS THIS THANKFULNESS AND USE THIS BLESSING. "He shall praise Thee."

1. Nothing can possibly be. more clearly right and reasonable than this, that we are bound to live to the praise of that gracious Being by whose power and providence we do live.

2. This, indeed, is the great, the express end for which you were brought into the number of "the living"; the only occupation also m which you will find any solid happiness m life, namely, to praise or glorify God; to make His will the rule of your life, to make His glory the aim of your life.

3. But these words do evidently express something more than merely the duty of living to the praise of God, and of praising Him the more fervently the longer that He spares us among the living. They seem particularly to proclaim the importance of life on this account alone, that it affords us an opportunity of showing forth the praises of God. So the devout believer feels a relish in life, altogether distinct from his natural instincts or personal enjoyments; namely, in the power which it puts into his hands of praising the gracious Author of his spiritual privileges and eternal hopes. Nor is it enough to say, that he might still better praise God m the heavenly courts. There are calls for this praise more urgent, and opportunities of this praise more direct, even in this mortal scene, than in the eternal state; occasions for bearing your testimony to God's perfections, which are not required in heaven above; occasions for exercising your great Christian graces of faith and charity, which are not afforded, and which cannot be afforded in a state of perfect holiness and felicity.

(J. Brewster.)

The Jew, in all his thought and religion, showed a keen sense of the value of the present life. The very deficiencies in his religious conceptions seem to arise from this cause. The presence of God in this world seemed to obscure the future from his eyes, just as in later ages the bright vision of the future has thrown the present into the shade. But as the Jewish spirit became saddened by experience the sense of the presence of God in the world became weaker. The Jew did not relax his hold on practical righteousness, but the faith of childhood began to lose its simplicity. His thoughts took a wider range, and began to be directed to the future. The revelation of Christ completed the change for which other influences had helped to prepare the way; and the new faith stood opposed to the old, as the spiritual to the carnal.

(W. W. Jackson, M. A.)

But has the central conception of early Jewish religion disappeared, or has it only been matured and purified? Is not human life, as we have experience of it here, in the present, with all its cares, and joys, and sorrows, still the great concern of religion? Does it not still afford us the best means of drawing Dear to God, and realising His presence? Does not Christ Himself teach us that our first business is in this life, when He prays to the Father that He should not take the disciples out of the world, but that He should keep them from the evil?

(W. W. Jackson, M. A.)

1. The feeling which the Jew had entertained on the subject of death differs as widely as possible from that entertained by St. Paul. The change of sentiment had been consummated by Christ, who had "abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the Gospel." The life of the Christian was thenceforth "hid with Christ in God." The affections were thenceforth to be "set on things above." The opposition between the things of the world and the things of God had been declared. But as soon as the Christian asked himself what was the means by which he could make this view his own, there could be only one reply. He must live after it. He must take the spirit of Christ into the world. But he could rise to the height of his duty here, only by keeping his eye fixed on the pattern in the heavens.

2. This conception of Christian life suggests reflections of two different kinds —(1) If religion brings harmony and law into human life, then the life which aspires after the ideal of religion is the most complete.(2) On the other hand, do we always fully accept the human revelation which the teaching of life itself offers to us? Do we recognise the divinity which resides in the pursuits and institutions of secular life?

(W. W. Jackson, M. A.)

I. THE MERCY OF LIFE. "The living, the living, he shall praise Thee," &c.

II. WHEREIN THE PECULIAR MERCY OF IT CONSISTS.

1. Ask the carnal man where lies the mercy of life. And —(1) If he is in prosperity, he reckons the mercy of life lies in that the living man may enjoy the pleasures of sense, mirth, and jollity, and may lay up wealth for him and his; all which stern death robs a man of. But there is not one word of this here.(2) If he is in adversity, poverty, and sore sickness, he cannot see the mercy of life at all, but thinks they are well that are away, that are out of poverty and pain, and fie at ease in the dust. So crosses make him wish to be away, At best, he reckons it the mercy of life, that he is not where it may be he would be worse, namely, in hell. But there is not a word of all this either in the text.

2. Ask the renewed man in an ill frame of spirit, where lies the mercy of life. If he is in outward prosperity he will be ready to reckon it lies in the comforts of this life. If he is in adversity, the troubles of life are so great, that the mercy of it is small in his view; only heaven bulks in his eyes, and that as a place of rest from trouble. But there is nothing of this either in the text.

3. The decision is, the mercy of life lies in the business of life, to wit, being serviceable for God in the world. "The living, the living, he shall praise Thee," &c. Which speaks a high esteem of God and His service, as men count it a favour to serve their prince; and an ardent love to Him, as men delight to serve the interests of those they dearly love. Now, the business of life for which it is desirable, is twofold.(1) To praise or glorify God in the world.(2) To propagate His name and praise: "The father to the children shall make known Thy truth." It is the special business of life to endeavour that the name of God may bye and be glorified in the world when we are dead. Consider —(a) What he has access to do for that end; namely, to praise God to the younger sort, that are likely to five after he is gone; especially to his own children.(b) How he may do it, namely, by making Him known to them as an object worthy of their faith. "Shall make known Thy truth."

