Isaiah 38:2

2 Hezekiah turned away from Isaiah and, facing the wall, prayed to God:

Isaiah 38:2 Meaning and Commentary

Isaiah 38:2

Then Hezekiah turned his face to the wall
Not figuratively to the wall of his heart, as Jerom; but literally, either to the wall of his bedchamber where he lay sick, that his tears might not be seen, and his prayers interrupted, and that he might deliver them with more privacy, freedom, and fervency; or else to the wall of the temple, as the Targum, towards which good men used to look when they prayed, ( 1 Kings 8:38 ) ( Daniel 6:10 ) , which was a type of Christ, to whom we should have respect in all our petitions, as being the only Mediator between God and man: and prayed unto the Lord; as follows:

Isaiah 38:2 In-Context

1 At that time, Hezekiah got sick. He was about to die. The prophet Isaiah son of Amoz visited him and said, "God says, 'Prepare your affairs and your family. This is it: You're going to die. You're not going to get well.'"

2 Hezekiah turned away from Isaiah and, facing the wall, prayed to God:

3 "God, please, I beg you: Remember how I've lived my life. I've lived faithfully in your presence, lived out of a heart that was totally yours. You've seen how I've lived, the good that I have done." And Hezekiah wept as he prayed - painful tears.

4 Then God told Isaiah,

5 "Go and speak with Hezekiah. Give him this Message from me, God, the God of your ancestor David: 'I've heard your prayer. I have seen your tears. Here's what I'll do: I'll add fifteen years to your life.