What Did Isaiah See?
Isaiah 6:1-7
How many times have you
read Isaiah 6 and said to yourself, "What did Isaiah see?" How many
times have you heard sermons about the prophet's vision and gone away asking
the same question? I cannot tell you all that he saw, but you can be certain of
this? ISAIAH SAW THE LORD JESUS CHRIST IN HIS REDEMPTIVE SAVING GLORY (John
1. He saw THE MERCY-SEAT OF GOD (v. 1) with Christ upon it. Having
redeemed his people, Christ has been exalted as Lord over all things. He rules
the world from the mercy-seat! The throne from which our God exercises his
total sovereignty is the throne of grace (Heb.
2. God showed Isaiah THE MESSENGERS OF HIS GRACE (v. 2). The
seraphims represent gospel preachers, whose hearts burn with zeal for the glory
of God, so that they swiftly fly to preach the gospel of his grace and glory in
Christ wherever they are sent.
3. Then Isaiah heard of THE MAJESTY OF GOD, his transcendent
holiness, his glorious dominion, and the revelation of his glory in all things
(v. 3).
4. In the light of all these things, this man saw THE MISERY OF
HIS OWN CONDITION before God (v. 5). By nature he was a sinful wretch, justly
condemned, without hope before the great and holy God. Once a sinner is brought
to the confession of his depravity, guilt, and just condemnation before God,
mercy is on its way!
5. As soon as Isaiah confessed his sin, he saw THE MYSTERY OF
REDEMPTION (vv. 6-7). "Then" - after Christ revealed himself and
exposed Isaiah's sin - "Then flew one of the seraphims unto me," one
of God's preachers, "having a live coal in his hand, which he had taken
with tongs from off the altar." That live coal represents the everlasting
gospel of redemption accomplished by Christ himself. This is the message all
God's servants carry with them (Isa. 40:1-2). "And he laid it upon my
mouth, and said, Lo, this hath touched thy lips; and thine iniquity is taken
away, and they sin is purged." The gospel preached in the power of God the
Holy Spirit is effectually applied to the heart. And the proclamation of sin
forgiven purges the consciences of all who believe.
Don Fortner