Isaiah 6 coronovirus notes

6:1 King Uzziah (called “Azariah” in 2Kg 15:1) died about 740 BC. He had been a relatively good king, and did “what was right in the Lord’s sight” (2Kg 15:3), though he did not remove the high places. God also blessed Uzziah’s reign with prosperity and military success. His death, coupled with the rise of Assyria, created great uncertainty in Judah. Note that God is so great that just the hem of his robe filled the temple.

6:2 The seraphim were angelic creatures of great power and importance. Their name means “burning ones,” and the implication of fire evokes thoughts of danger and mystery. Covering their eyes shielded them from the brilliance of the divine glory. Covering their feet (possibly used here as a euphemism) may have been a posture of submission.

6:3 The word holy spoken three times is emphatic or superlative and points to God’s otherness. He is completely separated from anything profane or sinful. His sovereignty is underlined by the fact that his glory filled the whole earth.

6:4 It was probably the entire building that was shaking to its foundations at the thunderous hymn sung by the seraphim. The smoke was likely incense, which cloaked Isaiah’s vision in mystery.

6:5 In the presence of such holiness, Isaiah felt the weight of his own sinfulness. He feared for himself because he knew that God did not tolerate uncleanness in his presence.

6:6–7 God prepared Isaiah by cleansing his lips, the instrument by which he would execute his prophetic task. He did this symbolically by having one of his seraphim touch the prophet’s lips with a burning coal. Fire can purify (Nm 31:22–23), and this burning coal was taken from the altar where sacrifices were offered to atone for sin (1Ch 6:49).

6:8 Isaiah’s readiness to serve contrasts with the reluctance of Moses and Jeremiah (Ex 4:1–17; Jr 1:6).

6:9–10 Isaiah was a prophet with a message of judgment. God’s commission recognized that, because of its sin, Israel’s healing could only come about through their punishment. Isaiah’s message from God would serve only to distance them even more from God. These verses are quoted in the NT to explain why Jesus taught in parables (Mt 13:14–15; Mk 4:12; Lk 8:10) and to explain the people’s lack of response to the gospel (Jn 12:40; Ac 28:26–27).

6:11–13 From the start Isaiah knew that his message would not lead God’s people to repentance. They would experience destruction. Even so, a remnant would survive. This remnant is pictured as a stump that is left after a mighty tree falls.

King Uzziah has died and the throne of Judah is empty. Like all men of faith, Isaiah turned to God for his help and comfort, and in that hour of seeming defeat, he experienced a great spiritual blessing. He saw that the throne of heaven was still occupied by Jehovah God! Note the three-fold vision God gave to Isaiah.

I.The Upward Look—He Saw the Lord (6:1–4)

Like all devoted citizens, Isaiah had venerated King Uzziah. For fifty-two years, Uzziah had led Judah in a program of peace and prosperity. It was an era of expansion and achievement. It was unfortunate that the king had rebelled against the Word of God and died a leper (2 Kings 15:1–7; 2 Chron. 26). Isaiah realized that though the nation had prospered materially, it was in terrible condition spiritually. The economic growth and temporary peace were a veneer that covered a nation with a wicked heart. What was going to happen to Judah?

God lifted Isaiah’s eyes from himself and his people to the throne of heaven. There might be confusion and unrest on earth, but there was perfect peace in heaven: God was seated in majestic power and glory. People on earth might be recalling the shame of Uzziah’s death as a leper, but there was no shame or shadow of failure in heaven. Rather, the seraphim were saying, “Holy, holy, holy.”

John 12:38–41 informs us that Isaiah saw Jesus Christ in His glory. He was on the throne of heaven being praised by the seraphim. His royal robe filled the heavenly temple, and the house was filled with the smoke of His anger against sin (Ps. 80:4). His angelic creatures, the seraphim (“fiery ones”), praised Him for His holiness and His glory. “The whole earth is full of His glory.” Isaiah did not see much glory that day, nor do we see it today. Rather, it seems that the whole earth is “filled with violence” (Gen. 6:11). We see events from a human perspective; the angels see them from God’s viewpoint. One day when Jesus reigns, the whole earth shall be full of His glory (see Num. 14:21, Ps. 72:19, and Hab. 2:14). See also Isa. 11:9. “Lord of hosts” is Isaiah’s favorite name for God; he uses it at least sixty-five times. “Lord of the armies” is what it means. The prophet also calls God “the Holy One of Israel” at least thirty times. Jehovah is the God of holy warfare, the God who opposes sin and defeats the enemy. Isaiah needed to realize this fact in a day when Judah appeared to be defeated. This is a good practical lesson for Christians today: when the day is dark, lift your eyes to heaven and see Christ on the throne. “The Lord is in His holy temple.”

II.The Inward Look—He Saw Himself (6:5–7)

A true vision of God and His holiness always makes us realize our own sinfulness and failure. Job saw God and repented (Job 42:6); Peter cried out, “I am a sinful man” when he saw Christ’s power (Luke 5:8). Self-righteous rabbi Saul saw that his own righteousness was but “garbage” next to the glory of Christ (Acts 9 and Phil. 3), and he believed and became the Apostle Paul. When believers have a true experience with the Lord, it does not make them proud; rather, it humbles and breaks them.

