Isaiah 6

Bible study with Pastor Terry Gray


Isaiah 6
Isaiah had not heard from God in a while. Israel was under Uzziah's leadership, and things were good. Upon Uzziah's death, however, Isaiah love for God stirred, and he was fired up to prophesy to his people. God told Isaiah, however, that the work would not be easy. In fact, Isaiah would prophesy his heart out but never see the fruits of his labor.


Isaiah 6:1-4
Isaiah is given a vision of the Lord in the throne room of Heaven. The vision is very similar to the vision of Ezekiel, very similar to John's vision documented in Revelation. This vision was received in 740 BC, when Uzziah died.


Uzziah
- 10th King of the Southern Kingdom (Isaiah was born in the Southern Kingdom)
- Reigned for 52 years before dying at 68 years-old (long reign!)
- Was a good, well-respected Godly man (even by the world) who wisely led his kingdom to prosperity during his long reign
- Uzziah's fame spread as far as the kingdom of Egypt (2 Chronicles 26:8)
- Uzziah's reign did not end well, however. He got cocky toward the end of his reign and thought he was above the law. He went as far as offering incense to the Lord by going into the Holy of Holies. He was judges for his pride with leprosy. He died alone because he was quarantined. He thus died in shame and died alone. This was when Isaiah got this vision, recorded in Isaiah 6.


Terry Gray's comment: Isaiah never got a vision from God during Uzziah's reign. This may be because Isaiah put too much faith in man--this man, Uzziah-- that he lost his focus, his first love, on God. God is saying to Isaiah, a great king may have died but a greater king is still seated in Heaven!


Psalms 118:9
It is better to trust God than man, than princes.


Isaiah 6:5

The Holiness of God is stressed here. Holiness is perfection, is purity.



Isaiah sees the Holiness of God and fell down on his knees. This is something that happens whenever people recognize the Holiness of the presence of God. Uzziah needed to die for Isaiah to wake up and rediscover his first love for God. And when Isaiah finally woke up from his admiration for Uzziah, he was eager to serve (Isaiah 6:8)!


Isaiah 6:6-10
God told Isaiah that Isaiah would be a prophet who would preach to His people but would never see the fruits of his labor. His people would not return to God during Isaiah's time as a prophet. His people would hear but never understand, see but never perceive. And Isaiah was told that he was to prophesy until the City laid in ruins.


Inspiration: The Calling of God is not always glamorous. But then again, such a calling is not about glamour. It's about doing God's work.


Old Testament prophets had hard jobs: Isaiah was rejected. So were Jeremiah and Ezekiel. Daniel went into captivity. It was tough. Ministry can be very tough. But, every single one of them passionately served God. It's not about glamour. It's about doing God's work!