Bible Studies
Isaiah Saw the Glory of God (Isa. 6:1-5)
Series: Glory of God from IsaiahIntroduction:
1. Isaiah prophesied during the reigns of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah, kings in Judah. 2. Uzziah and Jotham are said to have done right in the sight of the Lord. They sought the Lord by listening to the prophets, however they did not eradicate the idolatry in Judah for the people still sacrificed and burned incense on the high places. 3. Evil king Ahaz made images of the Baals, burned incense in the valley of Benhinnom and burned his sons in the fire provoking the Lord God to anger. 4. The events that we have just read about occurred in the year of king Uzziah’s death. From these events Isaiah committed himself to speak on behalf of the Lord to the people. 5. What motivated him to make such a commitment? And what prompts us to make the commitment to genuinely serve the Lord? 6. It is evident in this text that Isaiah was motivated by what he saw and what he experienced. I am convinced that when we see what Isaiah saw then we too will be motivated to serve him.Discussion:
I. Isaiah saw the glory of the Lord (1-5).A. He describes what he saw in majestic language.
1. “The Lord sitting on a throne lofty and exalted.”
2. “The train of His robe filling the temple.”
3. “Seraphim stood above Him.”
B. What he heard was equally magnificent.
1. “Holy, Holy, Holy, is the Lord of hosts,
2. “The whole earth is full of His glory.”
C. The voice that he heard was so powerful that “the foundations of the thresholds trembled at his voice.”
1. While the text does not reveal where Isaiah was when he experienced this it is easy to imagine him standing at the threshold of the temple.
2. Seeing the Lord on His throne, with the Seraphim praising Him.
3. Hearing the thunderous voice of the seraph.
4. Feeling the foundations of the thresholds tremble.
D. “The temple was filling with smoke.”
E. It was an experience that inspired awe in Isaiah. It was such a terrible sight!
F. Ezekiel experienced something similar before God sent him to speak to the exiles in Babylon (Ezek. 1:26-28).
G. Others experienced something similar.
1. Moses at the burning bush (Gen. 1:6)
2. When Jacob had seen the ladder reaching into heaven “the Lord stood above it” and spoke to him. Jacob said, “Surely the Lord is in this place. He was afraid and said, ‘How awesome is this place!’” (Gen. 28:13, 16, 17).
3. John said, “I saw one like a son of man, clothed in a robe reaching to his feet, and girded across His chest with a golden sash. His head and His hair were white like white wool, like snow; and His eyes were like a flame of fire. His feet were like burnished bronze made to glow in a furnace, and His voice was like the sound of many waters, and His face was like the sun shining in its strength. When I saw Him, I feel at His feet like a dead man” (Rev. 1:13-16).
H. Such is the case when men see the glory of God.
II. Isaiah was made keenly aware of his sinfulness (5). And forgiveness (6-7).A. “I am ruined! He said. I am a man of unclean lips.” He was aware of his personal sinfulness.
B. But not only his personal sinfulness . . . he confessed, “I live among a people of unclean lips.”
1. We are all in this sinful condition together.
2. For ‘all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Rom. 3:23).
3. If you think you have not sinned then you have not yet seen the King, the Lord of hosts. When you have seen Him then you will see yourself differently.
C. Isaiah’s need for forgiveness became immediately evident.
1. One of the seraphim flew to him with a burning coal, touched his mouth and said, “Your iniquity is taken away and your sin is forgiven.”
2. When you experience the glory of God you may be terrified because it is here that you are made aware of your sin. But it is here too that you are made aware of His graciousness.
3. Without experiencing the glory of God you do not know sin. But without experiencing the glory of God you cannot know forgiveness. Sin and forgiveness are both found at the same place—in the presence of the glory of God. Some do not see themselves as sinners and have not received forgiveness for they have not yet seen the glory of God.
4. It will become Isaiah’s job to expose Judah to both these truths.
a. He will condemn their sin.
b. He will reveal the coming kingdom (2), the Messianic promise of the suffering servant pierced for our transgressions (53), and times of refreshing from the presence of the Lord (35; Acts 3:19).
III. Isaiah’s seeing the glory of God lead him to volunteer for service (8).A. God asked “Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?”
B. Isaiah’s commitment—“Here am I. Send me!”
C. Did Isaiah not know that many of the people he was being sent to were idolaters? People whose hearts were insensitive, whose ears were dull, whose eyes were dim to the things of God? Isaiah answered “Here am I. Send me!”
D. It is people today who have seen the glory of the Lord who volunteer for service.
1. It is those who have seen the glory of the Lord who warn against materialism (5:8).
2. It is those who have seen the glory of the Lord who warn against drunkenness (5:11).
3. It is those who have seen the glory of the Lord who warn against arrogance (5:21).
E. Where are those who have seen the glory of the Lord who will preach the gospel? Where are those who have seen the glory of the Lord who will serve as overseers? Where are those who have seen the glory of the Lord who will serve as teachers? Will you encourage your sons and daughters to say, “Here am I send me?” When you have seen the glory of the Lord you understand His mission and you make it yours.
Conclusion:
1. Have you seen the glory of the Lord? 2. If not, I would not ask you to do anything, but if you have and you are not a Christian volunteer for service. 3. If you are a Christian cry out “Here am I. Send me!”
