Isaiah is speaking in behalf of God here.
Isaiah 37:6 “And Isaiah said unto them, Thus shall ye say unto your master, Thus saith the LORD, Be not afraid of the words that thou hast heard, wherewith the servants of the king of Assyria have blasphemed me.” The men Hezekiah sent, bring the message to Isaiah, as they had been commanded. Isaiah 37:5 “So the servants of king Hezekiah came to Isaiah.”
Hezekiah says that the attack is against God’s character, as well as against God’s people. He reminds Isaiah that Rab-shakeh had spoken in error about God. Hezekiah is pleading for Isaiah to pray to God for them. Hezekiah asked Isaiah’s prayer for the city. “Remnant that is left”: Only Jerusalem remained unconquered. “Reproach the living God”: Hezekiah received a report of Rab-shakeh’s belittling of the Lord by equating Him with other gods and points out the distinction between God who is living and gods who are lifeless and helpless (40:18-20 46:5-7). Isaiah 37:4 “It may be the LORD thy God will hear the words of Rab-shakeh, whom the king of Assyria his master hath sent to reproach the living God, and will reprove the words which the LORD thy God hath heard: wherefore lift up prayer for the remnant that is left.” The statement about the birth above, is saying they are in trouble and cannot get themselves out of it. It appears that Hezekiah is saying that the words Rab-shakeh had spoken of the Lord were blasphemy. Hezekiah felt in his heart this was a judgment of God against the land of Judah. The worst mistake Hezekiah had made, was putting his faith in Egypt for help. Jerusalem had to be delivered, but he was helpless to make it happen. “Come to birth … not strength”: Hezekiah compared his dilemma with a mother in labor unable to deliver her child. Isaiah 37:3 “And they said unto him, Thus saith Hezekiah, This day a day of trouble, and of rebuke, and of blasphemy: for the children are come to the birth, and not strength to bring forth.” Hezekiah had great respect for the prophet of God, Isaiah. Hezekiah was a humble man and probably sent them, thinking himself unworthy to speak directly to the prophet, Isaiah. They are all dressed in mourning clothes as well. These priests were senior religious leaders in Israel.Īgain, Hezekiah sends these men to speak to the prophet, Isaiah, for him. Isaiah 37:2 “And he sent Eliakim, who over the household, and Shebna the scribe, and the elders of the priests covered with sackcloth, unto Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz.” He went to the temple to pray to the LORD.
He tears his regular clothes from himself, and puts on sackcloth, the garment of mourning. When Hezekiah hears this bad news, he immediately goes into mourning. The Assyrians were threatening to take Judah. In the last lesson, the 3 messengers had come back from meeting with the Assyrian with bad news. 21:13 Mark 11:17 Luke 19:46), so it was the proper place to go to confess sins and seek forgiveness (Psalm 73:16-17). “House of the Lord”: God designated the temple as His “house of prayer” (56:7 Matt. The nation was to repent and the king was to lead the way. “Rent … Sackcloth”: A reaction that symbolized Hezekiah’s grief, repentance and contrition. Isaiah 37:1 “And it came to pass, when king Hezekiah heard, that he rent his clothes, and covered himself with sackcloth, and went into the house of the LORD.” This may also explain why Sennacherib himself did not come to Jerusalem to demand its surrender. Thus, God promised to send a spirit of confusion upon the invaders by means of a “rumor” (report), of the advance of the Egyptians led by “Tirhakah, king of Ethiopia,” who was the most famous king of Egypt’s Twenty-fifth Dynasty. When Isaiah arrived, he spoke with great confidence, promising a miraculous deliverance by the Lord, who will send a “blast” (ruach, “spirit”), upon the invaders. Verses 1-13: Horrified by the demand of the Assyrians, Hezekiah “rent his clothes” (a sign of mourning), went into “the house of the Lord” (the temple), and sent for “Isaiah the prophet.” Recognizing that “this is a day of trouble,” the king went to “prayer” for the “remnant” of survivors within the besieged city.