I said, I shall not see the LORD, the LORD in the land of the living; I shall look on man no more among the inhabitants of the world.
Isaiah 38:11
Hezekiah knows that he will see the Lord in the world to come. His point is that that he will no longer see the Lord as he has in the past when he has worshipped with God’s people in the temple.
When we worship, we behold the beauty of the Lord. David says, “I have looked upon you in the sanctuary, beholding your power and glory” (Ps. 63:2). When we worship, we anticipate by faith what we will one day enjoy by sight.
Hezekiah could say, “I was glad when they said to me, let us go to the house of the LORD!” (Ps. 122:1). The thought of no longer meeting with God’s people for worship was hard to bear. “I shall look on man no more among the inhabitants of the world” (Isa. 38:11).
Hezekiah fears leaving his loved ones. “I’m not ready to say goodbye to the people I love!” Hezekiah is a godly man, and ahead of him is eternal life. But it is really hard to say goodbye.
Paul says of Epaphroditus, a brother who was dear to him, “He was ill, near to death. But God had mercy on him, and… on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow” (Phil. 2:27). Paul is not saying, “Oh well, if he dies, he goes to heaven.” No! To lose him would have been sorrow upon sorrow!
This is what Hezekiah feared. “I’m not ready to say goodbye.” You may know this anguish. God has taken someone you love. You look on them no more. And you miss them.
Value the loved ones you have. Love them well. A day will come when you will no longer have them.
Think of three ways you could show your loved ones how much you value them.
