“And He said unto me, Son of man, stand upon thy feet, and I will speak unto thee,” “…I do send thee unto them: and thou shalt say unto them, ‘Thus saith the Lord God.'” Ezekiel 2:1,4
When Isaiah had his life-changing vision of God, as recorded in chapter six of his book, we discover that there was not only a timing factor involved, but an eternal purpose, one which would begin that day, and reach unto this day, certainly to continue into eternity. The matter of timing was critical in that King Uzziah had died. King Uzziah had been a very successful king, and had reigned for about fifty years. The absence of such a colossal figure in Judah and Jerusalem, most certainly left a void in Isaiah’s vision, and consideration of circumstances at hand. However, the time had come for God to write a new page of Isaiah’s life. It was a designed and determined new beginning, associated with the promised blessing of Abraham upon mankind.
We do not know all about Isaiah, but that which we do know is that he had a vision of God, corresponding and confirmed by all of the visions of God in the Bible. This vision was not only timed, but full of purpose and design. One aspect of that design was Isaiah’s calling from God, one that, as it was fulfilled by the enabling of the Spirit of God, would result in the revealing to the then known world, and to our own, the living Christ, His Sonship, His glory as King, and His redemptive work as Savior. Never had there been such a vast, and more diversified mosaic in Scripture, of the person of God, the presentation of Christ as the Messiah, King, God come in the flesh, as revealed in the book of Isaiah. This would be the result of his calling, in response to the vision. What was it in the vision that changed everything?
Not only would there be revealed to the heart and mind of Isaiah the power and authority of God, His glory and overwhelming Presence, but there would be made clear to the prophet that God was HOLY, thrice so. And this He would be every day of every year, and forever. This, the great and central, attribute of God that envelops all else, would become the dominant seive or filter, through which all consideration of God would pass. The revelation of the Holy God, as separate from His creation, not only by His grandeur and wisdom, but by His sinlessness, dwelling in unapproachable light, would add credence to all that Isaiah would seek to communicate of God to men. We see this dominant factor in the picture we have of the Seraphim, these heavenly creatures which constantly cried to one another, “Holy, Holy, Holy, is the Lord of hosts: the whole earth is full of His glory.” (Is. 6:3) It is important to note that these creatures had six wings, and that with four of them, covering their faces and feet, and in worshipful posture, they would give glory to God. Only one third of the number of their wings would be used in service to God, allowing them to fly. This vision is confirmed by the Apostle John in the Revelation, writing that creatures having six wings, and being full of eyes within, …rest not day and night, saying, “Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come.” (4:8) To us this vision comes today, for the God of it has never changed, nor can He. The whole of His dealings with men is out of His Holiness, His separateness, uniqueness, as Creator and Redeemer. He thus calls forth from the hearts of men a worship that is primary, and foremost, one which the Lord made mention when He rebuked Satan, “Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and Him only shalt thou serve.” (Matt. 4:10)
The vision would shatter Isaiah, but God would forgive and cleanse. Then came God’s call: “Whom shall I send?” Isaiah’s responded: “Here am I, send me.”
Dear Father, Make us worshippers. In Jesus’ name, Amen.