Isaiah 38

“In those days was Hezekiah sick unto death. And Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz came unto him, and said unto him…” Naming Amoz and Hezekiah keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Then Hezekiah turned his face toward the wall, and prayed unto the LORD ,” Naming Hezekiah keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And said, Remember now, O LORD , I beseech thee, how I have walked before thee in truth and with a perfect heart, and…” Naming Hezekiah and Remember keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Then came the word of the LORD to Isaiah, saying,” Naming Isaiah keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Go, and say to Hezekiah, Thus saith the LORD , the God of David thy father, I have heard thy prayer, I have seen thy…” Naming David keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And I will deliver thee and this city out of the hand of the king of Assyria: and I will defend this city.” Naming Assyria keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And this shall be a sign unto thee from the LORD , that the LORD will do this thing that he hath spoken;” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“Behold, I will bring again the shadow of the degrees, which is gone down in the sun dial of Ahaz, ten degrees…” The number ten makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“The writing of Hezekiah king of Judah, when he had been sick, and was recovered of his sickness:” Naming Hezekiah and Judah keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“I said in the cutting off of my days, I shall go to the gates of the grave: I am deprived of the residue of my years.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“I said, I shall not see the LORD , even the LORD , in the land of the living: I shall behold man no more with the…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“Mine age is departed, and is removed from me as a shepherd’s tent: I have cut off like a weaver my life: he will cut…” Naming Mine keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“I reckoned till morning, that, as a lion, so will he break all my bones: from day even to night wilt thou make an end…” The line’s distinctive content terms include bones, break, lion. Its relationship to verses 12 and 14 shows what work it does in this passage.

“Like a crane or a swallow, so did I chatter: I did mourn as a dove: mine eyes fail with looking upward: O LORD , I am…” Naming Like keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“What shall I say? he hath both spoken unto me, and himself hath done it: I shall go softly all my years in the…” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“O Lord, by these things men live, and in all these things is the life of my spirit: so wilt thou recover me, and make…” The verse names Lord rather than leaving the action without a source. Watch whether the next line continues, answers, or contrasts that action.

“Behold, for peace I had great bitterness: but thou hast in love to my soul delivered it from the pit of corruption…” The line’s distinctive content terms include back, behind, bitterness. Its relationship to verses 18 shows what work it does in this passage.

“For the grave cannot praise thee, death can not celebrate thee: they that go down into the pit cannot hope for thy…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“The living, the living, he shall praise thee, as I do this day: the father to the children shall make known thy truth.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“The LORD was ready to save me: therefore we will sing my songs to the stringed instruments all the days of our life in…” The line’s distinctive content terms include LORD, days, house. Its relationship to verses 19 and 21 shows what work it does in this passage.

“For Isaiah had said, Let them take a lump of figs, and lay it for a plaister upon the boil, and he shall recover.” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“Hezekiah also had said, What is the sign that I shall go up to the house of the LORD ?” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.