Isaiah 38:8

This extraordinary event shows Hezekiah that God even controls time. So God is able to let Hezekiah live for another 15 years.

Hezekiah recovers and he thanks God

v9 (This is the prayer of Hezekiah king of Judah when he was ill. He recovered from his illness.) v10 ‘I thought that I should have to leave this life much too soon. And that I should have to spend the rest of my days in *Sheol. v11 I thought that I should never again see the *Lord. That is, that I should never again be able to go to his *Temple. Nor should I ever again see people who are living in this world. v12 My life was like a tent that someone had taken away. My life was like a little piece of cloth that somebody had cut off from a much larger piece. Day by day God was taking away my life. v13 I thought about this all night. It was as if God was breaking all my bones. Just as a lion would break bones. That is, God was making me suffer terribly. v14 My cries for help were as weak as the sound of some bird. I looked upwards so much that I was wearing out my eyes. Master, at this time of my great trouble, come to my aid! v15 I did not know what to say. God himself had done this to me. I was so *upset. I would have to drag myself along. I could not sleep.

v16 But *Lord, experiences like these come into everybody’s life. I know this from my own experience. You brought me back to health. So you have allowed me to live. v17 Truly, to suffer greatly is a bitter experience. But you let me suffer, because it was for my own benefit. Because of your love, you saved me from death. You turned your eyes away from all my guilty deeds. And you have forgiven me. v18 God, dead people in *Sheol cannot praise you. Dead people cannot trust you to help them. v19 Only people who are alive are able to praise you. And that is what I am doing today. Parents will teach their children how right it is to trust you completely all the time. v20 *Lord, you are near me to save me. Therefore other people will join me in the *Temple to praise the *Lord. And we shall praise him all the days of our lives.’