A vision of glory

In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lifted up, and the train of His robe filled the temple. Above it stood seraphim; each one had six wings: with two he covered his face, with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. And one cried to 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 were shaken by the voice of him who cried out, and the house was filled with smoke.
- Isaiah 6:1-4 NKJV

Isaiah receives a special revelation from God. He catches a glimpse of the glory of God! What Isaiah sees is so awesome he struggles to put it into words. But one thing is for sure, God is supreme and in control.

When perils encompass God’s people and the powers of darkness seem about to prevail, God calls them to look up to Him, seated upon His throne and directing in the affairs of heaven and earth, in order that they may take hope and courage.
- Francis D. Nichol, ed., The Seventh-Day Adventist Bible Commentary, vol. 4 (Review and Herald Publishing Association, 1977), 128.

Isaiah does not record what exactly God looked like, there’s no mention of God’s nose, eyes, or hair. All we know is that God was high and lifted up, and the hem of His royal robes fill the entire heavenly palace-temple. Also, God is not there alone. There are two winged, bright beings (seraphim literally means burning ones) praising God, and they are praising God with so much force and enthusiasm that the posts of the door were shaken and the whole place is filled with smoke.

Isaiah then proceeded to tell the angels that they were singing too loud, that there was too much smoke, and that their praise was too repetitive.

I’m just kidding, that’s what many of us might be tempted to say, but Isaiah was too caught up in the moment, the glory of the divine majesty caused him to fear for his life.

Cultural imagery and religious platitudes about God were suddenly overpowered by the reality of the overwhelming experience of his awesome presence.
- Gary V. Smith, Isaiah 1–39, ed. E. Ray Clendenen, The New American Commentary (Nashville: B & H Publishing Group, 2007), 192.

We think we know God, but we really have no idea. We think we know power, glory, and majesty, but we have no idea. Because of our human limitations we make God small enough to imagine, to wrap our minds around, but we have no idea. That is why we are so proud, we have no idea how small, sinful and insignificant we truly are.

Woe is me

So I said:

“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 my eyes have seen the King,
The Lord of hosts.”
- Isaiah 6:5 NKJV

Seeing all this, Isaiah immediately becomes aware of his own unworthiness and of his need for atonement. In the presence of God’s holiness Isaiah was struck by his own impurity and the uncleanness of the nation of Judah.

Then one of the seraphim flew to me, having in his hand a live coal which he had taken with the tongs from the altar. And he touched my mouth with it, and said:

“Behold, this has touched your lips;
Your iniquity is taken away,
And your sin purged.”
- Isaiah 6:6-7 NKJV

I love how Gary V. Smith has to say regarding these verses.

God did not want Isaiah to misunderstand what was happening, so a clear explanation was provided to interpret the symbolic action. The removal of guilt indicates that the consequent punishment will not be exacted from Isaiah. This guilt can no longer keep Isaiah from God’s presence. The atonement means that God’s wrath and the sin that motivated it were satisfied and taken away, making renewed fellowship possible. Sin no longer separated God and Isaiah (cf. 59:1–2). Isaiah’s experience illustrates how any believer can identify sin (have a clear vision of the holiness of God), how everyone should respond when sin is recognized (admit it), and how God deals with confessed sin (he removes it). People who presume upon God’s mercy because of their supposed goodness will fail to receive his forgiveness, but those who perceive the holiness of God will quickly acknowledge their great guilt and experience his atoning love.
- Gary V. Smith, 193.

God revealed Himself to Isaiah, and when Isaiah beheld God he learned more about himself and about God. Though Isaiah was a person especially chosen by God to be His messenger, it did not mean that Isaiah could stand as he was in the presence of God. Isaiah was still a human being similar to all of us. However, God is not in the business of destroying humans but rather of saving them. God has an altar in place and a sacrifice that will cleanse all who desire to be cleansed. Isaiah did not have to offer the sacrifice, Isaiah simply received the forgiveness, he was cleansed and saved by grace. God had all of that taken care of while Isaiah stood there fearing for his life.

Here I am, send me!

Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying:

“Whom shall I send,
And who will go for Us?”

