Isaiah 6: 1 – 5

A leader will see many things, but what is of utmost importance is that he or she should have a vision of God (1). It is not clear whether Isaiah ”saw the Lord” in ”the temple” in Jerusalem, or in the heavenly temple. Either way, it does not alter the essential meaning of the passage. He saw the Lord in His transcendence (”high and exalted”) and in his immanence (”the train of his robe filled the temple”). God is both high above and removed from us, and yet close at the same time. This is paradoxically true. In the New Testament John wrote that Isaiah ”saw Jesus’ glory and spoke about him” (John 12:41). Having just quoted from Isaiah 6:10,he was referring to Isaiah’s experience of seeing God. As someone pointed out, Isaiah may not have recognised Jesus in his vision, but the New Testament writers knew that to see God was to see Jesus (John 10:30). Isaiah had seen a human king who died; one of a great host of mortal kings. But a greater and eternal King filled his vision; the One who lives for ever. ”The throne of Judah had changed occupants, but God was still on His throne and in perfect control of everything.”Warren W. Wiersbe: With the Word, p.456

This was an awesome vision. Not only did he see the Lord in His transcendence and immanence but also in His unutterable holiness (2-4). His holiness is emphasised in the threefold statement in (3). The angelic beings Isaiah saw may correspond to the ”living creatures” John saw around God’s throne (Rev.4:6-8). Just the sound of their voices caused the temple to shake and fill with smoke (4). This is a reminder of Mount Sinai, when the mountain shook at God’s voice (Ex.19:18; 20:18, 19). F.B. Meyer makes a point from the fact that the ”seraphs” had ”six wings” (2). He says that with two each covered his face for reverence’s sake; with two they covered their feet, for humility, and with two they did fly for service and obedience. He continues: ”It may be that we are taught that a third part of our time and energy should be expended in activity; two thirds to reverent fellowship and communion. Probably with most of us the proportion is in the other direction; and we give two -thirds to flight for God, and one-third only for fellowship with God. The service that springs from such communion is directed by deep sympathy with the mind of God.” Great verses through the Bible, p.271

One reason why we need to see the Lord is because we need to see ourselves. When we look up we will be forced to look in. We have to look ourselves fully in the face as reflected in the mirror of God’s dazzling holiness (5). For Isaiah it was not a pretty sight. When is it for any of us? ”Every word I’ve spoken is tainted-blasphemous even! And the people I live with talk the same way, using words that corrupt and desecrate. And here I’ve looked God in the face! The King! GOD-of-the-Angel-Armies!” The Message. ”…the man who lives close to the Eternal Light…is most sensitive to sin.’’ A.E. Cundall. There in the manifest presence of God, Isaiah thought his end had come. In the first place, he felt unclean. It is a sensation common to those who draw near to Almighty God (e.g. Job 42:5, 6; Luke 5:5-8). ”If we are truly worshiping in God’s presence, we ought to have Isaiah’s feeling of uncleanness and unworthiness. True worship is an awesome and humbling experience; it is much deeper and greater than simply the emotions we feel when we are singing our favorite worship songs.” Tom Hale: The Applied Old Testament Commentary, p.1000. Secondly, Isaiah knew that no man can see God and live (Ex.33:20). But of course we can see the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ, and, as we saw earlier, that, according to John, is what Isaiah saw. ”Men are never duly touched and impressed with a conviction of their insignificance, until they have contrasted themselves with the majesty of God.” John Calvin.

Prayer: Lord let me see you more clearly this day, and worship you more fully.