Isaiah 38:17

“Behold, for peace I had great bitterness: but thou hast in love to my soul delivered it from the pit of corruption: for thou hast cast all my sins behind thy back.”

This verse is part of a prayer offered by King Hezekiah after he recovered from a severe illness. It is a song of thanksgiving and praise to God for delivering him from the brink of death. Let’s explore the verse in more detail:

“Behold, for peace I had great bitterness”: Hezekiah begins by acknowledging the contrasting experiences he went through. Before his illness, he may have enjoyed a peaceful and prosperous life as the king. However, the illness brought him great bitterness, likely referring to the physical, emotional, and spiritual distress he experienced during that time.

“But thou hast in love to my soul delivered it from the pit of corruption”: Hezekiah recognizes that it was God’s love and mercy that saved him from the “pit of corruption” or the realm of the dead. In his desperation, he turned to God, and God answered his prayers by restoring his health and sparing his life.

“For thou hast cast all my sins behind thy back”: Hezekiah expresses gratitude for God’s forgiveness. He acknowledges that his restoration and deliverance were not based on his own merit or righteousness but on God’s grace and willingness to forgive. This phrase implies that God has removed Hezekiah’s sins from His sight, symbolized by casting them behind His back, no longer holding them against him.