(T. Boston.)

I. WHAT PRAISING GOD IS. It is the acknowledging and declaring the glorious excellencies of God, as He has manifested Himself in His word and works, and imports —

1. Belief of the Being of God.

2. The knowledge of God.

(1)Of who He is — Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, one God.

(2)Of what He is.

(3)Of what He has done.

3. The love of God. Love is the mother of praise.

4. The admiration of God, which is love and esteem raised to a high pitch.

5. Expressing that love and admiration to Him. This is twofold —

(1)Vocal.

(2)Real, by actions, though not accompanied with words.

II. WHAT ARE THE PECULIARITIES OF THE PRAISES OF THE LIVING.

1. They are the praises of the whole man, in soul and body too (1 Corinthians 6:20).

2. They are praises which may spread among the living (Colossians 3:16).

3. They are praises raised by the way to the heavenly kingdom.

4. They are praises of faith, not of sight.

5. They are praises to God amidst much dishonour done to Him.

(T. Boston.)

1. God is the Author of thy life.

2. The Preserver of thy life.

3. The Giver of all thou hast, whereby thou mayest honour Him.

4. God puts opportunities in thine hand for honouring Him.

5. There are some who are deprived of those abilities or occasions ye have to honour God. The pagan world, &c.

6. Ye have forfeited by sin all your abilities, opportunities, and your very life. His patience has suffered us long, &c. Should not this engage us to live to His honour?

7. This was the design of the redemption purchased by Christ (Titus 2:14).

8. It is the design of the sanctification of the Spirit (1 Peter 2:9).

9. It is a lost life that is not lived to the honour of God.

(T. Boston.)

Thanksgiving is good, but thanksliving is better.

( M. Henry.)

A lady who had heard a great many prayers offered for sick people, in a large city church, said to her husband, "Do all the sick people who are prayed for in our church die?" "Why, no," he answered, "of course not; but why do you ask?" "I supposed that they all died," she said, "because I hardly ever heard of one who had got well enough to give thanks!"

(J. N. Norton.)

The father to the children.
What is it to propagate religion, God's name and praise, to the rising generation? It implies —

1. The having religion ourselves.

2. The profession of religion.

3. A desire to continue and spread religion in the world.

4. Contributing our endeavours to bring others, and particularly the rising generation, to the knowledge and practice of religion.

(T. Boston.)

1. Fathers of the State, to their political children (Isaiah 49:23).

2. Fathers in the Church, ministers, and other Church officers, to their ecclesiastical children.

3. Fathers of families, to their children, servants, &c.

4. Fathers in gifts or graces to those who are children in these respects in comparison of them (1 John 2:12, 13).

5. Fathers in years to those who are children in respect of age to them (1 Timothy 5:1, 2).

(T. Boston.)

1. Divine authority (Deuteronomy 4:10; Deuteronomy 11:19).

2. Gratitude to God.

3. Justice to former generations, who have propagated religion to us.

4. Our own interest.

5. Charity to the rising generation.

(T. Boston.)

Family Circle.
once said, "Could I climb to the highest place in Athens, I would lift my voice and proclaim, Fellow-citizens, why do ye turn and scrape every stone to gather wealth, and take so little care of your children, to whom one day you must relinquish it all?"

(Family Circle.)

Revelations of God's faithfulness are precious. They are the ground of human hope. Every life has some peculiar revelation of God's truth in it. The parental relationship, with its tender solicitudes and loves, furnishes a means of transmission. This duty should be conscientiously performed —

I. THAT THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOD MAY INCREASE FROM AGE TO AGE.

II. THAT THE GRATITUDE OF ONE GENERATION SHOULD GLORIFY GOD BY MINISTERING TO THE MORAL LIFE OF THE NEXT.

III. THAT THE GENERATION FOLLOWING MAY HAVE A SAVING KNOWLEDGE OF GOD, AND TRUST IN HIM.

(W. O. Lilley.)

People
Ahaz, Amoz, David, Hezekiah, Isaiah
Places
Assyria
Topics
Confess, Faithfulness, Fathers, Makes, Mercy, Praise, Sons, Story, Tells, Thanks, Truth
Outline
1. Hezekiah, having received a message of death, by prayer has his life lengthened
8. The sun goes ten degrees backward, for a sign of that promise
9. His song of thanksgiving.

Dictionary of Bible Themes
Isaiah 38:19

     5302   education
     5666   children, needs

Isaiah 38:18-19

     5816   consciousness

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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