Isaiah 6:1-7

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 6:2

Above it stood the seraphims ; rather, above him were standing seraphim . The "seraphim" are introduced, not as well known, with the article, but without it, as unknown. The word means "fiery ones," and is supposed to denote the burning love of the blessed spirits spoken of. They appeared to the prophet as standing above the King as he sat upon his throne—"standing" to show their readiness to minister; but why "above him" is not so clear. Perhaps, simply, as those that stand are "above"... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 6:2-4

A sermon from the seraphim. Taking the seraphim of this prophetic vision as symbols of the "highest creaturely intelligences," we gather from the text— I. THAT THE LOWLIEST REVERENCE BECOMES THE HIGHEST CREATED BEINGS . "With twain [of his wings] he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feel." Of the six wings each seraph possessed , four were used to indicate their sense of unworthiness in the near presence of God; two only were in readiness for active... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 6:3

One cried ; rather, kept crying (comp. Revelation 4:8 , "They rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy"). But the prophet scarcely goes so far; he describes only his vision—they did not rest while the vision was vouchsafed him. Holy, holy, holy . The Church on earth has taken pattern by the Church above; and the "Trisagion" is ever being repeated in one part of the earth or another without ceasing: "Thou continuest holy, O thou Worship of Israel." There is no attribute so... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 6:4

The posts of the door moved ; rather, the bases of the thresholds shook (compare Revised Version). The shout of the seraphs shook the very foundations on which the thresholds of the gates of heaven rested—a testimony to the energy with which it was uttered. At the voice of him that cried ; i.e. "at the voice of each and all." The house was filled with smoke. "Smoke" is sometimes the mere sign of the presence of God, as in Isaiah 4:5 ; but more often it indicates his presence in... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 6:5

I am undone ; literally, cut off , destroyed (comp. Isaiah 15:1 ; Jeremiah 47:5 ; Hosea 4:5 , Hosea 4:6 , etc.). God once said himself, "There shall no man see me and live" ( Exodus 33:20 ). Men expected to die even when they had seen angels of God ( Genesis 32:30 ; 6:22 , 6:23 ; 13:22 ). How we are to reconcile Exodus 33:20 with this passage, Job 42:5 , and Ezekiel 1:26-28 , is uncertain. Perhaps the ecstatic sight was not included in the " seeing " of ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 6:5

Man's unworthiness brought home to him by nothing o much as seeing God. The natural man is, for the most part, very well contented with himself. He does not deal much in self-scrutiny, and is not often troubled with twinges of conscience. If at any time be has any misgivings, he compares himself with other men, and readily persuades himself that he is quite as good, or even very much better than his neighbors. "God, I thank thee that I am not as other men are," is his self-satisfied... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 6:5

Seeing God and the sense of sin. "Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips." To Isaiah a work of unusual solemnity had been entrusted, one that needed to be done in a most serious and reverent spirit. He was at once the prophet of the Lord's terror and of the Lord's mercy. He was to denounce sin with the solemnity of one who knew what God's thought of sin was. He was to produce the conviction of sin before God in the corrupt minds and hearts of the people,... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 6:5

The true inspiration for workers. "Mine eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts." What a scene is presented in this chapter for our imaginations to reproduce! The throng of worshippers had left the courts of the sacred temple; the chanting, in alternate parts, of the choir of singers, clothed in white linen, had died into silence. Other devout Israelites were praying apart, and white-robed priests silently presented their prayers in the fragrant cloud of incense which rose from the golden... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 6:5-7

THE SEQUEL OF THE VISION — THE PROPHET 'S SENSE OF UNWORTHINESS . The vision of God in this life, whether natural or ecstatic, cannot but produce in the beholder a deep feeling of his unworthiness. God "is of purer eyes than to behold iniquity;" even "the heavens are not clean in his sight" ( Job 15:15 ). Man, being never wholly purged from sin while on earth, cannot but shrink from contact with the absolutely Holy. Hence Isaiah's cry (verse 5); and hence, to comfort... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 6:5-7

Spiritual agitation. The passage depicts the prophet in a condition of great mental agitation; his state may suggest to us— I. THE ALARM OF THE HUMAN SPIRIT UNDER THE CONSCIOUSNESS OF THE DIVINE PRESENCE . Anything which brings us into close contact with the unseen world powerfully affects our spirit and produces an apprehension for which we may not be able to account. 1. Any visitant, real or imaginary, from the spiritual realm fills us with fear (see 6:22... read more

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