Question about Isaiah 38:17?

Question

Please see my question below the scripture.

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. Isaiah 38:17

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I committed a horrible sin and I would like to believe that verse has special meaning for me - that God allowed things to turn out the way they did because He loved me and was protecting me from completely destroying my life.

Do you think the verse is relevant in that way? Thanks.

Answer 1

Jehovah is here portrayed as taking the sins of a repentant wrongdoer and throwing them behind Him where He neither sees them nor takes notice of them anymore....

but this only applies if you are truly repentant.  And that is between God & yourself.

Answer 2

Yes, that is God's mercy.  Please forgive yourself and apologize to the ones you hurt.  This may have been a lesson you need to learn to have God take you to another place.

Answer 3

Don't worry, stay strong, everyone makes mistakes

Answer 4

it definatley could be. but dont turn back to those ways. make sure u correct ur mistake and dont do it again!

best wishes!

Answer 5

I would second paula r

Answer 6

You are forgiven to the degree that you forgive others.

Answer 7

It sounds like you are sorry for what you did, and you are trying to make some sort of reparation.  God sees that, and He will make a greater good come from the suffering (that you are going through and that you caused).  There are several instances of this in the bible, St. Paul is one of the most obvious one.  There are several saints throughout history that have done very wrong things, only to do a complete turn around and work completely for God.  St. Theresa of Avilia, St. Francis of Assisi, St. Ignatius of Loyola, St. Augustine and so on.

Modern day examples include Dorothy Day and Thomas Merton, who have some interesting life stories.  Fr. John Corapi is a modern day example of someone who led a terrible life and completely turned around, and God is using him extensively.  I think he has a web site that you could go to  www.fathercorapi.com.

I know it is difficult, but ask Jesus for you to be at peace as you travel this road.

Answer 8

This is a truth to go with your scripture that God revealed to you.  This is the continuation of it Psalm 34: 4&5  "I sought the Lord, and He answered me; He delivered me from all my fears.  Those who look to Him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame."

*Do not fear, for thy Lord thy God is with you*

God loves you and is proud of you that you seek Him and to know that He is the one to save you and help you no matter what.

Answer 9

yes, very much so.

Answer 10

I don't know you situation so it is hard to know how revelant it is. But from what you have explained I believe it can be linked to that.

I believe that God has already planed are lives so no matter what you've done it's all in Gods plan and there is always hope if you believe =)

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

Jeremiah 29:11

Hope this helps in some way.

Answer 11

If any has stumbled in his journey, there is a way back. The process is called repentance. Our Savior died to provide you and me that blessed gift. Though the path is difficult, the promise is real:



Isa 1:18 Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.

If you or someone you know has been poisoned spiritually, there is a spiritual snakebite kit. It’s called repentance. And like the remedy for temporal snakebite, it is most effective if applied quickly and early. It can combat even the most venomous spiritual poisons. “For, behold, the Lord your Redeemer suffered death in the flesh; wherefore he suffered the pain of all men, that all men might repent and come unto him.” The miracle of forgiveness is real. Your repentance is honored of the Lord.

16 O Lord, by these [things men] live, and in all these [things is] the life of my spirit: so wilt thou recover me, and make me to live.

Isa 38:17

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 is part of Hezekiah's Psalm who was sick unto death who's health was increased.

38:9 The writing of Hezekiah. After Hezekiah recovers from his illness, he records his feelings and appreciation for the Lord.  

38:10 midst of my days . . . gates of the grave. Even though Hezekiah is in the middle of his life, he stands at the threshold of death, about to enter the grave.  

38:11 I shall not see the Lord/I shall behold man no more. Hezekiah mourns lost opportunities for worship and association with other people because his life is about to end.  

38:12 Mine age. Hezekiah's future, his time of old age, is taken from him.  

as a shepherd's tent/like a weaver. Hezekiah's life ends as easily as a shepherd dismantles his tent or as quickly as a weaver cuts and gathers the finished fabric from the loom.  

day even to night. In a single day, Hezekiah's anticipation of a long life changes to an anticipation of death.  

38:13 lion . . . break all my bones. Hezekiah anticipates complete destruction, such as that carried out by a beast that overcomes and devours its prey  (Jer. 50:17).    

38:14 Like a crane or a swallow/dove. Hezekiah's pleadings with the Lord are at times loud, as a crane's cry, at other times as soft as a swallow's chirp, and on occasion mournful, as a dove's cooing.  

mine eyes fail. Hezekiah pleads so long that his eyes become weak from looking heavenward, symbolizing his great efforts in petitioning the Lord for his life.  

