38About that time Hezekiah became deathly ill, and the prophet Isaiah son of Amoz went to visit him. He gave the king this message: “This is what the Lord says: ‘Set your affairs in order, for you are going to die. You will not recover from this illness.’”H3117H2396H2470H4191H3470H5030H1121H531H935H559H559H3068H1004H6680H4191H24212When Hezekiah heard this, he turned his face to the wall and prayed to the Lord,H2396H5437H6440H7023H6419H30683“Remember, O Lord, how I have always been faithful to you and have served you single-mindedly, always doing what pleases you.” Then he broke down and wept bitterly.H559H2142H3068H577H1980H6440H571H8003H3820H6213H2896H5869H2396H1058H1065H14194Then this message came to Isaiah from the Lord:H1697H3068H3470H5595“Go back to Hezekiah and tell him, ‘This is what the Lord, the God of your ancestor David, says: I have heard your prayer and seen your tears. I will add fifteen years to your life,H1980H559H2396H559H3068H430H1732H1H8085H8605H7200H1832H3254H3117H2568H6240H81416and I will rescue you and this city from the king of Assyria. Yes, I will defend this city.H5337H5892H3709H4428H804H1598H58927“‘And this is the sign from the Lord to prove that he will do as he promised:H226H3068H3068H6213H1697H16968I will cause the sun’s shadow to move ten steps backward on the sundial of Ahaz!’” So the shadow on the sundial moved backward ten steps.H7725H6738H4609H3381H8121H4609H271H6235H4609H322H8121H7725H6235H4609H4609H3381
Hezekiah’s Poem of Praise
9When King Hezekiah was well again, he wrote this poem.H4385H2396H4428H3063H2470H2421H248310I said, “In the prime of my life, must I now enter the place of the dead? Am I to be robbed of the rest of my years?”H559H1824H3117H3212H8179H7585H6485H3499H814111I said, “Never again will I see the Lord God while still in the land of the living. Never again will I see my friends or be with those who live in this world.H559H7200H3050H3050H776H2416H5027H120H3427H230912My life has been blown away like a shepherd’s tent in a storm. It has been cut short, as when a weaver cuts cloth from a loom. Suddenly, my life was over.H1755H5265H1540H7473H168H7088H707H2416H1214H1803H3117H3915H799913I waited patiently all night, but I was torn apart as though by lions. Suddenly, my life was over.H7737H1242H738H7665H6106H3117H3915H799914Delirious, I chattered like a swallow or a crane, and then I moaned like a mourning dove. My eyes grew tired of looking to heaven for help. I am in trouble, Lord. Help me!”H5483H5693H6850H1897H3123H5869H1809H4791H3068H6234H614815But what could I say? For he himself sent this sickness. Now I will walk humbly throughout my years because of this anguish I have felt.H1696H559H6213H1718H8141H4751H531516Lord, your discipline is good, for it leads to life and health. You restore my health and allow me to live!H136H2421H2416H7307H2492H242117Yes, this anguish was good for me, for you have rescued me from death and forgiven all my sins.H7965H4751H4843H2836H5315H7845H1097H7993H2399H310H146018For the dead cannot praise you; they cannot raise their voices in praise. Those who go down to the grave can no longer hope in your faithfulness.H7585H3034H4194H1984H3381H953H7663H57119Only the living can praise you as I do today. Each generation tells of your faithfulness to the next.H2416H2416H3034H3117H1H1121H3045H57120Think of it—the Lord is ready to heal me! I will sing his praises with instruments every day of my life in the Temple of the Lord.H3068H3467H5058H5059H3117H2416H1004H306821Isaiah had said to Hezekiah’s servants, “Make an ointment from figs and spread it over the boil, and Hezekiah will recover.”H3470H559H5375H1690H8384H4799H7822H242122And Hezekiah had asked, “What sign will prove that I will go to the Temple of the Lord?”H2396H559H226H5927H1004H3068
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of Ahaz!’” So the shadow on the sundial moved backward ten steps.H7725
