21/05/17 Isaiah 6:1-13Whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved

 

Isaiah 6:1In 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.

 

Uzziah died in 740 BC which makes this vision around 741 – 740 BC. It was probably before Uzziah died or else it should have been noted as being during the reign of the next king, Jotham. It probably marked the start of Isaiah’s ministry; it records his calling to be a prophet, although some commentaries say that such “visions” usually are found at the start of a prophet’s recorded message. However, it is clear that some of Isaiah does not appear to be in chronological order, and thus there is no definite reason why this vision could not have marked the commencement of his ministry.

 

saw – to see; perceive; have a vision; regard; learn about; find out; gaze at.

high – raised up; exalted (including in rank or position)

lifted up  to be lifted up; be exalted. Both these words appear to be very similar in meaning, that is, to be set high so it was above that of all others.

train – generally refers to such as the priest’s robe. (Our English word “train” originally came from the train attached behind a person’s robe or gown.)

 

Isaiah saw (as in a vison) God sitting (or dwelling) upon a throne (a position of authority), His throne raised up high so that it was higher than any other throne or position, and His train (the spreading out of the glory of God all around Him, that which pertains to His majesty). The picture suggests not just a central figure sitting on a central throne, but more of an overall picture covering all Isaiah’s viewpoint, high and lifted up, and spread out, signifying infinity, limitless. Nothing exists here without being part of God’s authority.

 

The setting is clearly the temple, probably the ark of the covenant where God’s shekinah glory was to exist whenever He was present with His people.

Exodus 40:34-3534 Then a cloud covered the tent of the congregation, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. 35 And Moses was not able to enter into the tent of the congregation, because the cloud abode thereon, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle.

 

Isaiah 6:2Above 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.

 

The seraphim appear to be above or over the throne. Note Lucifer as the covering cherub – Ezekiel 28:14aThou [art] the anointed cherub that covereth

 

seraphimssaraph (serpent; fiery serpent; poisonous serpents which were fiery from burning effect of poison); seraph, seraphim (majestic beings with 6 wings, human hands or voices in attendance upon God). According to this verse, they covered their faces with two of their wings, two more covered their feet, and they used two more with which to fly. The word signifies the “burning ones”.

Numbers 21:6And the Lord sent fiery (saraph) serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and much people of Israel died.

Numbers 21:8And the Lord said unto Moses, Make thee a fiery serpent (saraph), and set it upon a pole: and it shall come to pass, that every one that is bitten, when he looketh upon it, shall live.

 

The same term is used to describe an Assyrian king.

Isaiah 14:29Rejoice not thou, whole Palestina, because the rod of him that smote thee is broken: for out of the serpent’s root shall come forth a cockatrice, and his fruit [shall be] a fiery flying serpent (saraph).

The “fiery flying serpent” appears to be Sennacherib, king of Assyria from 705 – 681 BC; he more or less destroyed Babylon in 689 BC because of its refusal to accept Assyrian rule. (Nebuchadnezzar ruled Babylon from 605 – 562 BC.)

 

This is the only Bible passage to mention “seraphim”; it appears twice, here in Vs 2, and again in Vs 6. They may be something like cherubim (as found on the cover of the ark); they may be a type of angel. However, they may simply be a completely different creature altogether: “burning” or “fiery” ones.

 

Isaiah 6:3And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, [is] the Lord of hosts: the whole earth [is] full of his glory.

 

While there appears to be two (but perhaps more) seraphim here, in Revelation we read of four similar creatures.

Revelation 4:6-86 And before the throne [there was] a sea of glass like unto crystal: and in the midst of the throne, and round about the throne, [were] four beasts full of eyes before and behind. 7 And the first beast [was] like a lion, and the second beast like a calf, and the third beast had a face as a man, and the fourth beast [was] like a flying eagle. 8 And the four beasts had each of them six wings about [him]; and [they were] full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come.

 

The cherubim in Ezekiel 10:14 have the same faces except for one being the face of a cherub, not a calf as in Revelation 4:7.

Ezekiel 10:14And every one had four faces: the first face [was] the face of a cherub, and the second face [was] the face of a man, and the third the face of a lion, and the fourth the face of an eagle.

However, Ezekiel 1:10 appears to describe the same creatures; one has the face of an ox here.

Ezekiel 1:10As for the likeness of their faces, they four had the face of a man, and the face of a lion, on the right side: and they four had the face of an ox on the left side; they four also had the face of an eagle.