I am oppressed. Hezekiah, feeling the pressure a debtor feels from a creditor  (Matt. 18:28-30),  asks the Lord to take the responsibility for the debt ("undertake for me"), that is, to free him from immediate death.  

38:15 What shall I say? The climax of the  psalm  is the point at which Hezekiah learns that his life has been extended: He is more or less speechless (What shall I say?).  

go softly. Hezekiah commits himself to walk humbly (softly) in the Lord's paths.  

38:16 life of my spirit. Hezekiah testifies that the Lord is the sustaining force of life (cf.  D&C 10:70;  50:27;  88:11).    

38:17 bitterness instead of peace. Hezekiah had felt anguish of soul at the prospect of death, but with his healing, he now feels clean and wholly at peace.  

pit of corruption. h**l.  

cast all my sins behind thy back. Being healed by the Lord is often associated with being forgiven of sins  (Matt. 9:6;  James 5:15).    

38:18 grave cannot praise thee. The opportunity of praising and celebrating the Lord's name in his presence is not given to those who are consigned to the pit (h**l); they have no hope of basking in the truth and light of the Lord  (D&C 76:81-87;  121:19).    

38:19 the living. The living, those who are spiritually alive and have avoided the fate of those consigned to the pit (38:18), praise the Lord.  

father to the children. It is the obligation of parents to teach their children God's truths  (D&C 68:25).    

38:20 we will sing . . . all the days of our life. Hezekiah determines to sing praises to the Lord in the temple all the days of his life.  

38:21 lump of figs . . . boil.  Isaiah  tells Hezekiah to apply to his boils a paste made of figs. Hezekiah obeys, and "he recovered"  (2 Kgs. 20:7).    

38:22 go up to the house of the Lord. After an illness that had kept one from entering the temple was cured, it was customary to wash and go before the priests to be pronounced clean.  

Answer 12

Yes, what that verse means is that when God forgives, He no longer sees that sin, it is put behind Him and He will not look at it again.

Answer 13

if you find solace in scripture then yes it was meant for you. its there for those who believe.

Answer 14

Yes, I agree also the the verse is relevant in that way continue to cling to it.

Answer 15

It seems as though your heart was opened to the grace and love of God through the Holy Spirit. Yes, I would say you have received the teaching that God wanted you to learn.

Answer 16

I know where you are coming from, and yes that verse means a lot to me. Here's another verse that might be of help.

(Rom 8:28) "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose."

I can testify that this verse has always been true for me. Even my sin somehow has a way of turning out for good. If it were not for the terrible things that I have done, I would probably still be living a selfish, insecure, godless life. I don't know how God did it, but this verse along with Isaiah 38:17 holds true.

Answer 17

God's desire is that we become perfect (Matthew 5:48).  And he works on us to achieve that goal -- like a potter working to make a vessel (Isaiah 64:6-12).  It is good that you recognize your sin and are regretful -- let your regret lead you to change toward perfection.

Hebrews 12:6 -- For whom the Lord loves He chastens, And scourges every son whom He receives."

2 Corinthians 7:9-10 -- Now I rejoice, not that you were made sorry, but that your sorrow led to repentance. For you were made sorry in a godly manner, that you might suffer loss from us in nothing.  For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death.

Revelation 2:16-17 -- Repent, or else I will come to you quickly and will fight against them with the sword of My mouth. 17 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give some of the hidden manna to eat. And I will give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name written which no one knows except him who receives it." '

Isaiah 42:3 -- A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out. In faithfulness he will bring forth justice; (also in Matthew 12:20).

.

Answer 18

I think that's a bit of an assumption.

Answer 19

The (real) verse from the King James Version is more powerful and might even apply more to your situation:

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.

The only sin that God cannot forgive is the sin of rejection --  not accepting Jesus Christ as your personal savior.

"...but thou hast in love to my soul delivered it from the pit of corruption..." as long as you don't continue to commit the sin that you spoke of above, then you have indeed been delivered from the pit of corruption.

"thou hast cast all my sins behind thy back."  Our God is a forgiving God, and can forgive AND forget any sin that you have committed.

I think the best way to deal with this problem is to ask forgiveness from your God, and then the people that you have hurt.

As for whether this verse has a special meaning for you, only you can decide that.

And: God DOES love you and will protect you from destroying your life if you truly love him. Trust his guidance.

In Christ,

Kyle

Answer 20

Yes! Jesus will forgive your sin if you only ask Him too! "If we confess our sings, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." ~1 John 1:9

"For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace." ~Romans 6:14

"And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to His purpose." ~ Romans 8:28

Jesus is waiting with open arms to receive you as His Child!