Day 90: 2 Kings 20:9
2 Kings 20:9
The Blueprint — The Verse
Isaiah said, "This is the LORD's sign to you that the LORD will do what he has promised: Shall the shadow go forward ten steps, or shall it go back ten steps?"
Memorization Practice
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Scripture quotations marked NIV are from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
The Context — The History
Hezekiah lay ill in Jerusalem when Assyrian power still loomed over Judah. Sundials and shadow clocks were known in the ancient world; reversing shadow was a public sign of divine intervention.
The Narrative — The Lead-Up
Isaiah announced Hezekiah would die, but the king prayed and God added fifteen years to his life. Hezekiah asked for a sign, and Isaiah offered the choice of the shadow moving forward or backward on the steps.
The Echo — Follow-on Verses
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2 Kings 20:8
8Hezekiah 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?”
Read the verse immediately before this lesson (2 Kings 20:8) to hear the lead-in to the passage.
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2 Kings 20:10
10“It is a simple matter for the shadow to go forward ten steps,” said Hezekiah. “Rather, have it go back ten steps.”
Read the verse immediately after this lesson (2 Kings 20:10) to continue the passage.
Discussion
- Why did Hezekiah want a sign after receiving God's word?
- How does God confirm his promises in tangible ways?
- What promise are you asking God to make real?