The Vision of the Lord in His Temple
Isaiah’s Vision and Call
Isaiah 6 opens with a dramatic vision of the Lord sitting on a high and exalted throne, with the train of His robe filling the temple. Seraphim stood above Him, each having six wings, and they cried to one another, “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory” (Isaiah 6:1-3). This vision occurs in the year that King Uzziah died, marking a significant transition in Judah’s leadership.
The Impact of the Vision
The foundations of the thresholds shook at the voice of the seraphim, and the temple was filled with smoke. Isaiah’s immediate response is one of acute awareness of his own sinfulness and the sinfulness of his people. He exclaims, “Woe to me! I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips” (Isaiah 6:4-5).
Cleansing and Commissioning
Purification of Isaiah
One of the seraphim flies to Isaiah with a live coal in hand, taken from the altar. Touching Isaiah’s mouth with the coal, the seraph declares that Isaiah’s guilt is taken away and his sin atoned for (Isaiah 6:6-7). This act of purification symbolizes Isaiah’s cleansing from sin, preparing him for the prophetic mission ahead.
Isaiah’s Commission
Following his purification, Isaiah hears the voice of the Lord asking, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?” Isaiah responds immediately with willingness, saying, “Here am I. Send me!” (Isaiah 6:8). This marks the formal call of Isaiah to his prophetic ministry.
The Prophetic Mission
The Message to the People
God instructs Isaiah to go and tell the people a message that essentially hardens their hearts: they will be ever hearing, but never understanding; ever seeing, but never perceiving (Isaiah 6:9-10). This message anticipates the people’s resistance to Isaiah’s prophetic warnings and the judgments that will follow.
The Extent of Desolation
Isaiah questions how long he must deliver this message, and the Lord tells him until the cities lie ruined and without inhabitant, until houses are left deserted, and the land is utterly desolate (Isaiah 6:11-12). This prophecy foretells the eventual exile and significant destruction as a consequence of the people’s unfaithfulness and disobedience.
The Remnant
Even in this grim prophecy, there is a note of hope: a holy seed, a stump in the land that will serve as the seedbed for future restoration (Isaiah 6:13). This remnant concept is a key theological theme throughout Isaiah, indicating God’s commitment to preserve a faithful remnant.
Theological Significance
Connection to Jesus Christ
Isaiah’s vision of the Lord and his commission are deeply connected to the mission of Jesus Christ. Jesus is often identified in the New Testament as the fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecies (e.g., John 12:41 mentions Isaiah seeing Jesus’ glory). Christ’s ministry similarly combines judgment with mercy, offering purification and calling for repentance.
Divine Love and Relationship
The vision and Isaiah’s commissioning reflect God’s love and His desire for a restored relationship with His people. Though the message Isaiah must deliver is severe, it is part of God’s plan to lead His people to repentance and ultimately to restoration.
Contemporary Relevance
Why Isaiah 6 Still Matters Today
Call to Holiness
Isaiah’s encounter with the holy God reminds believers of the importance of recognizing God’s holiness and our need for purification. It challenges individuals to seek a closer relationship with God, marked by a clear awareness of His majesty and our own sinfulness.
Responsiveness to God’s Call
Isaiah’s willing response to God’s call serves as an example for believers today, encouraging them to listen for God’s guidance and to respond obediently to His call on their lives, whatever that might entail.
Hope in Restoration
The promise of a remnant provides hope for those facing spiritual or physical desolation. It assures believers that God preserves a faithful remnant and has a plan for future restoration and renewal.
Isaiah 6, with its profound vision of God’s holiness, the dramatic call of a prophet, and the stark message he is commissioned to carry, continues to offer powerful lessons on divine majesty, human sinfulness, and the hope of redemption.