I will make the sun's shadow that falls on the stairway of Ahaz go back ten steps.'" So the sunlight went back the ten steps it had descended. I will make the sun’s shadow that falls on the stairway of Ahaz go back ten steps.This phrase refers to a miraculous sign given by God to King Hezekiah as a confirmation of his healing and the extension of his life. The "stairway of Ahaz" likely refers to a sundial or a series of steps used to measure time by the position of the sun's shadow. Ahaz, Hezekiah's father, was a previous king of Judah, and this structure was associated with him. The miracle of the shadow moving backward is significant as it demonstrates God's control over nature and time, emphasizing His sovereignty. This event is unique in biblical history and serves as a powerful sign of divine intervention. Theologically, it underscores God's ability to alter the natural order, which is a theme seen in other biblical miracles, such as the parting of the Red Sea ( Exodus 14:21-22) and the stopping of the sun in Joshua 10:12-14. So the sunlight went back the ten steps it had descended.
This confirms the fulfillment of God's promise to Hezekiah. The reversal of the sun's shadow is a physical manifestation of God's power and faithfulness. It also serves as a typology of resurrection and renewal, as Hezekiah's life is extended, symbolizing new life. This event can be seen as a precursor to the ultimate miracle of resurrection found in Jesus Christ, who is described as the "light of the world" (John 8:12). Theologically, this miracle reassures believers of God's ability to intervene in human affairs and His willingness to provide signs to strengthen faith. Historically, such an event would have been awe-inspiring and served to reinforce Hezekiah's faith and the faith of the people of Judah in God's promises. Persons / Places / Events 1. HezekiahThe king of Judah who was ill and prayed to God for healing. God granted him 15 more years of life and provided a sign to confirm His promise. 2. IsaiahThe prophet who delivered God's message to Hezekiah, including the promise of healing and the sign of the sun's shadow moving backward. 3. AhazThe father of Hezekiah and former king of Judah. The "stairway of Ahaz" is likely a sundial or a set of steps used to measure time by the sun's shadow. 4. The SunCentral to the miraculous sign given by God, where its shadow moved backward as a confirmation of His promise to Hezekiah. 5. JerusalemThe city where these events took place, serving as the political and spiritual center of Judah. Teaching Points God's Sovereignty Over CreationThe miracle of the sun's shadow moving backward demonstrates God's absolute control over the natural world. This reassures believers of His power and ability to intervene in our lives. Faith and PrayerHezekiah's earnest prayer and God's response highlight the importance of turning to God in times of need. It encourages believers to seek God with faith, trusting in His willingness to hear and answer. Signs and Wonders as ConfirmationThe sign given to Hezekiah serves as a reminder that God sometimes uses extraordinary means to confirm His promises. Believers can trust in God's faithfulness even when circumstances seem impossible. The Role of ProphetsIsaiah's role in delivering God's message underscores the importance of prophetic voices in guiding and encouraging God's people. It challenges believers to be attentive to God's word through Scripture and His messengers. Bible Study Questions 1. How does the miracle of the sun's shadow moving backward in Isaiah 38:8 demonstrate God's control over creation, and how can this understanding impact your faith in God's power today? 2. In what ways does Hezekiah's response to his illness and God's promise encourage you to approach God in prayer during your own times of need? 3. How can the sign given to Hezekiah serve as a reminder of God's faithfulness in your life, and what are some personal examples where you have seen God's promises confirmed? 4. Compare the miraculous events involving the sun in Isaiah 38:8 and Joshua 10:12-14. What do these events teach us about God's intervention in human history? 5. Reflect on the role of Isaiah as a prophet in this account. How can you be more attentive to God's guidance through Scripture and other believers in your life? Connections to Other Scriptures 2 Kings 20:8-11This passage provides a parallel account of the same event, offering additional details about Hezekiah's illness and the sign of the sun's shadow. Joshua 10:12-14Another miraculous event involving the sun, where God made the sun stand still to aid Israel in battle, demonstrating His control over creation. Psalm 102:24-27Reflects on God's eternal nature and His power over time, contrasting human frailty with divine sovereignty. People Ahaz, Amoz, David, Hezekiah, IsaiahPlaces AssyriaTopics Ahaz, Backward, Behold, Bring, Bringing, Cast, Cause, Declined, Declining, Degrees, Dial, Return, Returned, Shade, Shadow, Stairway, Steps, Sundial, Sun-dial, Sunlight, Sun's, Ten, Turn, Turneth, WhereonDictionary of Bible Themes Isaiah 38:8 4212 astronomy
4284 sun
4834 light, natural
4846 shadow
5553 stairways Isaiah 38:1-8 5333 healing Isaiah 38:1-10 8610 prayer, asking God Isaiah 38:4-8 5548 speech, divine Isaiah 38:7-8 1403 God, revelation Library The Life of the Spirit
(First Sunday after Christmas.) Isaiah xxxviii. 16. O Lord, by these things men live, and in all these things is the life of my spirit. These words are the words of Hezekiah, king of Judah; and they are true words, words from God. But, if they are true words, they are true words for every one--for you and me, for every one here in this church this day: for they do not say, By these things certain men live, one man here and another man there; but all men. Whosoever is really alive, that is, has …
Charles Kingsley—Town and Country SermonsNo Man Cometh to the Father but by Me.
This being added for further confirmation of what was formerly said, will point out unto us several necessary truths, as, I. That it is most necessary to be sound and clear in this fundamental point of coming to God only in and through Christ. For, 1. It is the whole marrow of the gospel. 2. It is the hinge of our salvation, Christ is "the chief corner stone," Isa. xxxviii. 16. 1 Pet. i. 5, 6; and, 3. The only ground of all our solid and true peace and comfort. 4 An error or a mistake here, is most …
John Brown (of Wamphray)—Christ The Way, The Truth, and The Life Epistle ii. To Anastasius, Bishop of Antioch.
