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In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple. Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly. And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory. And the posts of the door moved at the voice of him that cried, and the house was filled with smoke. Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts. Then flew one of the seraphims unto me, having a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with the tongs from off the altar: And he laid it upon my mouth, and said, Lo, this hath touched thy lips; and thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin purged. Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me. And he said, Go, and tell this people, Hear ye indeed, but understand not; and see ye indeed, but perceive not. Make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and convert, and be healed. Then said I, Lord, how long? And he answered, Until the cities be wasted without inhabitant, and the houses without man, and the land be utterly desolate, And the Lord have removed men far away, and there be a great forsaking in the midst of the land.
Isaiah 6:1-12
In chapters one through five of Isaiah, he reveals that the people of God were living some very ungodly lives. As a man of good standing, if not already called as a prophet, Isaiah points out the severe offenses to God’s holiness. Many of the practices mentioned here are prevalent in today’s society. In chapter one verse four, he states, “Ah sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, a seed of evildoers: they have forsaken the LORD, they have provoked the Holy One of Israel unto anger, they are gone away backward.” These conditions would be like us in our society bemoaning the wickedness of our nation. Indeed, the atmosphere would not entice a man to seek out a ministry of preaching or prophecying. However, God does not always send us to places where the people are seeking someone to tell them about God and His Word.
In chapter 6, we find Isaiah in the temple. The house of God is a good place to escape the world’s oppression of sin and corruption. Isaiah saw a view of God like no one else mentioned in the Bible. God manifested Himself at other times, but none like this one. God was on His throne high and lifted up. “His “train filled the temple.” Seraphim attended Him and cried, “Holy, holy, holy.” They worshipped the triune God Who is thrice holy. “God’s glory filled the whole earth.” God’s voice was so powerful that the doorposts moved as an earthquake would move them. “The house filled with smoke.” Smoke represented the God of heaven Who has all power in heaven and earth. He is absolutely holy. He is above and attended by the heavenly hosts. His voice resounds above all others. Consider that we serve the same God that Isaiah did. He still has that immense power and holiness. He remains concerned for those outside the “temple” in sin.
The manifestation brought Isaiah to conviction. He was keenly aware of his sins and the sins of his people. This same God provided cleansing for those sinful lips. How blessed we are that our sins are not cleansed by coal but by the precious blood of Jesus Christ. God made clear that He wanted someone to go for Himself. Isaiah responded, “Here am I; send me.” Is it possible that we are so short of laborers because we have not truly experienced the Holy God as Isaiah did? The prophet did not ask where he should go. He simply said, “Send me,” and then asked, “How long?” God does not mention furlough time but to stay until there is no one else to hear.
Isaiah got a big view of God and realized his sinful condition. He received cleansing. Then, He heard a clear call of God and surrendered before knowing where he was to go or how long he was to stay. His need was not to build a large congregation but to sound the Word as long as there was mankind to hear. God help us to follow the example of this old prophet.