These creatures are also fiery creatures.

Ezekiel 1:13As for the likeness of the living creatures, their appearance [was] like burning coals of fire, [and] like the appearance of lamps: it went up and down among the living creatures; and the fire was bright, and out of the fire went forth lightning.

Yet they have only four wings according to Ezekiel 1:6.

 

Note that in Ezekiel 28:14 satan is pictured as the one who dwelt in the midst of fire.

Ezekiel 28:14Thou [art] the anointed cherub that covereth; and I have set thee [so]: thou wast upon the holy mountain of God; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire.

 

So probably with seraphim and cherubim we are talking about similar yet different creatures, plus perhaps more similar creatures who may or may not be actually angels.

 

the whole earth is full of His glory – the whole earth is the fulness of His glory.

let the whole earth be filled [with] his glory – see Psalm 72:19.

 

Isaiah 6:4And the posts of the door moved at the voice of him that cried, and the house was filled with smoke.

 

the posts of the door moved – the bases or foundations of the threshold shook.

The seraphim’s voices caused the very foundations to shake; a picture of power and might in action. The house (temple; throne-room) was filled with smoke (could signify God’s burning anger – see following verse, or His shekinah glory – see previous verse). It is likely that the setting here is the Holy of Holies where God said he would dwell, in the tabernacle with His people.

 

Isaiah 6:5Then 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.

 

woe – a passionate cry of grief or despair.

I am undone – a term signifying being cut off (from living) at the sight of God.

unclean – or impure.  lips – or language.

 

Our speech can be a good indicator of our innermost thoughts, whether good or evil.

James 3:5-115 Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth! 6 And the tongue [is] a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell. 7 For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind: 8 But the tongue can no man tame; [it is] an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. 9 Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God. 10 Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be. 11 Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet [water] and bitter?

 

Like the tax collector, Isaiah had come face to face with the pure holiness of God. This is that which causes a sinner to experience Godly sorrow which brings repentance, leading to salvation – this is the work of the true gospel!

2 Corinthians 7:10For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.

Luke 18:13And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as [his] eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.

 

Isaiah’s eyes hadn’t truly seen God in the flesh; but even a vision of God’s holiness should be more than sufficient to stir the soul into repentance.

Note Isaiah 3:8For Jerusalem is ruined, and Judah is fallen: because their tongue and their doings [are] against the Lord, to provoke the eyes of his glory.

 

Isaiah 6:6Then 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:

 

Then one of the seraphim flew to Isaiah with a live or burning coal or stone in his hand which he had taken from the altar before the throne of God.

Revelation 8:3-43 And another angel came and stood at the altar, having a golden censer; and there was given unto him much incense, that he should offer [it] with the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne. 4 And the smoke of the incense, [which came] with the prayers of the saints, ascended up before God out of the angel’s hand.

 

The fire is that which purifies from sin.

Malachi 3:2-32 But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he [is] like a refiner’s fire, and like fullers’ soap: 3 And he shall sit [as] a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness.

Zechariah 13:9And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It [is] my people: and they shall say, The Lord [is] my God.

 

Isaiah 6:7And he laid [it] upon my mouth, and said, Lo, this hath touched thy lips; and thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin purged.

 

purged kaphar (to cover, purge, make an atonement; make reconciliation; cover over with pitch; to make atonement for). 71 out of 102 occurrences in the Old Testament have been translated “atonement”.

 

The fire upon the lips symbolises the cleansing of Isaiah, just as what we say symbolises what our lives are like inside. His iniquity (including its guilt and consequences) were taken away (or come to an end) and his sin covered over as pitch covered over the wood of Noah’s ark. So, was Isaiah purged forever? Under the old covenant law he would still have needed to participate in the Day of Atonement sacrifices as prescribed by the law, so it can be assumed that he was as acceptable to God’s presence by this burning coal purging but not necessarily such that he no longer needed to participate in the Day of Atonement rituals.

 

We covered this topic of atonement quite thoroughly when we did Hebrews last year and into this year, so I won’t go into any more detail here, other than to say that while the old covenant law atoned for their sin yearly, the new covenant has now established a once-for-all-time sacrifice that purges (not just covers) sin completely through that one sacrifice on the cross.

 

Isaiah 6:8Also 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.

