Worship Preparation Guide for Sunday, August 21

Worship Preparation Guide for Sunday, August 21

Sermon Text:  Isaiah 38

Parallel Text: 2 Kings 20

The Apostle Paul reminds us, “For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope” (Romans 15:4).  Even if you don’t know it yet, you need the endurance, encouragement and hope found in Isaiah 38.

It is an absolute certainty that unless the Lord should return beforehand, each one of us will face head on the reality of sickness, suffering and death.  It may be in our own life, or in the life of a loved one, but sooner or later we will all face this truth: “you shall die, you shall not recover” (Is 38:1).

We are all like Hezekiah.  In Isaiah 37 we saw Hezekiah turn to the Lord in the face of a national crisis.  But now it’s a personal crisis he faces.  Again he turns, albeit imperfectly, to the Lord.  And again God is faithful to answer. 

The New Testament puts it this way: “For as in Adam all die….”; that's the bad news.  But here’s the good news: “…so also in Christ shall all be made alive”  (I Corinthians 15:22).  Like all of Isaiah, chapter 38 ultimately points us to Christ.  Only through Jesus can we face sickness and death with faith instead of fear.

One of the lessons we learn through times of sickness and suffering is how frail we are physically and weak we are spiritually.  The flip side of that is learning how strong God and faithful God is, and how merciful He is toward us.

This reality should motivate us to humility and worship.  It did for Hezekiah.

Looking back on his sickness Hezekiah was able to say: “Behold, it was for my welfare that I had great bitterness, but in love you have delivered my life from the pit of destruction, for you cast all my sins behind my back” (Is 38:17). 

Consider this as you prepare for worship:  The healing and grace that God offers us in Christ is complete. Christ’s death on the cross and resurrection from the grave make available to us healing for our souls (forgiveness) and ultimate healing for our bodies (resurrection). 

Even with his limited understanding of these things, Hezekiah was filled with a desire to use the time God had given him for thanksgiving to God, testimony to others, and joyful worship in the house of the Lord. 

Hezekiah declares:

The living, the living, 

he thanks you, as I do this day;

the father makes known 

to the children your faithfulness.

The LORD will save me, 

and we will play my music 

on stringed instruments

all the days of our lives, 

at the house of the LORD.   (Isaiah 38:19-20)

Hezekiah sees that the essence of life is enjoying the presence of God in worship.  Worship is why we were created, and worship is what it means to really live. 

As you prepare for worship I encourage you to spend some time in Isaiah 38, and consider the healing and grace you have in Christ. 

But He was pierced for our transgressions;

He was crushed for our iniquities;

upon Him was the chastisement t

hat brought us peace,

and with His wounds 

we are healed.  (Isaiah 53:5)