Hezekiah was one of the few good kings who reigned over God’s people after the kingdom divided.  When he fell ill and Isaiah the prophet told him he would die, he turned his face to the wall and prayed for deliverance.  God answered his prayer, granting him fifteen more years of life.

An experience like that gives you perspective.  This was certainly true in Hezekiah’s case.  After his recovery he wrote a poem expressing his gratitude.  One of the lines makes an interesting point about death:

For Sheol does not thank you; death does not praise you; those who go down to the pit do not hope for your faithfulness. (Is. 38:18)

Similar, equally puzzling statements have been made in the Psalms:

• “For in death there is no remembrance of you; in Sheol who will give you praise?” (6:5).
• “What profit is there in my death, if I go down to the pit?  Will the dust praise you?  Will it tell of your faithfulness?” (30:9).
• “Is your steadfast love declared in the grave, or your faithfulness in Abaddon?” (88:11).
• “The dead do not praise the Lord, nor do any who go down into silence” (115:17).

Hezekiah and David were obviously not talking about what goes on in heaven.  Every picture we have of our eternal inheritance is one of ceaseless praise around the throne of God (see Is. 6:1-3; Rev. 4:1-11).  They had to be talking about what the dead can no longer do on earth.  From an earthly vantage point, cemeteries are silent places.

Why did Hezekiah and David make these comments as they were facing their own deaths?  They knew that their deaths would mark an end to earthly activities.  They would no longer be able to glorify God among men, neither would they be able to accomplish anything else this side of the grave.  They felt they had more work to do, so they asked God for more time.

Life is brief.  It is foolish to put off righteousness and good works for another day.  There may not be another day.  Are you lost?  Do you need to obey the gospel?  Seek the Lord in a time when he can be found (Ps. 32:6).  Are you being controlled by some secret sin or habit that has enslaved you?  Get help and repent before it’s too late.  Do you need to come back to the Lord?  There is no time to waste.  There will come a day when the opportunity to accomplish earthly things will be over.  As Solomon said, “Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might, for there is no work or thought or knowledge or wisdom in Sheol, to which you are going” (Ecc. 9:10).