 

This is commonly taken to be a call to ministry, although I have seen some (not very convincing) views that declare it to be nothing to do with a call as such! Isaiah receives a call from God, asking whom would He send on a mission, and who would go in God’s name. In other words, this is similar to an ambassadorial task, to be sent to a people in order to represent the one who sends you.

Isaiah hears the voice of the Lord (Adonay); there is no confusion in Isaiah’s mind as to who is speaking here. It is God, and not a stranger!

John 10:4-54 And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice. 5 And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers.

 

God requires a work to be carried out for Him, somewhat like delegating authority to a servant who will do that work. The question appears to suggest that no-one has yet offered to go to do God’s work. In fact, it is actually an acknowledgement that God has set up this “interview” in order to offer the task to His chosen servant, Isaiah. There is no evidence that this task was advertised or offered to anyone else. Isaiah is the chosen vessel for God’s work, and God has gone straight to Isaiah in order to call him for ministry.

 

There is one quite interesting fact here: Isaiah agrees to take on the ministry seemingly without even knowing what the job prescription was! It actually demonstrates the high level of faith Isaiah had in the God who called him to ministry. And so, Isaiah immediately says, “Here I am; send me!” There is no question of salary, nor work conditions, nor provision of needs etc. Isaiah apparently completely trusts that God will provide all his needs, as per Philippians 4:19 & Matthew 6:33.

 

Isaiah 6:9-109 And he said, Go, and tell this people, Hear ye indeed, but understand not; and see ye indeed, but perceive not. 10 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.

 

Here we get the outline of the details of Isaiah’s call to ministry: Go and tell (or command) this people (nation; fellow-country-men; kindred), “Continue to hear (listen) but without understanding (without knowing with the mind; without insight; without discernment); continue to see (have vision; observe; gaze at) but do not perceive (without wisdom; without discernment; without understanding).

perceiveyada (to know), that word which MacArthur claims means God having a special love relationship with His people!

 

They would get all the information their senses of sight and hearing would give them, yet without any understanding of inward meaning.

Matthew 13:13-1513 Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand. 14 And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive: 15 For this people’s heart is waxed gross, and [their] ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with [their] eyes, and hear with [their] ears, and should understand with [their] heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.

 

Clearly a major application of Isaiah 6:9-10 was to the pharisees of Jesus’ day. Their hearts (inner man; mind; will; understanding; conscience) had grown fat with luxury like those rich and idle ones of Isaiah’s day. Their ears (including the reception of divine revelation) were indeed heavy (unresponsive – indifferent to the needs of those hurting around them). Their eyes (including mental and spiritual faculties) were shut (besmeared); they just couldn’t see what was plainly around them. “make the heart fat”, “make their ears heavy” and “shut their eyes” are imperatives; they are not options but instead are commands of God.

 

Why were they commanded to be unresponsive and indifferent to the truth? Note the four pairs of words in these two verses: hear, understand, see, heart.

They were to hear indeed, yet commanded not to hear with understanding.

They were to see indeed, yet commanded not to see with understanding.

They were commanded to have unresponsive hearts that lacked understanding.

They were commanded to have unresponsive ears and besmeared eyes, lest they see and hear with understanding, lest they convert (turn back to God; repent) and be healed (spiritually).

 

Isaiah 6:11Then 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,

 

Revelation 6:10And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?

Numbers 14:11And the Lord said unto Moses, How long will this people provoke me? and how long will it be ere they believe me, for all the signs which I have shewed among them?

1 Kings 18:21And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye between two opinions? if the Lord [be] God, follow him: but if Baal, [then] follow him. And the people answered him not a word.

Psalm 80:4O Lord God of hosts, how long wilt thou be angry against the prayer of thy people?

Habakkuk 1:2O Lord, how long shall I cry, and thou wilt not hear! [even] cry out unto thee [of] violence, and thou wilt not save!

 

From the hymn “The Church’s One Foundation” –

Though with a scornful wonder Men see her sore oppressed,

By schisms rent asunder, By heresies distressed:

Yet saints their watch are keeping, Their cry goes up, “How long?”

And soon the night of weeping Shall be the morn of song!

