What does Isaiah 37:5 mean?

King Hezekiah's delegation has reached Isaiah the prophet (Isaiah 37:1–4). They have come dressed in sackcloth, perhaps by order of the king, to humbly deliver the king's desperate message to Isaiah.

Among the delegation are two men that Isaiah knows and has spoken prophecies about. Shebna, the king's secretary, was once the head of the king's household. Now Eliakim holds that position. The change came because Shebna did something shameful before the Lord. Isaiah prophesied about both Shebna's demotion and the manner of his death (Isaiah 22:15–19). Isaiah also described Eliakim's resulting rise and fall (Isaiah 22:23–25). Now both men stood before him representing the humility of their king.

This is a reversal. It had not been long ago when leaders of Judah had told the prophets to only give them good news (Isaiah 30:9–12) and stop telling them what the Lord said. Now the king is aware of his desperate need of Lord and the Lord's spokesman. Hezekiah begs Isaiah to pray for the city. He hopes they will be saved by the Lord, and that God will act against Assyria to defend His holy honor. This would hold Sennacherib and his messengers accountable for mocking God.