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Isaiah
Hezekiah
1. Hezekiah was the king of Judah who reigned from approximately 715 BC to 686 BC. He is an important figure in the Old Testament and is mentioned in several books, including 2 Kings, 2 Chronicles, and Isaiah.
2. In Isaiah, Hezekiah's story is told in chapters 36-39. In these chapters, the Assyrian king Sennacherib invades Judah and threatens to conquer Jerusalem. He sends his field commander to demand that the city surrender, but Hezekiah refuses. Instead, he seeks the advice of the prophet Isaiah and prays to God for help.
3. Isaiah assures Hezekiah that God will protect Jerusalem and that Sennacherib will not succeed. Sure enough, the night before Sennacherib's attack, an angel of the Lord strikes down 185,000 Assyrian soldiers, and the rest of the army retreats. Hezekiah's faith and trust in God are praised, and he is remembered as a faithful king who sought God's help in times of trouble.
4. Later, Hezekiah becomes seriously ill and Isaiah tells him that he will die. Hezekiah prays to God, and God grants him an additional 15 years of life. As a sign of God's promise, the shadow on the sundial moves back ten steps. Hezekiah offers a psalm of thanksgiving, recognizing God's mercy and grace in sparing his life.
5. Hezekiah's story in Isaiah emphasizes the importance of faith and trust in God, even in the face of great adversity. Hezekiah sought God's help and guidance, and God came to his aid in miraculous ways.
