“In those days Hezekiah was sick and near death. And Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz, went to him and said to him, “Thus says the Lord: ‘Set your house in order, for you shall die and not live.’ ” 2 Then Hezekiah turned his face toward the wall, and prayed to the Lord, 3 and said, “Remember now, O Lord, I pray, how I have walked before You in truth and with a [a]loyal heart, and have done what is good in Your sight.” And Hezekiah wept bitterly. 4 And the word of the Lord came to Isaiah, saying, 5 “Go and tell Hezekiah, ‘Thus says the Lord, the God of David your father: “I have heard your prayer, I have seen your tears; surely I will add to your days fifteen years. 6 I will deliver you and this city from the hand of the king of Assyria, and I will defend this city.” ’ 7 And this is the sign to you from the Lord, that the Lord will do this thing which He has spoken: 8 Behold, I will bring the shadow on the sundial, which has gone down with the sun on the sundial of Ahaz, ten degrees backward.” So the sun returned ten degrees on the dial by which it had gone down.” Isaiah 38:1-8 NKJV
Lord God,
Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed. He did not want to die. I knew a man of God who prayed daily facing a wall. He found it concentrated his thoughts, stopped distractions and was symbolic of God being the only way forward. Hezekiah knew no-one but You, God is the Lord of life.
The Lord does not warn all of us to put our house and the time of our death. He certainly as far as I know does not grant us knowledge of how much longer we have. And the sun going backward? We may never understand how that worked. It was a miracle and by their nature they cannot be explained.
Hezekiah could not rejoice that he was going home as he was part of the Old Testament covenant. But still how wonderful, how merciful to have extra years. He was assured that even time was in Your hand, Almighty God. You placed this historical record, maybe not for us to understand but to marvel and wonder that You were Hezekiah’s God and You are ours.
Perhaps we would prefer not to know when we will die? We would all probably like to ask for a few more years . . . Lord you are still the same as You were – but we can know You more intimately through Jesus. And one day we will see You face to face (1 Corinthians 13:12). Help us to look for miracles and know that You grant life now and life everlasting.
In Jesus name we pray, Amen.
Worship Saturday 2nd August 2025
When the trumpet of the Lord shall sound and time shall be no more,
And the morning breaks, eternal, bright and fair;
When the saved of earth shall gather over on the other shore,
And the roll is called up yonder, I’ll be there.
Refrain:
When the roll is called up yonder,
When the roll is called up yonder,
When the roll is called up yonder,
When the roll is called up yonder, I’ll be there.
On that bright and cloudless morning when the dead in Christ shall rise,
And the glory of his resurrection share;
When his chosen ones shall gather to their home beyond the skies,
And the roll is called up yonder, I’ll be there. [Refrain]
Let us labor for the Master from the dawn till setting sun;
Let us talk of all his wondrous love and care.
Then when all of life is over and our work on earth is done,
And the roll is called up yonder, I’ll be there. [Refrain]
Lyrics: James M Black.