Week 9: Holy, Holy, Holy (Isaiah 6:1–8)

The Big Idea

Isaiah sees the Lord on his throne, and the angels' song shows how holy God is. In that light Isaiah sees himself truly and cries out. But God does not leave him undone: he cleanses him and sends him. Holiness that exposes us is also holiness that restores and commissions us.

Before You Read

Isaiah dates this vision to the year King Uzziah died. Uzziah had reigned for about fifty years and brought Judah strength and prosperity. But near the end, in pride, he walked into the temple to burn incense, a task God had given only to the priests. He was struck with leprosy on the spot and lived the rest of his life in a separate house, cut off from the house of the LORD (2 Chronicles 26:16–21). So the year of this vision is the year a proud king who barged into God's presence died. Now Isaiah, a man with no right to be there, is brought into that presence by God himself. Remember from Week 5 that "unclean" meant unfit to come near the holy. Isaiah will use that very word about himself.

Read

Read Isaiah 6:1–8 slowly, twice, and at least once aloud. Try reading the seraphim's words in verse 3 the way you imagine they were spoken.

Observe

1. What did Isaiah see first (v. 1)? Describe the throne and the robe.
2. What did the seraphim look like, and what did they do with their wings (v. 2)? Why might they cover their faces and their feet?
3. What did the seraphim call out to each other (v. 3)? How many times is the word "holy" repeated?
4. What happened to the temple when they called out (v. 4)?
5. What three things does Isaiah say about himself in verse 5? What does he say he has seen?
6. Where did the burning coal come from, and what did the seraph do with it (vv. 6–7)?
7. What two things did the seraph say had happened to Isaiah (v. 7)?
8. What question does the Lord ask in verse 8? How does Isaiah answer? Notice the order: what had to happen to Isaiah before he could say it?

A Word to Notice

Tame (tah-MAY) means "unclean" or "defiled." We met it in Week 5, in the laws about what made Israelites unfit to approach God's presence. Here Isaiah uses it about his own lips and about his whole people. He is not talking about touching something forbidden. He is talking about speech, the mouth that confesses and curses, praises and lies. In the presence of the holy King, the purity word becomes a word about the heart. Isaiah does not need a ritual bath. He needs fire from the altar. That is how deep uncleanness goes, and how far God's cleansing reaches.

Interpret

1. In Hebrew, repeating a word is a way of making it as strong as possible. Why do you think the seraphim say "holy" three times? What does this tell us about God?Consider: Many have pointed out that no other quality of God is repeated this way in Scripture (see also Revelation 4:8). God is not merely holy; he is holy beyond measure. Many Christians have also heard in it a hint of the Trinity, though the main point is God's utter holiness.

2. The seraphim say the whole earth is full of God's glory. How does that connect with what we have seen in this study about holiness reaching outward?Consider: Holiness started with a day, then a place, then a people. Here we learn God's glory already fills the earth. Holiness is not shrinking away from the world; it is pressing into it.

3. Why does seeing God make Isaiah see himself so clearly (v. 5)?Consider: We usually measure ourselves against other people and come out fine. Next to the holy God, the measuring stick changes. Notice that Isaiah also confesses the sin of his people; he does not pretend to be better than them.

4. The coal came from the altar, the place of sacrifice. Why is that detail important?Consider: Isaiah is cleansed by something that comes from the place of atonement. God himself provides the cleansing. Isaiah does not clean himself up first.

5. Cross-reference: Read John 12:37–41. John says Isaiah saw Jesus' glory. How does this change the way you read Isaiah 6?Consider: The holy King on the throne is the same Lord who came near in Jesus. The thrice-holy One is the one who was lifted up on the cross to cleanse unclean people.

Apply: Let the Text Read You

1. Isaiah's first response to holiness was not delight but a cry of woe. Has a fresh sight of God ever humbled you like that? What did it expose?
2. Isaiah's confession was about his lips. What has your speech been like lately, at home, at work, online, or behind someone's back? Let the text read you here, gently and honestly.
3. Notice that God cleansed Isaiah before sending him. Are you trying to serve God out of an uncleansed heart, or holding back from serving because you think you must clean yourself up first?
4. Once he was cleansed, Isaiah offered himself without knowing yet what the job would be. Is there a place, person, or task God may be asking you to say yes to?

Pray

Holy, holy, holy Lord, your glory fills the earth. I am a person of unclean lips, and I live among people like me. Touch me with your cleansing, take away my guilt, and then send me. Here I am. Amen.

For Groups (optional)

• Discussion starter: Ask, "Have you ever been in the presence of someone so impressive or important that it made you suddenly aware of your own shortcomings?" Then compare that with Isaiah's experience.
• Many in your group will know the hymn "Holy, Holy, Holy." Consider singing or reading a verse together at the close.
• If time allows, read on to verses 9–13. Isaiah's mission was hard, and he was told many would not listen. Talk about faithfulness when results are slow, something farm families and veterans may understand well.

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Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.