ISAIAH
Isaiah 6:1

This passage Isaiah 6:1-8 is, in my opinion, one of the more significant ones in the Word of God. It describes the call of Isaiah to the office of prophet, but the prophet recedes in the background as the message of the passage comes to the forefront.

quote:

"In the year of King Uzziah's death I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, lofty and exalted, with the train of His robe filling the temple."

There is more to this comment than simply saying that King Uzziah died. Isaiah was born during Uzziah's reign and it was in the last year of Uzziah's life that Isaiah, at a young age, received the call from God to his prophetic office. Uzziah had brought many benefits to the nation, causing it to flourish in an era of prosperity and peace. According to 2 Kings 15:3 "he did what was right in the sight of the Lord". Uzziah showed a spirit of true piety and honor for the things of God, doing his best to eradicate idolatry. However, in his later years he exhibited arrogance and pride by going to the sanctuary and offering incense upon the altar of incense, which only the priests were allowed to do. As a response God struck him with leprosy and he lived the rest of his life in isolation, having a co-regency with his son, Jotham (2 Chronicles 26:16-21). Though his life ended tragically, he remained a well-honored king in Israel's history, buried with respect and dignity. And so it was traumatic for both Isaiah and Israel to lose the king they had loved. The juxtaposition in verse 1 is that of Uzziah, the king of Israel, who is mortal and God, the sovereign King, who abides and reigns forever. While earthly kings die, the God of Israel continues to sit on His throne.

To do justice to this passage I will be taking some comments from The Beauty of Holiness written by Dr. Michael P. V. Barrett. Isaiah was probably in the Temple when the Lord revealed Himself to Isaiah in a vision. Though he may have been in the earthly Temple, it is most likely that the vision is of the heavenly Temple. Looking up, Isaiah sees the Lord seated on His throne. He sees "Adonai". The selection of this divine title is purposeful as it identifies God as the unique King, master and owner of everything. The Lord was revealing to Isaiah that despite the earthly circumstances, everything was under the control of the heavenly throne. Being seated on a throne symbolized His sovereign authority. The height of a throne emphasized the majesty, glory and unique worth of the king who sat upon it. The Lord Himself says, "The heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool" (Isaiah 66:1), emphasizing the Lord's majesty, glory and infinite worth. He is highly exalted and lifted up!

Isaiah saw His robe filling the temple. As it claimed all available space as far as the eye could see, only the evidence of God's glory was visible. There was no room for anything else signifying that He shares His glory with no one.

John in his gospel makes the declaration that it was the glory of Jesus the Messiah that Isaiah saw. "These things Isaiah said, because he saw His glory, and he spoke of Him." (John 12:41) This reference serves as significant proof of Jesus' deity, which is essential to our salvation. In many of the pre-incarnate theophanies or visions we need to look for Jesus, because He is the visible manifestation of God.