When Isaiah confessed his sins, he mentioned especially his unclean lips. Of course, unclean lips are the products of an unclean heart. The prophet knew that he could not faithfully preach for the Lord unless he was prepared and cleansed. How different from some Christians who rush out to serve Christ before taking time to meet the Lord and be cleansed. God met the prophet’s need: He sent a seraph to cleanse him with a coal from the altar. How tragic it would be to have the throne without the altar! There would be conviction of sin, but no cleansing. Note that it was more important for the seraph to equip Isaiah to be a soul-winner than to praise God. True worship ought to lead to witness and service. Too many Christians want to hold on to a “spiritual experience” with the Lord, rather than be prepared to go out to share the Lord with others.

There is a wonderful word of encouragement here: God quickly answers prayer and cleanses us (1 John 1:9). He longs to equip us to serve Him.

III.The Outward Look—He Saw the Need (6:8–13)

Everything to this point was a preparation. Now God can call Isaiah and use him to preach His Word. The prophet is no longer wrapped up in his own needs; he wants to do the will of God. He is no longer burdened by sin; he has been cleansed. He is no longer discouraged; he knows that God is on the throne. Now he is ready to go to work.

The call is an evidence of God’s grace. He is willing to use human beings to accomplish His will on earth. God certainly could have sent one of the seraphim, and it would have obeyed instantly and perfectly. But when it comes to proclaiming His Word, God must use human lips. God is still calling believers today and, alas, few are responding. In Isaiah’s day, only a “remnant” would obey.

“Go and tell!” This is God’s commission to us today. “You shall be witnesses to me … to the end of the earth” (Acts 1:8, NKJV). It was not an easy commission God gave to the prophet, for the nation was in no mood to hear his messages of sin and judgment. In chapter 1, God pictures the nation as a sick body, covered with wounds and rotting sores, and as a stubborn and rebellious animal, too ignorant to listen to his own master. In chapter 5, the nation is pictured as a beautiful vineyard that did not produce good grapes. As you read chapters 1–5, you understand the burden that God gave Isaiah. The nation was prosperous; why preach about sin? The “fashionable ladies” would not like it (3:16–26), nor would the leading rulers (5:8ff). When people are rich, full, and satisfied, they do not believe that judgment is coming.

Verses 9–10 are quoted six times in the NT: Matt. 13:13–15, Mark 4:12, Luke 8:10, John 12:40, Acts 28:25–28, Rom. 11:8; making a total of seven references in all. Is God saying that He deliberately blinds people and condemns them? No, not at all. What He is saying is that the Word of God has this hardening and blinding effect on sinners who will not listen and yield. The sun that melts the ice also hardens the clay. Note the steps downward in John 12: they would not believe (v. 37); therefore, they could not believe (v. 39); and thus they should not believe (v. 40) because they had sealed their own doom.

The servant of God is to proclaim God’s Word regardless of how people respond. It took a great deal of faith on Isaiah’s part to obey such a commission. “How long should I preach and therefore produce these tragic results?” he asks. “Until I am finished with My judgment on the land,” the Lord replies. This kind of judgment is announced in 1:7–9 and 2:12–22. But the Lord will save a remnant, even though the nation will be removed far away into captivity (vv. 12–13). This prophecy applied immediately to the captivity, but it also pictures God’s dealings with Israel in the last days, when a small remnant of Jews will believe during the Tribulation period. Isaiah pictures the nation as a tree cut down; the stump remains and a new shoot can grow from it. Relate this to 11:1ff, the prophecy of “the Branch—Jesus Christ.” When Isaiah walked out of the temple that day, he was no longer a mourner—he was a missionary. He was not merely a spectator; he was a participant. God had equipped him to do the job: Isaiah had seen the Lord, he had seen himself, and he had seen the need. Knowing that God was on the throne, and that God had called and commissioned him, he was ready to preach the Word and be faithful unto death. What an example for us to follow today.

TNAC Is. 6

VS. 1 - 4

The edge of His royal robe – Testifies to the exalted importance of His divine king. CLOTHED WITH SPLENDOR AND MAJESTY! Ps. 93:1

Serephs – Declarations of the holiness of God.

Repetition of Holy – expressing superlative Idea in the Hebrew Language: GOD IS COMPLETELY,TOTALLY, ABSOLUTELY, THE HOLIEST OF THE HOLY.

Separate from everything sinful, utterly removed from the profane world, and glorious in majesty!

Vs. 5-7

Woe “Oh!” Lamentation… He is immediately aware of his own unholiness, unworthiness, and need for atonement.

Unclean lips – testament of an unclean heart

He is also made aware of the unclean people of Judah

THE NECESSARY FIRST STEP BEFORE ANY TRUE CONFESSION OF SIN IS HAVING AN UNDERSTANDING OF THE GLORY AND HOLINESS OF THE ALMIGHTY GOD WHO RULES THE HEAVENS AND THE EARTH!

Sin no longer separated God and Isaiah. Admit it and He removes it.

Those who perceive God’s holiness will quickly acknowledge their great guilt and experience his atoning Love.

Vs. 8-13

Their unwillingness and repeatedly choosing to refuse and follow God… now God is judging them for their sin. Compare Is. 5:4 God had done everything he could have done for His people, he planted them, feed them. Watered them, lead them, won victories for them yet they continued to rebel against them.