Shadow Turning Back Time 9/16/2024
Daily Devotions: by Christina Farris2 Kings 20:1-11 KJV
1 In those days was Hezekiah sick unto death. And the prophet Isaiah the son of Amoz came to him, and said unto him, Thus saith the LORD, Set thine house in order; for thou shalt die, and not live.
2 Then he turned his face to the wall, and prayed unto the LORD, saying,
3 I beseech thee, O LORD, remember now how I have walked before thee in truth and with a perfect heart, and have done that which is good in thy sight. And Hezekiah wept sore.
4 And it came to pass, afore Isaiah was gone out into the middle court, that the word of the LORD came to him, saying,
5 Turn again, and tell Hezekiah the captain of my people, Thus saith the LORD, the God of David thy father, I have heard thy prayer, I have seen thy tears: behold, I will heal thee: on the third day thou shalt go up unto the house of the LORD.
6 And I will add unto thy days fifteen years; and I will deliver thee and this city out of the hand of the king of Assyria; and I will defend this city for mine own sake, and for my servant David's sake.
7 And Isaiah said, Take a lump of figs. And they took and laid it on the boil, and he recovered.
8 And Hezekiah said unto Isaiah, What shall be the sign that the LORD will heal me, and that I shall go up into the house of the LORD the third day?
9 And Isaiah said, This sign shalt thou have of the LORD, that the LORD will do the thing that he hath spoken: shall the shadow go forward ten degrees, or go back ten degrees?
10 And Hezekiah answered, It is a light thing for the shadow to go down ten degrees: nay, but let the shadow return backward ten degrees.
11 And Isaiah the prophet cried unto the LORD: and he brought the shadow ten degrees backward, by which it had gone down in the dial of Ahaz.Reliance on prophets, reliance on God, or both. Some point Hezekiah had a relationship with God in his life. He became sick in body and ask God to remember this time after the prophet brought word he would die. Isaiah did not get to leave the inner court of the palace when God sent him back to bring healing to King Hezekiah. He put some figs on the boils and Hezekiah began to be healed but it would take three days for complete healing and he could go to the temple to worship God. Hezekiah wanted proof it would happen and God grant Hezekiah request with the shadow on the sun dial that was originally king Ahaz to go in the opposite direction it would normally go in. This was the sign given by request by Hezekiah. Fifteen years God would protect the city of Jerusalem for King David sake. God's love for David exceeded David's earthly life.
There may be times in your life you may feel closer to God, to Christ and the Holy Spirit. Hezekiah proof God does not forget this time period. Sometimes it takes men God like the prophet Isaiah to be demonstrator of God's continually love so we understand God's grace even in an off season of faith. Hezekiah hadnt stopped believing his relationship need spiritual growth or reality check. How would you feel to be visited by the prophet Isaiah. How would you feel despite your failings God was listening to you and this prophet.
True faith never needs a time to go back but needs one to pick it up and move forward. By timer going back it allow Hezekiah to rely on faith past and his relationship with God. Where your faith on yesterdays experience or on a continual walk with God.
Dear Heavenly Father help us to be where you need us to be in faith and not relying on yesteryears, In Jesus precious name, Amen. Continual Scripture Study: 2 Corinthians 5:6-10 KJV
6 Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord:
7 (For we walk by faith, not by sight:)
8 We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.
9 Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him.
10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad. http://www.turtle30cshell.com
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