Isaiah chapter 6 reveals the prophet’s vision of THE HOLY GOD. It seems that this vision served as Isaiah’s commission to be a PROPHET of God and was the beginning of his ministry. The actual vision is recorded in verses 1-4. “In the year that King Uzziah died, I SAW THE LORD sitting on a Throne, High and Lifted Up and the train of HIS ROBE FILLED THE TEMPLE. Above it stood seraphim; each one had six wings: with two He covered His face, with two He covered His feet, and with two He flew.
“And one cried to another and said: ‘HOLY, HOLY, HOLY, is THE LORD of HOSTS; THE WHOLE EARTH IS FILLED WITH HIS GLORY’! And the posts of the door were shaken by the voice of Him who cried out, and the house was filled with smoke”.
The LORD was sitting on a HIGH THRONE with the Seraphim above. This chapter is the only time where Seraphim are mentioned in Scripture, and they seem to be a particular group of servants who PRAISED GOD AT HIS THRONE. Though the description is brief, this was a most spectacular scene that the prophet observed, but it did not leave him speechless.
“So, I said: ‘Woe is me, for I am undone! Because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of people of unclean lips; FOR MY EYES HAVE SEEN THE KING, THE LORD OF HOSTS.” (5) The prophet was truly HUMBLED by what he saw and heard and felt DEEP DESPAIR. Isaiah also immediately expressed CONSCIOUSNESS of HIS OWN GUILT and the GUILT of THOSE AROUND HIM. SEEING THE KING the way he did caused Isaiah to look at his entire life differently, and to consider his own UNWORTHYNESS.
But THE LORD LOOKED ON ISAIAH AS ONLY THE LORD CAN and DETERMINED to PURGE HIM OF SIN AND PURIFY HIM. God used an unusual method to TAKE AWAY HIS INIQUITIES. One of the Seraphim flew to Isaiah with a burning coal in his hand, taken from the altar, and touched the prophet’s mouth with it. The Seraphim spoke: Behold, this has touched your lips; YOUR INIQUITY IS TAKEN AWAY, AND YOUR SIN IS PURGED.” (6:7).
Immediately, GOD DECLARED ISAIAH FREE OF SIN. HE COULD NOW OFFER ACCEPTABLE SERVICE TO THE LORD. It was very similar to David asking God for this same FORGIVENESS, so he could render PURE AND UNDEFILED SERVICE TO HIM. “PURGE me with hyssop, and I shall be CLEAN; WASH ME and I shall be WHITER THAN SNOW…Do not cast me AWAY FROM YOUR PRESENCE, and DO NOT TAKE YOUR HOLY SPIRIT FROM ME…O LORD, OPEN MY LIPS and MY MOUTH SHALL SHOW FORTH YOUR PRAISE.” (Psalm 51:7,11,15).
Immediately following his PARDON FROM SIN, God spoke directly to Isaiah with a question. “Also, I heard the VOICE OF THE LORD SAYING; ‘WHOM SHALL I SEND, AND WHO WILL GO FOR US?” THEN I SAID, ‘HERE AM I! SEND ME.” (6:8). A complete CHANGE OF HEART AND WILL has taken place in this man. Isaiah goes from “WOE IS ME; FOR I AM UNDONE! in verse 5 to “HERE AM I! SEND ME.” In verse 9. What Made This Huge Difference?? FREEDOM FROM THE GUILT OF SIN!! When Isaiah knew and realized HIS EVERY SIN WAS FORGIVEN AND EVERY INIQUITY WAS REMOVED—–HE HAD NO FEAR IN SERVING GOD ALMIGHTY!
Knowing what a dedicated worker and servant He had in Isaiah, the LORD wasted no time in giving him a COMMISSION: “And HE Said, ‘GO and Tell this People: Keep on Hearing, but DO NOT Understand; Keep on SEEING but DO NOT Perceive. Make the Heart of this People Dull, and Their EARS, Heavy, and Shut their EYES; Lest they SEE with their EYES, and HEAR with their EARS, and UNDERSTAND with their HEART, and RETURN and BE HEALED.” (9-10). The message Isaiah was given to deliver was ironic to say the least, but it would serve God’s purpose which was to harden the callous hearts of a rebellious Israelite nation and make the warnings of judgement plain to them.
Because of Isaiah’s deep care and concern for his people, how dejected he must have been to hear what God intended for them. So, he asked the Lord how long he should keep repeating these same words to Israel. The Lord answered: “Until the cities are laid waste and without inhabitant, the houses are without a man, the land is utterly desolate The Lord has removed men far away, and the forsaken places are many in the midst of the land”. (11-12). Hearing these words certainly produced a sadness in the heart of the prophet that most men will never know; but he stood ready to preach JEHOVAH’S message to every Israelite. It seems the SIGHT OF GOD IN THE TEMPLE drove Isaiah to complete the task he was assigned.
However, God did not leave Israel nor Isaiah without HOPE. Dark and bleak as the picture was, the Lord gave the prophet a RAY OF LIGHT: A REMNANT WILL ESCAPE. “Yet there be a TENTH PORTION IN IT, and it will again BE SUBJECT TO BURNING, like a Terebinth or an Oak, WHOSE STUMP REMAINS WHERE IT IS FELLED. THE HOLY SEED IS IT’S STUMP.” (13). Even though a SMALL (TENTH) REMNANT WOULD ESCAPE, EVEN THAT NUMBER WOULD BE ALMOST CONSUMED; SO, WHAT WAS LEFT WOULD BE A REMNANT OF THE REMNANT. To demonstrate His point, God gave Isaiah a picture of a large tree being cut down leaving only the STUMP or STOCK REMAINING. THE HOLY SEED is the STUMP or the TRUSTING, FAITHFUL, LOYAL REMNANT.
This concept of a REMNANT always being present is discussed in the New Testament also. In his letter to the Romans, Paul wanted to ensure his readers that GOD’S CARE FOR HIS PEOPLE WAS AS GREAT AS IT EVER WAS, and that HE SAW EVERYTHING THAT WAS HAPPENING AROUND THEM! “Even so then, AT THIS PRESENT TIME THERE IS A REMNANT ACCORDING TO THE ELECTION OF GRACE.” (Rom 11:5) I would suggest those of the REMNANT LEARNED TO SEE THE LORD AS ISAIAH DID.
Questions To Consider:
Do I SEE GOD AS THE SOVEREIGN CREATOR and RULER OF THE WORLD?
DO I SEE THE HOLINESS HE MANIFESTS AND THE GLORY HE IS DUE?
AM I HUNBLED WHEN I THINK ABOUT BEING IN HIS PRESENCE?
DO I CONSIDER MY STANCE BEFORE HIM AS A LOST AND UNDONE SINNER WITHOUT HIS MERCY & GRACE?
AM I ALWAYS CONSCIOUS OF MY OWN GUILT?
DO I STAND READY TO DO GOD’S BIDDING?
AM I FULLY TRUSTING IN THR FATHER AND THE SON TO HELP ME AND CARRY ME THROUGH WHATEVER SATAN AND THE WORLD THROW AT ME?
And Finally: AM I TRULY SEEING THE LORD AS ISAIAH SAW HIM?
***NO MATTER HOW DARK, FILTHY,RAUNCHY, UGLY, and SINFUL THE WORLD MAY BE; THAT REMNANT IS ALIVE AND WELL TODAY AND YOU AND I ARE A PART OF IT THANKS TO THE LOVE, GRACE, AND MERCY OF GOD AND THE SHED BLOOD OD CHRIST OUR LORD***.