seekeroftruth
Well-Known Member
Isaiah 38:1 In those days Hezekiah became ill and was at the point of death. The prophet Isaiah son of Amoz went to him and said, “This is what the Lord says: Put your house in order, because you are going to die; you will not recover.”
2 Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed to the Lord, 3 “Remember, Lord, how I have walked before you faithfully and with wholehearted devotion and have done what is good in your eyes.” And Hezekiah wept bitterly.
4 Then the word of the Lord came to Isaiah: 5 “Go and tell Hezekiah, ‘This is what the Lord, the God of your father David, says: I have heard your prayer and seen your tears; I will add fifteen years to your life. 6 And I will deliver you and this city from the hand of the king of Assyria. I will defend this city.
7 “‘This is the Lord’s sign to you that the Lord will do what he has promised: 8 I will make the shadow cast by the sun go back the ten steps it has gone down on the stairway of Ahaz.’” So the sunlight went back the ten steps it had gone down.
9 A writing of Hezekiah king of Judah after his illness and recovery:
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 himself
in the land of the living;
no longer will I look on my fellow man,
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 being threatened; Lord, come to my aid!”
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 himself
in the land of the living;
no longer will I look on my fellow man,
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 being threatened; 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 people 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.
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 people 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 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;
parents 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.
and we will sing with stringed instruments
all the days of our lives
in the temple of the Lord.
21 Isaiah had said, “Prepare a poultice of figs and apply it to the boil, and he will recover.”
22 Hezekiah had asked, “What will be the sign that I will go up to the temple of the Lord?”
Well... might as well continue with bible-studys.org.
The events covered in this section, are actually out of order chronologically. Chapters (36 and 37), serving as a conclusion to the Assyrian period of Isaiah’s ministry, and (chapters 38 and 39), forming an introduction to the coming Babylonian captivity, which is pictured throughout (chapters 40-66).
Deeply broken by Isaiah’s stern warning that “thou shalt die,” Hezekiah “prayed” and “wept sore” and was given an extension of “fifteen years;” God promised that he would deliver Jerusalem out of the hand of the “king of Assyria (see chapters 36 and 37). In contrast to Ahaz, Hezekiah accepted the offer of a “sign” (to, “miracle”), requesting that the “sun dial of Ahaz” be moved “ten degrees backward” by a supernatural miracle that reversed the falling shadow on the steps (or degree markers), of the sundial.
“Back ten degrees”: Here is the first biblical mention of any means of marking time. According to (2 Kings 20:8-10), Hezekiah requested this sign to confirm the Lord’s promise of healing.
“The writing of Hezekiah” is a song of deliverance. His healing is described as having been brought about by a “lump” (cake) “of figs”, which was to be applied to “the boil” (shechin), the same word used for one of the plaques of Egypt.
This deadly commentary is from the easy English site.Hezekiah’s illness made him feel very depressed. (In other words, his inner feelings were deeply sad.) And this affected all of his life.
Like many people at that time, Hezekiah thought that Sheol was some sort of miserable place. And he thought that all dead people went there. In Sheol, they were without hope or communication with God.
A ‘boil’ would not itself cause death. But in those days a ‘boil’ would suggest the terrible disease called leprosy. And that would be a very serious matter (see Leviticus chapter 13).
Hubby and I were just talking about old remedies the other day. My grandmother use to bury her dishrags for someone who was very ill. She had a bunch of poultices that her family passed down. OK... I did a google search for figs and boils and this site popped up.... shirleytwofeathers.com
Fig milk (or sap) is so commonly prescribed for ringworm, skin irritations, warts, and insect bites, that I think it must have some healing effect although wikipedia warns that the sap of the fig’s green parts is an irritant to human skin. Figs (made into syrups or decoctions) are universally popular when it comes to treating coughs, colds, and and upper respiratory problems. Figs also appear to have a soothing effect on the teeth and gums. Possibly it has a drawing effect, pulling out the infection thus reducing the inflammation.
Put fresh figs on boils to draw out the poison. That is definitely the truth. It works. Alternatively, for a boil, use white foam from stem of a fig tree, rubbed on the boil. And if you want to get really complicated you can always make a poultice of honey, malt, eldershoots, figs, parsley, cabbage and groundsel (also urine and cow dung can be added if you are so inclined).
This comes from the same site.... it's supposed to help with cancer. [from the same site]
Boil turkey figs in milk and let them thicken. When they are tender, split and apply them to part affected. The part must be washed every time the poultice is changed with some of the fig milk. Change to a fresh poultice every night and every morning, and at least once during the day. Drink a quarter of a pint of the fig milk twice in 24 hours. Repeat for three or four months. [This item found written in a neighbor’s old Home Book of Health, where she had inserted it, handwritten, on the inside front cover. She claims a man of 105 years of age had been cured of “mouth cancer, with six pounds of figs.” ] Here’s another report of a cancer cure from long ago – Cancer is cured by one doctor by cutting away the growth and binding on green figs with other herbs.
I would have said "cure for cancer" in the title if I really believe that it was the figs that cured the cancer...... but I truly believe that it is prayer that heals cancer.... the poultice.... well it would help.... it looks like a lot of work..... gotta change the poultice at least once a day and drink a potion twice a day for for three or four months. Then again.... chemo and pain pills or Cancer Centers are a lot of work as well..... and that costs a whole lot more than prayer and figs.There was a disclaimer at the end of the list of ailments to be cured by figs.... it says "these were very old, passed down through generations, from when medical assistance was non-existent." IMHO.....That's a good reason to add prayer to the poultice or drink.
Prayer and figs got Hezekiah 15 more years. I feel for Hezekiah..... I know how depressing it is to get a terminal diagnosis. Prayer helps.
