Introduction
A. Uzziah began his 52-year reign at age 16.
1. 2 Kings 15:3 says, he did what was right in the sight of the LORD, according to all that his father Amaziah had done.
2. 2 Chronicles 26:5 says, He sought God in the days of Zechariah, who had understanding in the visions of God; and as long as he sought the LORD, God made him prosper.
B. Uzziah won victories over Philistines and was a strong king, 2 Chronicles 26:8.
C. Uzziah became a leper because of his hybris in burning incense in the Temple, 2 Chronicles 26:16.
The Vision of Isaiah, vv. 1-5
A. What Isaiah saw, vv. 1-2, 4.
1. He saw the Lord sitting on a throne–>God is stil Sovereign!
2. He saw the Lord’s train fill the Temple: Wearing a long train meant, “I am important enough that I don’t have to work. I am a person of honor and dignity. Others must serve me and wait upon me.”
3. He saw the Seraphim with their six wings: They need the six wings, so each can cover his face (to show they are too lowly to look upon the LORD), so each can cover his feet (to hide this “humble” area of the body, so nothing even possibly deficient is seen in the LORD’s presence), and so each can fly.
4. He saw the smoke of the cloud of God’s glory:
a. Pillar of cloud represented the Presence of God, Exodus 13:21-22.
b. The Smoke on Mount Sinai, Exodus 19:18.
c. The Cloud of God’s Shekinah glory that filled the Temple, 1 Kings 8:10-12.
B. What Isaiah heard, v. 3.
1. He heard the seraphim declare the superlative holiness of the Lord.
a. In Hebrew, intensity is communicated by repetition.
1) In English, the comparative of good is “better,” and the superlative is “best.”
2) In Hebrew, the comparative of good is “good, good,” and the superlative is “good, good, good.”
b. Alternatively, the seraphim declare “holy” three times for the Three Persons of the Godhead.
c. “Holy” means “to be set apart from”:
1) God is set apart from creation; He is not a creature.
2) God is set apart from humanity; He is not human, He is Divine.
2. He heard the seraphim declare God’s holiness fills heaven and earth.
C. What Isaiah felt, vv. 4-5.
1. He felt the Temple move at the seraphim’s praise.
2. He felt his sinfulness in the presence of holy God.
a. Lips of man are full of flattery and false intent.
b. Lips of man are full of lies and pride.
c. Lips of man are full of deceit, poison, and death.
3. He felt hopelessly condemned: “Woe is me!”
The Purging of Isaiah
A. A seraph ministered purging to Isaiah.
B. Isaiah’s sin was burned away with the fire of God’s judgment.
The Commission of Isaiah
A. God asks for volunteers, v. 8.
B. Isaiah answered God’s call, v. 8: “Send me!”
C. Isaiah’s commission:
1. “Go!”
2. “Go and tell these people” so that they are without excuse.
3. “How long?” Until the judgment is complete.
Conclusion
A. Only those who have met with God and had their sin purged can serve God.
B. God promised Isaiah he would not have any converts.
C. But God promised He would save a remnant.