The Bible Study podcast, episode 584. Today, the Bible study podcast continues the study of the

Kings of Judah with Second Kings chapter 20.

Welcome to the Bible study podcast. I'm your host, Chris Christensen. We continue on with Chapter 20. Chapter 19 left on this high note of the defeat of the Assyrians by God. Chapter 20 is a little more somber because Hezekiah, that good king becomes ill.

Hezekiah's illness.

In those days, Hezekiah became ill and was at the point of death.

The prophet Isaiah, son of Amaz, went to him and said, this is what the Lord says.

Put your house in order because you're going to die.

You will not recover.

Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed to the Lord. Remember, Lord,

how I have walked before you faithfully and with wholehearted devotion, and have done what is good in your eyes, and Hesakaya wept briefly. Before Isaiah left the middle court, the word of the Lord

came to him, go back and tell Hasekaya, the ruler of my people, this is what the Lord, the God of the Lord came to him, go back and tell Hezekiah, the ruler of my

people, this is what the Lord, the God of your father, David, says. I have heard your prayer and seen your

tears. I will heal you. On the third day from now, you will go up to the temple of the Lord. I will

add 15 years to your life. I will deliver you and this city from the hand of the king of Assyria. I will defend

this city for my sake and for the sake of my servant David. Then Isaiah said, prepare a poultice

of figs. They did so and applied it to the boil, and he recovered. Hezekiah had asked Isaiah,

what will be the sign that the Lord will heal me and that I will go up to the temple of the Lord on the third day from now?

Isaiah answered, this is the Lord's sign that the Lord will do what he has promised.

Shall the shadow go forward ten steps or shall it go back ten steps?

It is a simple matter for the shadow to go forward ten steps, said Hezekiah. Rather have it go back ten steps. It is a simple matter for the shadow to go forward

ten steps, said Hezekiah. Rather have it go back ten steps. Then the prophet Isaiah called on the

Lord and the Lord made the shadow go back ten steps. It had gone down on the stairway of Ahaz.

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