To Anastasius, Bishop of Antioch. Gregory to Anastasius, Patriarch of Antioch. I have received the letters of your most sweet Blessedness, which flowed with tears for words. For I saw in them a cloud flying aloft as clouds do; but, though it carried with it a darkness of sorrow, I could not easily discover at its commencement whence it came or whither it was going, since by reason of the darkness I speak of I did not fully understand its origin. Yet it becomes you, most holy ones, ever to recall …
Saint Gregory the Great—the Epistles of Saint Gregory the Great Sign Seekers, and the Enthusiast Reproved.
(Galilee on the Same Day as the Last Section.) ^A Matt. XII. 38-45; ^C Luke XI. 24-36. ^c 29 And when the multitudes were gathering together unto him, ^a 38 Then certain of the scribes and Pharisees answered him, saying, Teacher, we would see a sign from thee. [Having been severely rebuked by Jesus, it is likely that the scribes and Pharisees asked for a sign that they might appear to the multitude more fair-minded and open to conviction than Jesus had represented them to be. Jesus had just wrought …
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel Letter Xliv Concerning the Maccabees but to whom Written is Unknown.
Concerning the Maccabees But to Whom Written is Unknown. [69] He relies to the question why the Church has decreed a festival to the Maccabees alone of all the righteous under the ancient law. 1. Fulk, Abbot of Epernay, had already written to ask me the same question as your charity has addressed to your humble servant by Brother Hescelin. I have put off replying to him, being desirous to find, if possible, some statement in the Fathers about this which was asked, which I might send to him, rather …
Saint Bernard of Clairvaux—Some Letters of Saint Bernard, Abbot of Clairvaux Grace Abounding to the Chief of Sinners:
A BRIEF AND FAITHFUL RELATION OF THE EXCEEDING MERCY OF GOD IN CHRIST TO HIS POOR SERVANT, JOHN BUNYAN; WHEREIN IS PARTICULARLY SHOWED THE MANNER OF HIS CONVERSION, HIS SIGHT AND TROUBLE FOR SIN, HIS DREADFUL TEMPTATIONS, ALSO HOW HE DESPAIRED OF GOD'S MERCY, AND HOW THE LORD AT LENGTH THROUGH CHRIST DID DELIVER HIM FROM ALL THE GUILT AND TERROR THAT LAY UPON HIM. Whereunto is added a brief relation of his call to the work of the ministry, of his temptations therein, as also what he hath met with …
John Bunyan—The Works of John Bunyan Volumes 1-3 Meditations for the Sick.
Whilst thy sickness remains, use often, for thy comfort, these few meditations, taken from the ends wherefore God sendeth afflictions to his children. Those are ten. 1. That by afflictions God may not only correct our sins past, but also work in us a deeper loathing of our natural corruptions, and so prevent us from falling into many other sins, which otherwise we would commit; like a good father, who suffers his tender babe to scorch his finger in a candle, that he may the rather learn to beware …
Lewis Bayly—The Practice of Piety Assurance
Q-xxxvi: WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS WHICH FLOW FROM SANCTIFICATION? A: Assurance of God's love, peace of conscience, joy in the Holy Ghost, increase of grace, and perseverance therein to the end. The first benefit flowing from sanctification is assurance of God's love. 'Give diligence to make your calling and election sure.' 2 Pet 1:10. Sanctification is the seed, assurance is the flower which grows out of it: assurance is a consequent of sanctification. The saints of old had it. We know that we know …
Thomas Watson—A Body of Divinity The Power of God
The next attribute is God's power. Job 9:19. If I speak of strength, lo, he is strong.' In this chapter is a magnificent description of God's power. Lo, he is strong.' The Hebrew word for strong signifies a conquering, prevailing strength. He is strong.' The superlative degree is intended here; viz., He is most strong. He is called El-shaddai, God almighty. Gen 17:7. His almightiness lies in this, that he can do whatever is feasible. Divines distinguish between authority and power. God has both. …
Thomas Watson—A Body of Divinity I Will Pray with the Spirit and with the Understanding Also-
OR, A DISCOURSE TOUCHING PRAYER; WHEREIN IS BRIEFLY DISCOVERED, 1. WHAT PRAYER IS. 2. WHAT IT IS TO PRAY WITH THE SPIRIT. 3. WHAT IT IS TO PRAY WITH THE SPIRIT AND WITH THE UNDERSTANDING ALSO. WRITTEN IN PRISON, 1662. PUBLISHED, 1663. "For we know not what we should pray for as we ought:--the Spirit--helpeth our infirmities" (Rom 8:26). ADVERTISEMENT BY THE EDITOR. There is no subject of more solemn importance to human happiness than prayer. It is the only medium of intercourse with heaven. "It is …
John Bunyan—The Works of John Bunyan Volumes 1-3 Isaiah
CHAPTERS I-XXXIX Isaiah is the most regal of the prophets. His words and thoughts are those of a man whose eyes had seen the King, vi. 5. The times in which he lived were big with political problems, which he met as a statesman who saw the large meaning of events, and as a prophet who read a divine purpose in history. Unlike his younger contemporary Micah, he was, in all probability, an aristocrat; and during his long ministry (740-701 B.C., possibly, but not probably later) he bore testimony, as …
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament Links Isaiah 38:8 NIVIsaiah 38:8 NLTIsaiah 38:8 ESVIsaiah 38:8 NASBIsaiah 38:8 KJV
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