ISAIAH LESSONS 8
 

     We will begin this lesson in Isaiah 6:1 "In the year that king
Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted
up, and his train filled the temple."

     Many Bible students believe this happened at the very beginning
of the book of Isaiah. I tend to believe the book is in the order it
should be. Many of those called to work for God have a deeper
experience with the Lord, after they have begun to serve Him. This is
not unusual, as far as I am concerned. This vision Isaiah had was a
specific time. It is very similar to the first vision that Ezekiel
had.  Most believe the year Uzziah died to be the year 759 B.C. Lord
is speaking of Adonay. The name Adonay is just a way to express the
name of the Lord more reverently. We know from other Scriptures, that
there is a throne in heaven, and that Jesus {as we know Him} sits at
the right hand of the Father. The Holy of Holies in the tabernacle was
a type of this throne. This majestic throne is above all. The curtain
was pulled aside, and Isaiah was allowed to see the throne of God.
This train is like the train brides have on their wedding dresses, but
this is more elaborate and fills the temple.

     Isaiah 6:2 "Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings;
with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet,
and with twain he did fly."

     A "seraphim" is a fiery creature. We are not told exactly how
many seraphim there were. We do know their purpose is to carry out the
wishes of God. In this particular instance, 2 wings covered the face
of the seraphim. Even a seraphim must hide his face from the face of
God. A seraphim in the near presence of God was like a flaming fire.
It is interesting to me, that there are 6 wings. The number 6
symbolizes mankind. The seraphim are in the near presence of God,
waiting on the instructions of God. It is interesting to me, that they
can fly. When God appears to man, or one of His creatures, male or
female, there must be some kind of shielding to keep him from the
direct view of the Lord's face. Usually there is a smoke around Him to
keep Him somewhat hidden.

     Isaiah 6:3 "And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy,
holy, [is] the LORD of hosts: the whole earth [is] full of his glory."

     This crying out Holy seems to be part of their task. The fact of
the Holiness of God, is the very thing that separates Him from
mankind. We are told to be holy, because He is Holy. Personally, I
believe the word holy being said 3 times indicates Father, Word, and
Holy Ghost.  We know from the Scripture in 1 John chapter 5 verse 7,
there are three that bear record in heaven, and they 3 are One. I John
5:7 "For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the
Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one."  LORD is generally
used when it is speaking of the fulness of the Godhead. The whole
world is full of His glory. We can take a look around us and see the
glory of God.  The whole earth speaks out in glory to God. The sun,
the moon, the stars, the flowers, the mountains in their majesty. The
greatest thing to glorify God is His creation of mankind. The human
body is one of the most outstanding mysteries. When I see someone who
does not desire to glorify God, because they are so caught up in self,
I ask them, Have you created any worlds lately? That pretty well
explains the glory of God. He is so far above anything and everything
else in the world, it leaves no room for anything except to glory in
Him. Then, it is not just the seraphims that should cry Holy, holy,
holy, but all mankind, as well.

     Isaiah 6:4 "And the posts of the door moved at the voice of him
that cried, and the house was filled with smoke."

     The volume of the seraphims crying out to God made such a
powerful sound that it shook the foundations the posts were set upon.
Smoke is many times the sign that God is there. He had shown Himself
present in the camp with the Israelites with a smoke by day and a fire
by night.

     Isaiah 6:5  "Then said I, Woe [is] me! for I am undone; because I
[am] a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of
unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts."

     This just means that he had been in the presence of God. It does
not mean that he looked into the face of God. You cannot look upon the
face of God and live. This is speaking of being in the presence of
God. To be a mortal man and come into the presence of God would be a
terribly humbling experience. There is no comparison between Almighty
God and man. To be in His presence, would show the person the sinful
nature he had. It would turn God's great Light on the man to such an
extent that the man would be totally aware of all his faults. Jesus is
King of kings and Lord of lords. Perhaps, Isaiah thought he would die,
because he was in the presence of God. Unclean lips just means that
every word that proceeded from his mouth was not perfect. Out of the
heart the mouth speaketh. He knew anything he said had revealed that
he was not a perfect man, and no one living was perfect either. He was
overwhelmed by being in the presence of Holy God who is perfect.