 

But here in Isaiah 6:11 the message is clear: this holding back of understanding and discernment from God’s people will continue “Until the cities be wasted without inhabitant, and the houses without man, and the land be utterly desolate,”

 

This is unlikely to mean just the captivity for 70 years, for there were still some remaining in Judah, and the land was inhabited by other nations such as those who became the Samaritans; thus the land was not utterly desolate. So, while the captivity may have been a part-fulfillment, it would only be fully realised after Jerusalem was destroyed, firstly in 70 AD, then ploughed into the ground under the Roman emperor Hadrian in 136 AD. Renamed then as Syria Palaestina after the traditional enemies of the Jewish people, the Philistines, it has been largely desolate (in particular of Jews) until the middle of the 20th century.

 

The fact that the religious scene in Judea was even more apostate in Jesus’ days demonstrates that God not only knew what was ahead for His people, but had put full measures in place in order to one day restore His people.

 

Isaiah 6:12And the Lord have removed men far away, and [there be] a great forsaking in the midst of the land.

 

Firstly the Jews were removed to Babylon, a far country where they learned of the religion of mystery Babylon, today enshrined in the Talmud, a far cry from the pure law of the old covenant (the Torah). There would be a greater forsaking (of God) in the midst of the land in Jesus’ day, such apostasy that Israel would be rejected for a season (Romans 11:8) as God’s people, after they rejected His salvation and restoration through their Messiah, Jesus Christ.

 

Isaiah 6:13But yet in it [shall be] a tenth, and [it] shall return, and shall be eaten: as a teil tree, and as an oak, whose substance [is] in them, when they cast [their leaves: so] the holy seed [shall be] the substance thereof.

 

This is what defines it as the remnant of Israel. The tithe was the holy part, that which was to be given to God, and the remnant is the holy part of Israel that God will redeem one day for His own.

Leviticus 27:30And all the tithe of the land, [whether] of the seed of the land, [or] of the fruit of the tree, [is] the Lord’s: [it is] holy unto the Lord. (where “tithe” here can also mean the tenth part)

Zechariah 13:8-98 And it shall come to pass, [that] in all the land, saith the Lord, two parts therein shall be cut off [and] die; but the third shall be left therein. 9 And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It [is] my people: and they shall say, The Lord [is] my God.

 

But yet in it shall be a tenth – But should there still be in it a tenth. Whether this means after the Babylonian captivity or after the Dispersion (after 70 AD onward until now) is not clear; however, it could apply to either one or both.

teil – terebinth tree

substance – pillar; stump. Probably means “trunk” here, that which remains when the tree loses its leaves and smaller branches.

 

shall return – turn back to God; repent. Used for “convert” in Vs 10. The context does suggest that even though many will, like the pharisees, be prevented from turning back to God in repentance and be healed, yet a small remnant (signified by “tenth” will finally repent and be healed (restored to favour with God).

Joel 2:32And it shall come to pass, [that] whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the Lord hath said, and in the remnant whom the Lord shall call.

Isaiah 1:9Except the Lord of hosts had left unto us a very small remnant, we should have been as Sodom, [and] we should have been like unto Gomorrah.

 

shall be eaten – kindled; burned; consumed; remove (of guilt) (fig.) Most commentaries assume this to be “consumed” or similar. They then teach that the tenth (small part) or Israel returned after the captivity, yet was consumed again, yet still a stump remains of the tree (see Romans 11) onto which they will be grafted once again, or shall regrow as shoots holy to the Lord. But, it could also mean that a small remnant will return to God and be figuratively purged of their guilt. If the word for “shall be eaten” can indeed be translated as “remove of guilt (figuratively)”, then I would tend toward this meaning.

seed – sowing; offspring; descendants

 

Thus “But should a tenth yet remain in the land, that small portion shall return to God (repent of their sin) and shall be purged of their guilt. Like a terebinth and like an oak (whose trunks have substance even when they have lost their leaves), so the holy descendants will be of that same substance, the trunk.”

 

That is, a small portion of Israel will yet remain, who will return to God in repentance and be forgiven of their evil. Even though the leaves (representing Israel) should all fall, yet the trunk remains from which the holy seed (descendants) will arise. Even though Israel may look dead and buried, the trunk which has remained will burst forth with new shoots and leaves one day.

Romans 11:24-2724 For if thou wert cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and wert graffed contrary to nature into a good olive tree: how much more shall these, which be the natural [branches], be graffed into their own olive tree? 25 For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in. 26 And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob: 27 For this [is] my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins.

 

To Isaiah page

 

To Sermons & Messages page

 

Hoppers Crossing Christian Church homepage