I said in the cutting off of my days, I shall go to the gates of the grave: I am deprived of the residue of my years.
Hezekiah was convinced that his life was being cut short, that he would go to the gates of the grave deprived of the residue of his years before he reached them. He spoke these words during a grave sickness after being told he would die, and the song around them recalls both his distress in sickness and his gratitude after restoration. His recovery was an act of God's mercy and favor that spared his life when all other hope had fled, granting him a new lease of life. After he prayed, God promised him fifteen more years. The turning back of the shadow on the sundial was the sign of that recovery.
Once restored, he acknowledged God's mercy with gratitude and vowed to spend his remaining years in renewed commitment to serve God. Together with verses 11-20, the verse forms his testimony to the living God as upholder of all created things, given to extol God before the messengers from the plains of Chaldea and to lead those seekers after truth to acknowledge God's supreme sovereignty. His direction to use a fig poultice shows that prayer for healing goes together with practical remedies and care working in harmony with natural laws.
Hezekiah was convinced that his life was being cut short, that he would go to the gates of the grave deprived of the residue of his years before he reached them.
He spoke these words during a grave sickness after being told he would die, and the song around them recalls both his distress in sickness and his gratitude after restoration.
His recovery was an act of God's mercy and favor that spared his life when all other hope had fled, granting him a new lease of life.
After he prayed, God promised him fifteen more years.
The turning back of the shadow on the sundial was the sign of that recovery.
Once restored, he acknowledged God's mercy with gratitude and vowed to spend his remaining years in renewed commitment to serve God.
Together with verses 11-20, the verse forms his testimony to the living God as upholder of all created things, given to extol God before the messengers from the plains of Chaldea and to lead those seekers after truth to acknowledge God's supreme sovereignty.
His direction to use a fig poultice shows that prayer for healing goes together with practical remedies and care working in harmony with natural laws.