今天的經文是以四段章節敘述一段史實，放在以賽亞的預言中，顯示以賽亞早期的預言已經應驗，足見以後的預言也會實現。整個故事的重心都在篤信上帝的希西家王身上，也許他就是猶大主要的改革家，同時也是一位禱告而且正直的人，結果希西家親眼目睹上帝殺了十八萬五千個侵略猶大的亞述軍人，日後還得到延長十五年壽命的恩寵，但希西家卻敗在愚蠢的驕傲上，糊裡糊塗的答應了巴比倫使者的要求，封殺了自己國家的命脈。

        以美國為例，在過去一年裡，平均每隔二十秒就發生一件事，足以影響一百五十萬美國人的生命，你能猜出是什麼事嗎？
        答案：每二十秒就有一個美國人心臟病發作，立刻讓一般人了解到生死之隔不過是心臟不再跳動而已！對六十萬因心臟病而死的美國人而言，卻是真真實實的經歷到「死亡」。
        死亡，是一個普世都不歡迎的話題，不歡迎歸不歡迎，世人還是一個接著一個的踏上歸途──死了！和許多人一樣，希西家王接近死亡的時候就痛哭了（38：1-3）──懊惱的眼淚，悔恨的眼淚，啊，還有那麼多尚未表達的善意，那麼多未完成的計畫，所以上帝賜下十五年生命給希西家。但這樣的事不常發生，當你必須向世界道別的時候，你是否預備好──或後悔不已──和上帝面對面？打開報紙，找一則訃聞，假設你的名字躺在那兒（你也可以寫下來，強調一番），感受如何？現在就和上帝討論討論你要怎樣度過今天的以後的生命吧！

        重遊歷史古蹟（36：2）
        拉伯沙基，這位西拿基立王手下野戰部隊的總司令，曾「站在上池的水溝旁，在漂布地的大路上」，對猶大人叫戰、威脅、嗤笑，二十三年前，上帝也曾要一個人站在同一地點宣講信息，你記得是誰嗎？（如果你一時想不起，就查一下以賽亞書七章一到九節吧！）

沒有一個人能在停止呼吸後，還能悔改成為基督徒。

English

        Today's reading represents a four-chapter interlude in Isaiah's prophecy—a historical parenthesis which shows the ful¬fillment of some of Isaiah's early prophecies, and sets the stage for many of his later ones. The focus throughout is on King Hezekiah, perhaps the premier reformer of Judah. A man of prayer and principle, Hezekiah sees God destroy 185,000 Assyrian invaders and extend his own life by 15 years. But by responding in foolish pride to a Babylonian emissary, Hezekiah seals the fate of his nation.

        Something happened (on the average) every 20 seconds last year. It affected the lives of 1.5 million Americans. Can you guess what it was? (Hint: It had nothing to do with Ronald McDonald!)
        Answer: Every 20 seconds, someone in the United States suffered a heart attack .. . and suddenly came to realize dial death was only a heartbeat away. And for 600,000 Americans that realization became a reality.
        Death. It's the universally distasteful subject. But the fact remains that one out of one dies! For King Hezekiah—as with many people—the approach of death brought tears (38:1-3)— tears of regret. . . tears of remorse. So many good intentions . . . so many half-finished projects. God gave Hezekiah a gift of 15 additional years—but that doesn't always happen. When it's time for you to die, will you be ready—or regretful—to see the Lord face to face? Find the obituary column in your newspaper, and pretend for a moment that your name is there (you may even want to write it in, just to emphasize the point). Now talk to God about how you want to spend the rest of your days!

        An Historic Spot Revisited (36:2)
        Rabshakeh, King Sennacherib's field commander, "stood by the conduit of the upper pool in die highway of the fuller's field" when he shouted his arrogant threats. Twenty-three years earlier, God had told a man to stand in the same spot and declare His message. Do you remember who? (If not, check 7:1-9.)

No one ever repented of being a Christian on his deathbed.