     Isaiah 6:6 "Then flew one of the seraphims unto me, having a live
coal in his hand, [which] he had taken with the tongs from off the
altar:"

     We know the throne of God in heaven is the original that the most
holy place in the tabernacle was patterned from. We know that all
things in the close proximity of God must be pure gold. This altar
was, possibly, the altar of incense. This fire never went out. The
live coal would have been some kind of stone that was lying on the
altar. Notice, here, this said the seraphim had the coal in his hand.
This tells us seraphims have hands. Another thing we must notice is
the seraphim took the golden tong to remove the coal from the golden
altar. He was not allowed to touch the altar itself.

     Isaiah 6:7 "And he laid [it] upon my mouth, and said, Lo, this
hath touched thy lips; and thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin
purged."

     Our God is a consuming fire. This cleansing of Isaiah's mouth
symbolically cleansed the source of iniquity. The heart is the source,
but the iniquity comes out the mouth. We have spoken earlier in these
lessons of how the fire burns away the sin and leaves the person pure.
The baptism Jesus gave us was the baptism of fire of the Holy Ghost.
"Purged", in this Scripture, means canceled.

     Isaiah 6:8 "Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom
shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here [am] I; send
me."

     This is the most beautiful call to minister and the answer to
that call. Not only was Isaiah aware of the presence of the Lord in
the smoke and in the fire, but now he hears the voice of God. Notice,
the I send, and go for us. This is speaking of the Godhead. The answer
Isaiah gave showed his willingness, and even eagerness, to serve God.

     Isaiah 6:9  "And he said, Go, and tell this people, Hear ye
indeed, but understand not; and see ye indeed, but perceive not."

     There is no understanding or true sight, until the Holy Spirit of
God reveals what the words of the prophet are saying. Isaiah will
bring the message as God has given him, but these people are not
willing to understand and believe.

     Isaiah 6:10 "Make the heart of this people fat, and make their
ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and
hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and convert,
and be healed."

     Jesus spoke in parables, so the people would not accept Him with
their mind and be saved. God wants the heart of mankind, not his mind.
These people were so hardened to the teachings of God, that they would
not receive the message Isaiah gives them from God. They will be
without excuse, because they were told and did not listen.

     Isaiah 6:11 "Then said I, Lord, how long? And he answered, Until
the cities be wasted without inhabitant, and the houses without man,
and the land be utterly desolate,"

     God will have a remnant, but many will perish in their unbelief.
Isaiah is to continue to preach, until the country is taken by the
enemy. This is a punishment from God.

     Isaiah 6:12 "And the LORD have removed men far away, and [there
be] a great forsaking in the midst of the land."

     Thousands will be taken captive and taken to a foreign land. The
land of Judah will be desolate.

     Isaiah 6:13  "But yet in it [shall be] a tenth, and [it] shall
return, and shall be eaten: as a teil tree, and as an oak, whose
substance [is] in them, when they cast [their leaves: so] the holy
seed [shall be] the substance thereof."

     God always has a remnant. The Jews would be taken by the
Egyptians, Persians, and Syrians. Any, or all of these, could be
intended. These trees are mentioned, because they are known to shoot
up again from a root, and make another tree. This remnant will always
be for God. He leaves Himself a portion of His people to spring forth
again.













































                          Isaiah 8 Questions


1.  What happened to Isaiah the year King Uzziah died?
2.  What year did Uzziah die?
3.  What word was Lord translated from in verse 1?
4.  What does it mean?
5.  What is the train in verse 1?
6.  What stood above the throne?
7.  How many wings did they have?
8.  What did they do with their wings?
9.  What is a "seraphim"?
10. What is the seraphim's purpose?
11. What does the number 6 symbolize?
12. What were the seraphims crying out?
13. What does the author believe the three holys indicate?
14. Quote 1 John chapter 5 verse 7.
15. LORD is generally used when it is speaking of the fulness of the
    _________.
16. What do we see His glory in, here on the earth?
17. What happened when the seraphims cried out?
18. What was the house filled with?
19. Why did Isaiah say "Woe is me"?
20. What exactly does verse 5 mean about seeing God?
21. Where did the seraphim get the coal?
22. What did the seraphim do with the coal of fire?
23. How do we know the seraphim has hands?
24. How do we know the seraphim did not touch the altar?
25. What was the altar made of?
26. What happened to Isaiah when the coal touched his mouth?
27. Our God is a consuming _______.
28. What does "purged" in verse 7 mean?
29. What did the voice of the Lord say to Isaiah?
30. How did Isaiah answer?
31. What did the answer Isaiah give show about himself?
32. Would the people receive Isaiah's message from God?
33. Why will these people be without excuse?
34. How long was Isaiah to bring the message?
35. What will happen to the land of Judah?
36. Why were these particular trees chosen as an example in verse 12?