Series Details
Times were hard—very hard. A corrupt government and a covetous judiciary made life miserable for all living in a nation that was once strong and stable. Idolatry was rampant, leaving the land with no spiritual vitality. What is worse, the prophets, who would normally guide the people toward righteousness, were weak and shamelessly compromising.
Most of these horrid conditions could be traced back to the failure of King Uzziah, who had once been a strong and competent leader. His extraordinary fame and success resulted in pride and arrogance. In the backwash of all this, a young, very-concerned prophet named Isaiah turned to the Lord to gain understanding. What happened to that young prophet leaves us with four truths we must never forget.
In this powerful study of Isaiah chapter 6, Pastor Chuck Swindoll explores a pivotal moment in the life of the prophet Isaiah. Set against a backdrop of national corruption, political instability, and spiritual apathy, Isaiah’s vision of the Lord provides four foundational truths that act as an anchor for every believer. This message serves as a reminder that when earthly leaders fail and culture crumbles, God remains sovereign, holy, and in absolute control.
1. God and God Alone (Isaiah 6:1–9a)
- Overview: Isaiah’s vision occurs in the year King Uzziah died—a time of great national mourning and uncertainty. In the midst of this vacuum of earthly leadership, Isaiah sees the true King seated on His throne.
- Key Fact: The death of an earthly leader often provides the “clear air” necessary for us to see the Lord in His rightful place of authority.
- Scripture: Isaiah 6:1 – “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.”
2. The Holiness of the Lord (Isaiah 6:2–4)
- Overview: Describes the seraphim and their cry of “Holy, Holy, Holy.” This repetition in Hebrew denotes the superlative degree, emphasizing God’s total set-apartness from sin and His absolute perfection.
- Key Fact: God’s holiness is His defining attribute; it is the “atmosphere” of heaven and the standard to which His people are called.
- Scripture: Isaiah 6:3 – “And one called out to another and said, ‘Holy, Holy, Holy, is the Lord of hosts, the whole earth is full of His glory.'”
3. The Conviction of Sin (Isaiah 6:5)
- Overview: When confronted with God’s holiness, Isaiah does not feel empowered or “good about himself”; he feels “undone” and deeply convicted of his own impurity.
- Key Fact: True worship begins with a realistic assessment of our own unworthiness in the presence of a holy God.
- Scripture: Isaiah 6:5 – “Woe is me, for I am ruined! Because I am a man of unclean lips… for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts.”
4. The Provision of Grace and Call to Service (Isaiah 6:6–9a)
- Overview: God provides the solution to Isaiah’s guilt through the coal from the altar, leading to Isaiah’s immediate and voluntary response to God’s call.
- Key Fact: God does not just convict; He cleanses. And once cleansed, the believer is ready to say, “Here am I. Send me!”
- Scripture: Isaiah 6:8 – “Then 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!'”
Common Questions: What Every Believer Must Never Forget
1. Why did Isaiah see his vision only after King Uzziah died? As Pastor Chuck explains, Uzziah had been a strong king, and the people (including Isaiah) may have been looking to him for security rather than to God. The death of the “earthly king” removed the distraction, allowing Isaiah to see the “Heavenly King” who is never in danger of dying or losing His throne.
2. What does it mean that God is “Holy, Holy, Holy”? In biblical Hebrew, repetition is used for emphasis. Calling God “Holy” three times signifies that He is the holiest—perfectly pure, completely separate from evil, and infinitely superior to all creation. It is the only attribute of God repeated three times in this manner.
3. Why did Isaiah focus on his “lips” when he felt convicted? In Isaiah 6:5, Isaiah cries out that he is a man of “unclean lips.” The lips are the “overflow of the heart.” Isaiah realized that even his best words and his prophetic ministry were tainted by sin when compared to the absolute purity of the Lord.
4. How does God “cleanse” us for ministry today? While Isaiah was cleansed by a coal from the altar, believers today are cleansed by the finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross. Just as the coal touched Isaiah’s lips and removed his iniquity, the blood of Christ purifies our conscience so we can serve the living God.
5. What is the proper response to a vision of God’s glory? The proper response is twofold: humility and availability. Like Isaiah, once we see God for who He is and ourselves for who we are, we should be ready to offer ourselves for His service, saying, “Here am I. Send me!” without even knowing the full details of the mission first.
