In many parts of the world Daylight Saving Time is still practiced, and whether you think this practice is useful or not, it is certainly nice to have an extra hour of sun once a year. In the days of Hezekiah, time was set back and no one had a choice of whether to observe it or not.

King Hezekiah, the son of wicked King Ahaz, reigned in the south over Judah. He was 25 when he took the throne and would remain king for 29 years. God’s account of him is found in 2 Chronicles 31:20, “he did what was good and right and true before the Lord his God”; and 2 Kings 18:7, “the Lord was with him; he prospered wherever he went.”

The first part of Hezekiah’s reign was of a godly character, and there was a revival in the land. But he became sick and, when death was near, Isaiah the prophet told him to set his house in order. Manasseh was not yet born, so the question could be asked: who would inherit the throne, and how would the lineage of Messiah be preserved?

Hezekiah cries out to the Lord and weeps. His prayer is answered, granting him recovery and 15 more years. Hezekiah asks for a sign that what the Lord has told him will come to pass. Isaiah gives Hezekiah a choice of the shadow on the sundial either going forward ten degrees or going back by the same amount. The king chooses the latter, and, in a simple way, wouldn’t we all like to go back in time to fix up parts of our lives. Let us consider this exhortation and ensure our houses are in order as well and keep Christ as the center of our homes.