Then I said, “Here am I! Send me.”
- Isaiah 6:8 NKJV

The moment Isaiah is cleansed by the live coal form the altar he is able to hear God’s voice. God is asking a question, God is looking for someone to send, someone to go for Him. God, in His throne and full of power and glory and majesty, completely self sufficient, chooses to involve others in His plans to save humanity. God desires to partner with us, and asks who is wiling to go for Him?

I imagine Isaiah jumping and waving his hands saying “here I am, send me!”

Isaiah did not know the nature of the mission God had designed for his emissary, the length of the responsibility, where this person must go, the content of the message, or the difficulty of the task that must be accomplished. Nevertheless, Isaiah immediately volunteered to go. He did not make excuses like Moses or Jeremiah (Exod 3:11; 4:1, 10; Jer 1:6) but gladly volunteered to serve God. From this example one might propose the theological principle that the clarity and reality of a person’s vision of the holiness and glory of the majestic King of Kings is directly related to the clarity of a person’s sense of call and their willingness to humbly submit and serve God in whatever capacity he desires.
- Gary V. Smith, 194. (bold mine)

Isaiah had seen God in His glory and was excited to be a part of what God was doing. Perhaps we hesitate to share the good news because we have yet to fully grasp who it is that is sending us. We fail to comprehend God’s power and glory and so we become timid about our mission. We fail to grasp God’s love and power and we become selfish and proud.

Adjusting Expectations

Since God is seated on His throne high and lifter up, with perfect power, does that mean that our task will be an easy one?

Will Isaiah’s job be easy?

No.

Isaiah 6:9-13 is a really challenging passage, it is disheartening. God tells Isaiah that his ministry of proclaiming God’s message will not have the effect he expects. Everyone who hears his message will have the opportunity to turn to God and receive salvation, but most will reject it.

Jesus quotes portions of Isaiah in His ministry when He explains to His disciples how He will be rejected and killed by His own people.

37 But although He had done so many signs before them, they did not believe in Him, 38 that the word of Isaiah the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spoke:

“Lord, who has believed our report?
And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?”

39 Therefore they could not believe, because Isaiah said again:

40 “He has blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts,
Lest they should see with their eyes,
Lest they should understand with their hearts and turn,
So that I should heal them.”

41 These things Isaiah said when he saw His glory and spoke of Him.
- John 12:37-41 NKJV

Paul also quoted this portion of Isaiah when he met with the Jewish leaders.

23 So when they had appointed him a day, many came to him at his lodging, to whom he explained and solemnly testified of the kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus from both the Law of Moses and the Prophets, from morning till evening. 24 And some were persuaded by the things which were spoken, and some disbelieved. 25 So when they did not agree among themselves, they departed after Paul had said one word: “The Holy Spirit spoke rightly through Isaiah the prophet to our fathers, 26 saying,

‘Go to this people and say:
“Hearing you will hear, and shall not understand;
And seeing you will see, and not perceive;
27 For the hearts of this people have grown dull.
Their ears are hard of hearing,
And their eyes they have closed,
Lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears,
Lest they should understand with their hearts and turn,
So that I should heal them.” ’

28 “Therefore let it be known to you that the salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles, and they will hear it!” 29 And when he had said these words, the Jews departed and had a great dispute among themselves.
- Acts 28:23-29 NKJV

It is important for us to know that understanding the gospel does not come merely from hearing it, it comes from putting it into practice.

16 Jesus answered them and said, “My doctrine is not Mine, but His who sent Me. 17 If anyone wills to do His will, he shall know concerning the doctrine, whether it is from God or whether I speak on My own authority.
- John 7:16-17 NKJV

I like the way A. R. Fausset puts it.

Light enough is given in Revelation to guide those sincerely seeking to know, in order that they may do, God’s will; darkness enough is left to confound the wilfully blind.
- A. R. Fausset, A Commentary, Critical, Experimental, and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments: Job–Isaiah, vol. III (London; Glasgow: William Collins, Sons, & Company, Limited, n.d.), 583.

If you are seeking God and putting into action what you are learning you will continue to understand and learn more each day. However, if you have decided to reject God, no amount of evidence will change your mind.

10 And the disciples came and said to Him, “Why do You speak to them in parables?”

11 He answered and said to them, “Because it has been given to you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given. 12 For whoever has, to him more will be given, and he will have abundance; but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him. 13 Therefore I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand. 14 And in them the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled, which says:

‘Hearing you will hear and shall not understand,
And seeing you will see and not perceive;
15 For the hearts of this people have grown dull.
Their ears are hard of hearing,
And their eyes they have closed,
Lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears,
Lest they should understand with their hearts and turn,
So that I should heal them.’

