Isaiah’s Vision of God

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1. Isaiah 6 contains 13 short verses, barely a page in NIV Study Bible, including footnotes that are more verbose than the chapter’s words. Yet it is often referred to in sermons, or at least I’ve heard it frequently. Simply titled, “Isaiah’s Commission,” the chapter attempts to paint the portrait of the throne room of God himself.

   Jesus quotes from this chapter after telling the Parable of the Sower, one who scatters seed, the preach who professes the Word to all, so it must be important to stop and consider His words juxtaposed to Isaiah:

   This is why I speak to them in parables: “Though seeing, they do not see; though hearing, they do not hear or understand. In them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah: “‘You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving. For this people’s heart has become calloused; they hardly hear wit h their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them.’ Matthew 13:13-15

   In Mark’s account:

   The secret of the kingdom of God has been given to you. But to those on the outside everything is said in parables so that, “they may be ever seeing but never perceiving, and ever hearing but never understanding; otherwise they might turn and be forgiven!” Mark 4:11-12

   And Luke:

   The knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of God has been given to you, but to others I speak in parables, so that, “though seeing, they may not see; though hearing, they may not understand” Luke 8:10

   Not the most inspirational of words, essentially, you’ll preach, but they won’t hear:

   Go and tell this people: “Be ever hearing, but never understanding; be ever seeing, but never perceiving.” Make the heart of this people calloused; make their ears dull and close their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts, and turn and be healed. Isaiah 6:9-10

   Thus, Isaiah’s career as a prophet is officially begun. A sad time in the history of the Israelites, but there is a promise, “the holy seed will be the stump in the land” (Isaiah 6:13). Everything else will be cut down, laid to ruins, but the stump of Jesse, even Jesus of Nazareth, will appear when the time is right.

   The insight for me is rather clear: though I am a man of unclean lips, God has taken my guilt away through the mysterious, marvelous atoning work of Jesus. My purpose for living is to spread the Gospel, the amazing news, but expect few to hear or understand. Thank you Lord for your forgiveness. Give me strength and courage to keep moving forward for your purpose, your kingdom.

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