Ruined but Reconciled (Isaiah 6:1-8)

Ruined and Reconciled
Isaiah 6:1-8

BACKGROUND:
King Uzziah died around the year 740 B.C., bringing an end to an era of prosperity and stability for God’s people. In their peace and affluence they had forgotten God, abandoned worship, and turned to self-indulgence and pride. Into this spiritual quagmire, God reveals himself in powerful and vivid ways to the prophet Isaiah.

The story of Uzziah is given in 2 Kings 15 and 2 Chronicles 26; he is also known as “Azariah.” He was mostly a good king and he reigned for 52 years. 2 Chronicles 26:5 says that as long as he sought the Lord, God prospered him. He became very strong under God’s blessings and his popularity spread as far as Egypt. He developed the agricultural aspect of their economy; the text says he “loved the soil” (2 Chron. 26:10). He also developed Israel’s defense until he became very strong.

But 2 Chronicles 26:16 says that when he became strong, his heart was so proud that he acted corruptly, and he was unfaithful to the Lord his God. Specifically, he believed that he did not have to pay attention to the question of Bible authority. God struck King Uzziah with leprosy from that point until his death. It was at this point that God sent this special vision to Isaiah the prophet.

It is also important to understand that the northern tribes of Israel are going to be attacked soon in history and Israel has no godly king and it will fall less than two decades after King Uzziah dies. Materially prosperous; spiritually bankrupt.

But who is the real king? God sends Isaiah a vision…

GOD IS ON HIS THRONE - 6:1-4:
God is described as sitting on a throne, lifted up, surrounded by worshipping seraphim. (vv. 1–2). Isaiah sees his master sitting on a throne, lofty and exalted, and the train of His robe was filling the temple. I think what we need to picture here is that all Isaiah could put his sinful eyes on was the edge of God’s robe. He could not see any higher. The Bible is very cautious to make sure man has no idea what God’s appearance is.

What are “seraphim?” The Hebrew word is used 7 times, twice in Numbers 21 with reference to the venomous serpents who bit the Israelites and then in Deuteronomy 8:15 where it apparently refers to literal venomous snakes. Later in Isaiah, the word is translated as “flying serpent” twice: 14:29; 30:6. This is the only text where the word is translated “seraphim.” It is an inference but not a necessary inference to suggest that “seraphim” are some type of angel. Maybe; maybe not. But since the word is associated with the word “fire,” it at least here suggest some type of creature that appears as fire.

So these seraphim have six wings. Two are covering their face, so that even they cannot look on Jehovah God. Two are covering the feet, so that God will not even look upon their feet which is associated with what is dirty. And with two wings, he flew so that he could fulfill the will of God.

The seraphim are declaring the holiness of God to one another (v. 3), unable to keep quiet about the amazing glory of God in whose presence they continually exist. The holiness of God is his unique perfection, his complete power, and his transcendent glory that fills the whole earth (v. 3). These qualities are shared by no other. He is unlike any—the uncreated Creator.

“Holy, holy, holy.” Keep in mind that among the essential qualities of God is that of holiness, multiplied three times here. In fact, Isaiah will refer to God as the “Holy One of Israel” 26 times while the title is used outside of Isaiah only 6 times. Of course, God’s presence and His power are not limited to the temple nor to the Promised Land. The whole earth is filled with God’s glory. The title “Lord of hosts” reflects the angels as God’s army; so this expression shows that God has all the resources in His hands that He needs to protect His people.

The trembling foundations reflect the power of God, just as Mount Sinai quaked at God’s presence, and the temple filling with smoke, once again obscures the holiness of God from the sinful eyes of mankind.

ISAIAH FEELS HIS SINFULNESS - 6:5-7:
At the sight of God, Isaiah is undone. He becomes painfully aware of his own smallness, his complete sinfulness, and his frailty in comparison with the glorious King (v. 5). We are often impressed by our own power and ability until we are met with someone much greater than us.

Isaiah has seen the King. God has presented Himself as King at least ever since He brought Israel across the Red Sea on dry land (Exo. 15:18). The expression “king of kings” was used to designate the best, the greatest, the most powerful king. It is used of King Artaxerxes in Ezra 7:12 and Nebuchadnezzar in Ezekiel 26:7 and Daniel 2:37. However, it is used of Jesus Christ in the NT: 1 Tim. 6:15; Revelation 17:14; 19:16.

Isaiah saw the king and he felt sinful. Is that a natural consequence of being in God’s presence in worship? Should we leave worship thinking, “I am a sinful man.” Maybe. But we should also be reminded that we serve a forgiving God who has the power to make us holy, just as the seraphim are about to do to Isaiah.

In a scene in The Phantom Menace, Obi-Wan Kenobi and Qui-Gon Jinn escape the clutches of a giant fish when it is suddenly eaten by an even bigger one. “There’s always a bigger fish!” Qui-Gon Jinn says. Some people and things in this world seem incredibly strong and impressive until you realize that there is something bigger still. God is infinitely more powerful and more present than anything in this world.

Isaiah here reminds me of the account of Peter and Jesus and the other fishermen recorded in Luke 5. That’s when Jesus tells Peter to let down his net and Peter pushes back and says, “I’ve done that all night and it hasn’t helped anything.” But, Peter knows better than to question Jesus’ power, so he does. And then their nets were filled with fish! And Peter falls down at Jesus’ feet and says, “Go away from me Lord, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!” (5:8).

The burning coal from the seraphim reflects God’s grace. If holiness is to be achieved, it can only be done by God. God’s holy presence will consume those who are not purified by His actions; that’s why we need the blood of Christ.

Rather than leaving Isaiah to languish in his poor and humiliated state, a seraphim touches his lips with a coal from the altar (v. 7). This burning fire no doubt represents the purifying power of God that comes from the sacrificial altar, the place where offerings were made to atone for sin. These images point us to the work of Jesus who himself was offered up as a sacrifice for our sins, making us clean and who also purifies us and calls us to join him in his work. Before we can know, follow, and serve God, we must first be cleansed by him.

Every restaurant in America has a sign in the bathroom that says, “Employees must wash hands before returning to work.” If someone is unclean, they are in danger of contaminating everything they touch. God himself cleanses us through the work of Jesus and makes us useful for his work and his purposes.

ISAIAH HAS A JOB TO DO - 6:8:
Now that Isaiah has beheld the glory of God and has been made clean, he is called into the work God has prepared for him (v. 8). Interestingly, his call is not a command but an invitation. God asks for a volunteer, to which Isaiah replies, “Here am I. Send me!” (v. 8). God is powerful enough to accomplish all that he desires. However, he is patient and loving enough to allow us to be a part of his work. As believers who understand God’s greatness and our own sinfulness, who have experienced his great grace and salvation, we cannot help but respond with eagerness and joy to the call of God.

JESUS IS HE - John 12:41:
Toward the end of Jesus’s ministry on earth, John writes chapter 12. In this context, John tells us that many Jews refused to believe Jesus’ message despite the “signs” (miracles) He performed. This fulfilled Isaiah’s words, both in Isaiah 53:1 as well as… Isaiah 6. John 12:40 is a quotation of Isaiah 6:10.

So notice in verse 41 that John tells us “these things Isaiah said because he saw His [Jesus’] glory, and he spoke of him.” So Jesus is the King. Jesus is also the sacrifice that makes men holy. Jesus is now the one who brings the burning coal from the altar and touches our mouth so that we can be holy. But Jesus is also the One who calls us into His service: “Whom will I send? Who will go for us?”

Take home message: Embracing God's purifying love and holy call isn't just a trend - it's a lifestyle. Live for his glory and watch your life transform!