16 But blessed are your eyes for they see, and your ears for they hear;
- Matthew 13:10-16 NKJV

Paul describes it as people willfully rejecting the truths God has revealed to them, and God allowing them to pursue their preferred path.

18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, 19 because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them.

28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting;
- Romans 1:18, 19, 28 NKJV

The same evidence that causes those who are honestly seeking God to believe, causes those who have rejected God to double down in their rejection, essentially hardening their own hearts.

45 Then many of the Jews who had come to Mary, and had seen the things Jesus did, believed in Him. 46 But some of them went away to the Pharisees and told them the things Jesus did.
- John 11:45-45 NKJV

10 But the chief priests plotted to put Lazarus to death also, 11 because on account of him many of the Jews went away and believed in Jesus.
- John 12:10 NKJV

Lazarus’ resurrection should have been evidence enough for everyone to believe, but some would rather kill Lazarus than believe that Jesus was the Messiah. Jesus knew this and talked about it when he told the parable of the rich man and Lazarus.

But he said to him, ‘If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one rise from the dead.’ ”
- Luke 16:31 NKJV

“In the days of Isaiah it was not the Lord who blinded the eyes of the people or made their heart heavy; they brought this condition upon themselves by their rejection of the warnings God sent them. With each rejection of truth the heart becomes harder and the spiritual perceptions more dull, until at length there is utter inability to perceive spiritual things. God takes no delight in the death of the wicked, and does everything possible to turn them from their evil ways, in order that they might live and not die (Eze. 18:23–32; 33:11; 1 Tim. 2:4; 2 Peter 3:9).” (Francis D. Nichol, 129.)

I’ll post the above biblical references here to make it more accessible for you.

23 Do I have any pleasure at all that the wicked should die?” says the Lord God, “and not that he should turn from his ways and live?

24 “But when a righteous man turns away from his righteousness and commits iniquity, and does according to all the abominations that the wicked man does, shall he live? All the righteousness which he has done shall not be remembered; because of the unfaithfulness of which he is guilty and the sin which he has committed, because of them he shall die.

25 “Yet you say, ‘The way of the Lord is not fair.’ Hear now, O house of Israel, is it not My way which is fair, and your ways which are not fair? 26 When a righteous man turns away from his righteousness, commits iniquity, and dies in it, it is because of the iniquity which he has done that he dies. 27 Again, when a wicked man turns away from the wickedness which he committed, and does what is lawful and right, he preserves himself alive. 28 Because he considers and turns away from all the transgressions which he committed, he shall surely live; he shall not die. 29 Yet the house of Israel says, ‘The way of the Lord is not fair.’ O house of Israel, is it not My ways which are fair, and your ways which are not fair?

30 “Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways,” says the Lord God. “Repent, and turn from all your transgressions, so that iniquity will not be your ruin. 31 Cast away from you all the transgressions which you have committed, and get yourselves a new heart and a new spirit. For why should you die, O house of Israel? 32 For I have no pleasure in the death of one who dies,” says the Lord God. “Therefore turn and live!”
- Ezekiel 18:23-32 NKJV

11 Say to them: ‘As I live,’ says the Lord God, ‘I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live. Turn, turn from your evil ways! For why should you die, O house of Israel?’
- Ezekiel 33:11 NKJV

For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. 5 For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, 6 who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time,
- 1 Timothy 2:3-6 NKJV

The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.
- 2 Peter 3:9 NKJV

The Bible is clear that God desires to save us. Jesus on the cross at calvary is the ultimate demonstration of how far God is willing to go to save us.

Pray. Show Up. Don’t Give Up.

Like Isaiah, I hope you are wiling to say to God, here I am, send me!

Pray and ask God, what is it that He would hav you do?
What are your gifts, and how can you put them to work for God’s honor and glory?

Don’t get discouraged if you don’t see the results you expect immediately. Keep going knowing you are doing what God has called you to do. As you show up and refuse to give up you will continually learn, gain experience, improve, and become stronger.

So let’s keep it simple.

Pray.

Show Up.

Don’t Give Up.