Key Text: Also I heard the voice of the Lord, say, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me (Isaiah 6:8).
Isaiah described the scene of heaven revealed to him in a vision while in the temple. He recorded that he had the vision in the year of King Uzziah’s (Azariah) death, 740 BC. The biblical account attributes Uzziah’s affliction and subsequent death to his having encroached upon the prerogatives of the priesthood by attempting to offer incense in the temple. Even though God had given Judah a good king and blessed the people with good things during Uzziah’s reign, they still continued their corrupt practices. It was time for God to call His messenger, Isaiah, and announce His displeasure with His people. The Lord graciously revealed Himself in a vision to Isaiah for the sake of His people. Isaiah saw the splendor of His majesty “seated on a high and lofty throne” v 1, asserting the Lord’s power and authority over all creation. The Lord’s “robe filled the temple” as His glory fills all the earth. Isaiah witnessed seraphim, the burning ones, flying above the Lord with their three sets of wings, with one set covering their faces, one set covering their feet, and with one set they flew and declared that God is holy, holy, holy and His “glory fills the whole earth” v 3. The sound of the seraphim calling out to one another shook the foundations of the doorways and the temple was filled with smoke which is associated with the presence of God.
Isaiah’s response was, “Woe is me for I am ruined”, I am about to die. Perhaps God’s statement to Moses in Exodus 33;20 flashed in Isaiah’s mind, “humans cannot see me and live.” What is sure is that at the sight of God’s throne, Isaiah became aware of his sin and unworthiness to be in God’s presence: Isaiah knew he was unclean before God and unable to join the seraphim in praising God. Secondly, Judah was a singful people too. So, one of the seraphim took a glowing coal from the altar with tongs and touched Isaiah’s lips as a way of cleansing Isaiah of his sin. The removal of Isaiah’s sin meant God’s sense of justice was satisfied and the prophet could now stand before God without fear v 7. Then, God spoke and posed a question, asking “who will go for us?” v 8. His mission is to save all who will repent of their sin and by faith turn to Him. Isaiah’s response was short, “Here I am. Send me” because the Lord had forgiven him.
Now, the prophet’s attention shifts ahead to the Babylonian captivity as a major threat to the nation of Judah. Hezekiah, the godly king was “sick unto death” and the announcement by Isaiah was enough to send anyone into depression and soul-searching seriousness. So, Hezekiah “prayed and wept sore.” His prayer was answered: “I have heard thy prayer, I have seen thy tears.” The Lord promised that He would add unto his day 15 years and deliver the city of Jerusalem out of the hand of the king of Assyria. Like most of Isaiah’s announcements of great prophetic consequence, this one is also introduced with the interjection “Behold!” AMEN!
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