Isaiah 6:1-4

CHAPTER SIX

D. ILLUMINATION FROM THE ALMIGHTY Isaiah 6:1-13

1.

THE PROPHET SEES GOD Isaiah 6:1-7

a. THE GLORY

TEXT: Isaiah 6:1-4

1

In the year that king Uzziah died I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up; and his train filled the temple.

2

Above him stood the seraphim: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly.

3

And one cried into another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is Jehovah of hosts, the whole earth is full of his glory.

4

And the foundations of the thresholds shook at the voice of him that cried, and the house was filled with smoke.

QUERIES

a.

Why mention that Uzziah had died?

b.

Who are the seraphim?

c.

What does the shaking of the thresholds symbolize?

PARAPHRASE

The year King Uzziah died I saw the Lord! He was sitting on a lofty throne, and the Temple was filled with His glory. Hovering about Him were mighty, six-winged seraphs. With two of their wings they covered their faces; with two others they covered their feet, and with two they flew. In a great antiphonal chorus they sang, Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of Hosts; the whole earth is filled with His glory. Such singing it was! It shook the Temple to its foundations, and suddenly the entire sanctuary was filled with smoke.

COMMENTS

Isaiah 6:1-4 THE GLORY: The throne of David is the throne of God on earth. Exodus 19:4-6; 1 Samuel 8:7; 2 Samuel 7:12-16 it should be established forever. 1 Chronicles 29-23. Now the King is dead, the throne is vacant till a new King is crowned. Knowing the helpless, weak, vacillating condition of the people, a sense of impending national trouble comes to Isaiah. At this time is granted to him a vision of the glory of God. God is on the throne! Supremacy! Permanence and Power! The earthly throne may be vacant, the scepter fallen from dead hands; but here is One whose throne is never vacant, from whose hand the scepter never falls. Here is assurance, positive and beyond doubt that however weak man had corrupted the earthly counterpart of God's throne, God still reigns and controls all things. His train, skirts, robes, fill the Temple, His house, palace. Flowing robes of priestly royalty flll the temple. No room for human glory and authority in God's house. Seraphim - Fiery ones. Cf. Revelation 4:8. Four living creatures. Six wings - rapidity in carrying out God's orders, God's will. In the Holy Presence, however, the Seraphim covered his face with his wings from the intolerable effulgence of Divine Glory; another pair of wings covered the feet, soiled in their various ministrations, unmeet for all pure presence; while the third pair of wings sustained him in his place near the throne. Ceaseless activity in God's service. One cried - kept crying (Cf. Revelation 4:8). This cry of worship and adoration was a result of their vision. Its first note is the affirmation of the holiness of God. Its second is the declaration that the earth is full of His glory.

A Sermon from Seraphim

1.

The lowliest Reverence becomes the Highest Created Beings Isaiah 6:2

2.

The Heavenly Life is largely spent in active service Isaiah 6:2

3.

The Celestial Intelligences have a keen appreciation of the Divine Holiness Isaiah 6:3

4.

The highest Intelligences see all things in their relation to God Isaiah 6:3

The earthquake symbolizes that material, earthly things are temporary and shaken. Though the very temple itself be shaken and Old Testament religion itself undergo a change and old established customs of worship and institutions of administration pass away, God's throne and authority are eternal. In this vision of Isaiah we have a prelude or a preparation for what Isaiah is going to teach about the Messiah and His Kingdom. Isaiah will soon begin to proclaim that when the Messiah comes and establishes His Kingdom (the church), it will seem to the Jews as if the throne of God had been abandoned. All the Old Testament institutions were to be replaced. But what the Jews would need to understand was that God was still on His throne and that all the Messianic activity would really be God ruling. Paul deals with this Jewish problem in Hebrews (esp. Hebrews 12:18-29). The word holy attributed to God emphasizes His absolute separation from man. He is Lord and not a man. Although the creation depends upon Him, He himself is entirely independent thereof. This is the heart and core of Isaiah's theology. God's holiness is a necessity if we are to be able to entrust our eternal destiny to Him.

QUIZ

1.

What is the connection between Uzziah's death and Isaiah's vision?

2.

What do we learn about Heaven from the actions of the Seraphim?

3.

When would the O.T. religion be shaken?

4.

Why is the holiness of God an absolute necessity?