(77) Encountering the Holiness of God - 1

In Isaiah six, we read of one of the most amazing encounters with the holiness of God vividly displayed to man. You are probably familiar with this passage. Let me encourage you to slowly and carefully read it with fresh eyes and a heart to fully appreciate the scene before us here.

In the year that King Uzziah died I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up; and the train of his robe filled the temple. (2) Above him stood the seraphim. Each had six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. (3) And one called to another and said: "Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory!" (4) And the foundations of the thresholds shook at the voice of him who called, and the house was filled with smoke. (5) And I said: "Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts!" (6) Then one of the seraphim flew to me, having in his hand a burning coal that he had taken with tongs from the altar. (7) And he touched my mouth and said: "Behold, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away, and your sin atoned for. (8) And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?" Then I said, "Here am I! Send me." (Isaiah 6:1-8 ESV)

What did Isaiah see? Though words are clearly inadequate to answer that question, they are all we have. But as we consider this scene, try to get an appreciation of it in your imagination.

In verse one, Isaiah says he saw the Lord. The Hebrew word here is Adonay. It describes God as master, lord, king, and sovereign one. It is used only of God and so is a title of the true God with a focus on His majesty and authority. (Dictionary of Biblical Languages – Adapted)

Isaiah saw the Lord “sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up.” He sits as sovereign King over all creation, exalted far above all lesser human authorities and kings.

“The train of his robe filled the temple” The train here signifies splendor, beauty, and majesty. The whole temple is filled with the display of the splendor and majesty of the King of kings!

“ Above him stood the seraphim. Each had six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. ” These beings may only be seen by Isaiah here. The seraphim worship and serve before the throne of the King in complete humility. John Piper describes this scene so beautifully.

Not even seraphs can look upon the Lord nor do they feel worthy even to leave their feet exposed in his presence. Great and good as they are, untainted by human sin, they revere their Maker in great humility. An angel terrifies a man with his brilliance and power. But angels themselves hide in holy fear and reverence from the splendor of God. How much more will we shudder and quake in his presence who cannot even endure the splendor of his angels!

“And one called to another and said: "Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory!"”

From what can you separate God to make him holy? The very god-ness of God means that he is separate from all that is not God. There is an infinite qualitative difference between Creator and creature. God is one of a kind. In a class by himself. In that sense he is utterly holy. But then you have said no more than that he is God. – John Piper

Here, the word LORD is the unique name of God, Yahweh or Jehovah. This King who sits enthroned in breath-taking beauty, splendor, and majesty is the one and only God, Yahweh. He is identified as “Yahweh of armies” emphasizing God’s absolute power and authority. He is the sovereign ruler over the heavenly armies.

Isaiah is seeing the one-and-only, one-of-a-kind, unique, holy, sovereign, majestic King of all creation. So great is His splendor, the angels declare that His glory fills the entire earth. It is unimaginable glory!

“And the foundations of the thresholds shook at the voice of him who called, and the house was filled with smoke. ” The King of glory is awesome in the display of His power, causing the entire temple to shake at the declaration of His glory. The King is glorious in the display of His presence. God demonstrated His presence to Israel through a cloud and smoke (Exodus, wilderness, Tabernacle, Temple). Here it fills the throne room of God. The throne room of God is an overwhelming, incredible display of glory that is absolutely staggering.

Can you imagine the cacophony of emotions and reactions that must have engulfed Isaiah?  Can you imagine being there yourself, encountering the overwhelmingly majestic and glorious vision of God's glory? Amazement, wonder, reverence, fear, terror, speechlessness, conviction, humility, worship, adoration. This is what happens when man comes face to face with a veiled display of God holiness. Have you encountered the holiness of God?

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