Isaiah 38

[Robin]

 Isaiah 38

10 I said, "In the prime of my life
       must I go through the gates of death
       and be robbed of the rest of my years?"

11 I said, "I will not again see the LORD,
       the LORD, in the land of the living;
       no longer will I look on mankind,
       or be with those who now dwell in this world.

12 Like a shepherd's tent my house
       has been pulled down and taken from me.
       Like a weaver I have rolled up my life,
       and he has cut me off from the loom;
       day and night you made an end of me.

13 I waited patiently till dawn,
       but like a lion he broke all my bones;
       day and night you made an end of me.

14 I cried like a swift or thrush,
       I moaned like a mourning dove.
       My eyes grew weak as I looked to the heavens.
       I am troubled; O Lord, come to my aid!"

15 But what can I say?
       He has spoken to me, and he himself has done this.
       I will walk humbly all my years
       because of this anguish of my soul.

16 Lord, by such things men live;
       and my spirit finds life in them too.
       You restored me to health
       and let me live.

17 Surely it was for my benefit
       that I suffered such anguish.
       In your love you kept me
       from the pit of destruction;
       you have put all my sins
       behind your back.

18 For the grave [c] cannot praise you,
       death cannot sing your praise;
       those who go down to the pit
       cannot hope for your faithfulness.

19 The living, the living—they praise you,
       as I am doing today;
       fathers tell their children
       about your faithfulness.

20 The LORD will save me,
       and we will sing with stringed instruments
       all the days of our lives
       in the temple of the LORD.

[DuluthGA]

Thank you for this great verse set M.G.  I knew about the few verses describing that when we are dead, we are really dead... but I had not yet taken in the several verses leading up to them. 

Here is my favorite sub-set of those you presented that establishes not only the sovereignty of God but that evil/tragedies originate from Him :

Isaiah 38: 12 (portions)         my house has been pulled down and taken from me.
                                        Like a weaver I have rolled up my life,
                                        and he has cut me off from the loom;
Isaiah 38: 14b-15a               My eyes grew weak as I looked to the heavens.
                                        I am troubled; O Lord, come to my aid!"

                                        But what can I say?
                                        He has spoken to me, and he himself has done this.

Once again, M.G., I believe, through these verses, we are able to relate to each other in what we've both been through in the way of tragic circumstances and how we've both come to acknowledge the truth in these verses of God's ways and ultimate purpose in verse 20:

                                         The LORD will save me,

GREAT DYANAMIC VERSE SET.  It is great FOR US ALL.

Thanks again for these comforting scriptures.

Prepare for a new dimension in Christ Jesus...
It's just around the horizon, amen.
Janice