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.”
When Hezekiah was expecting “peace” in his life, he actually experienced “great bitterness”; that is, “great” sorrow, anxiety, fear, and despair. After the Lord had miraculously delivered “Judah and Jerusalem” from the mighty Assyrian army; this “great bitterness”, came upon Hezekiah and “Judah and Jerusalem” because “Hezekiah rendered not again according to the benefit done unto him; for his heart was lifted up: therefore there was wrath upon him, and upon Judah and Jerusalem.” (II Chronicles 32:1,14-26). But, when his “great bitterness” sat upon him like an ominous smothering cloud, he “humbled himself” (II Chronicles 32:26) and “prayed unto the LORD” (II Chronicles 32:24). Then, with perfect Mercy and Grace, the Lord heard his cry and “delivered” his “soul … from the pit of corruption”; that is, a miserable death. Hezekiah testified that his deliverance was the result of the Lord’s “love to” his “soul”. Furthermore, Hezekiah joyfully declared that the Lord had wondrously “cast all” his “sins behind” His “back”. Even in our present day, our Lord still mightily moves in the lives of His people, giving them “peace”, even in the very midst of “great bitterness”. Our Lord is still graciously casting all our “sins behind” His “back” and we are yet delivered over and over again! This blessed truth is “As cold waters to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country.” (Proverbs 25:25). Therefore, knowing of His “great love wherewith he loved us” (Ephesians 2:4), we are moved to joyfully proclaim, “I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, …” (Isaiah 61:10)!