Study Desk

Then King Hezekiah asked, "What is the sign to prove that I will be able to go to the Temple?" Isaiah replied, "The Lord will give you a sign to prove that he will keep his promise. On the stairway built by King Ahaz, the Lord will make the shadow go back ten steps." And the shadow moved back ten steps. After Hezekiah recovered from his illness, he wrote this song of praise: I thought that in the prime of life I was going to the world of the dead, Never to live out my life. I thought that in this world of the living I would never again see the Lord Or any living person. My life was cut off and ended, Like a tent that is taken down, Like cloth that is cut from a loom. I thought that God was ending my life. All night I cried out with pain, As if a lion were breaking my bones. I thought that God was ending my life. My voice was thin and weak, And I moaned like a dove. My eyes grew tired from looking to heaven. Lord , rescue me from all this trouble. What can I say? The Lord has done this. My heart is bitter, and I cannot sleep. Lord, I will live for you, for you alone; Heal me and let me live. My bitterness will turn into peace. You save my life from all danger; You forgive all my sins. No one in the world of the dead can praise you; The dead cannot trust in your faithfulness. It is the living who praise you, As I praise you now. Parents tell their children how faithful you are. Lord , you have healed me. We will play harps and sing your praise, Sing praise in your Temple as long as we live.

The commander gave him permission, so Paul stood on the steps and motioned with his hand for the people to be silent. When they were quiet, Paul spoke to them in Hebrew:

It was to this that God called you, for Christ himself suffered for you and left you an example, so that you would follow in his steps.