Isaiah 6

II. ISAIAH’S VISION OF GOD CH. 6

Many serious students of Isaiah have believed that the record of Isaiah’s call in this chapter occurred before he wrote any of the prophecies in this book. The title "Holy One of Israel," Isaiah’s trademark name for God, connects with his call, and he used that title for God throughout the book. Likewise, the prophet’s emphases on glory, majesty, and righteousness are strong in chapter 6, and they also appear throughout the rest of the book. As already mentioned, the three messages in chapters 1-5 provide a perfect introduction to the rest of Isaiah, and it was probably for this reason that these chapters were arranged in the text before chapter 6. By placing the record of his call here, Isaiah also vindicated the prophecies in chapters 1-5 for his readers. [Note: Delitzsch, 1:204.]

"Isaiah 6:1-13 is not simply his justification for being a prophet but is more particularly the heart of his answer to the problems raised by his preface [chs. 1-5]. It speaks of the triumph of grace." [Note: Motyer, p. 75.]

Also, chapter 6 provides a good transition into the prophecies that appear next, in chapters 7-39 and, particularly, in chapters 7-12. It shows how the sinful nation could become the Lord’s servant (a kingdom of priests), namely, by really looking to Yahweh and allowing Him to deal with her sin, as Isaiah did. It also explains the hardness of Israel that follows; she had not looked to God and had not responded appropriately to Him, as Isaiah did. In the call of Isaiah (Isaiah 6) his message stands out, but in the call of Jeremiah (Jeremiah 1:1-10) his person stands out.