Chapters 36-39 will be the narrative conclusion to the first section of Isaiah that began in chapter 1. These chapters take the literary form of historical narrative, with some poetry mixed in, to put a conclusion on what has been laid out in these first 35 chapters to this point. If you remember, Isaiah is trying to get the audience to examine themselves that they may see whom they trust in. These final chapters are a last gut punch to the chosen people of God as they will prove, once again, to be inconsistent in placing their trust in the Lord. God, on the other hand, shows himself to be faithful and, although we are led eventually to a place of destruction of the chosen people, it should be seen through the lens of a God who is always working out a way for his people to restore a relationship with him. 

• Vv. 1-3 The king of Assyria is conquering all of the land around Jerusalem and as they approach the city, king Sennacherib sends his high-ranking officer towards the city with a great army. Locations have significance, and the conduit of the upper pool should remind you of Isaiah 7:3 where Isaiah goes to king Ahaz, who brought Assyrian oppression on the people in the first place, and declares that Israel will prevail, a remnant will return, and that God is working our salvation. 

• Vv. 4-10 Trust is repeated 7 times in the section. The military officer puts theIsraelites in a difficult situation as he calls out their trust in words and invisible bonds versus the great army that he brought to the gates of Jerusalem. This military officer calls out the evil of trusting in one who is not the Lord and instead in Egypt, who surely proves to be a failed relationship. But, the officer points out the breaking down of false gods altars which he seems to think is bad but actually proves some goodness of Hezekiah. Rabshakeh proves he does not know the Lord and finishes his arrogant tirade claiming to be sent by God to destroy the Israelites. 

• Vv. 11-12The goal of Assyria was to starve the people of Jerusalem out that they may turn against their leaders. He also was speaking in Hebrew that the people in the city may fear the Assyrians and turn against Hezekiah and God. 

• Vv. 13-20 The Assyrians have nothing but anger towards the leaders of Israel because of the disrespect seen from the Israelite leaders. Deliver is used 7 times in this section. This matches the idea of trust in his first tirade, setting up the significant theme being played out in this narrative of “Whom will you trust for your deliverance?” Both sides are using the Lord’s voice to sway the people, who would they listen to? Ultimately, Assyria wanted them to make peace with them, not with the living God. 

• Vv. 21-22 With so much pressure to crumble into making peace with the formidable enemy, they did not respond. 

This Scripture gives us some interesting talking points. 

Voices of God?: Hezekiah will publicly profess his faith (through the help of Isaiah) that the Lord will deliver them from the hands of the Assyrians. But Rabshakeh is saying that he has a message of destruction from that same God, and that he is the destroyer! So how do we know what voice to listen to as a person “living in the wall”? We ought to be prayerful and consider who it is who were are hearing from. Sometimes sinful and broken messages come to us claiming to be God. But we must be filled of the Spirit and be willing to check that message against Scripture and against the character of God. A message from the Lord will be in accordance to the word of God and His eternal character. 

Believers do not negotiate: Hezekiah commands that the people do not respond or negotiate with the Assyrians. It is an example for us today in how we ought to respond to enemies who are pursuing us. We may look at the daunting forces against us and be less than confident of our outcomes. And yet, for those who are in the Lord, we ought to be full of confidence that our God is more than able to provide our deliverance. We need not negotiate with earthly forces who will never be able to provide the peace which comes only from heaven.