Isaiah had already been preaching for five whole chapters … before he related his “call” to the ministry! Yes, Isaiah chapter 6 begins with what is often classified as a “call narrative” in Scripture.
These (“call narratives”) must be important!
Because we have so many of them.
For example, the inspired record of the “call” of Moses to serve the Lord. And then add the “calls” of Samuel and Jeremiah and Gideon … as well as (I think) several of the Disciples (Peter and John being prime examples) and Paul the Apostle in the New Testament.
Wow!
But Isaiah’s autobiographical Piece is paradigmatic, exemplary.
“In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple. Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly. And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory. And the posts of the door moved at the voice of him that cried, and the house was filled with smoke. Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts. Then flew one of the seraphims unto me, having a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with the tongs from off the altar: and he laid it upon my mouth, and said, Lo, this hath touched thy lips; and thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin purged. Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me. And he said, Go, and tell this people ….” Isaiah 6:1-9a
There are “tons” of nuggets in this Paragraph!
Isaiah knew WHEN God called him! (The very year!) “In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord.” History tells us this was 740 BC. The event (the “call”) is quite impressive! (I am as sure God “called” me to preach as I am sure God “saved” my soul.)
Isaiah’s “call” was wrapped in the Aura of the Glory of God, a high view of Deity! “I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple.” I believe this would have been the Temple in Heaven, based on the accompanying data. As opposed to the Solomonic Temple on earth during Isaiah’s lifetime.
Isaiah’s “call” came during a time of worship! In the very atmosphere of adoration and praise (of God). Such worship continues this very second in Heaven, we are led to believe. “Above it (that Throne) stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly. And one cried unto another, and said, HOLY, HOLY, HOLY, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory.”
Isaiah’s “call” included the marks of a “theophany.” (GOD BEING PRESENT!) He was certainly there (although spiritually, not physically) the day he called me to preach! “And the posts of the door moved at the voice of him that cried, and the house was filled with smoke.”
(Yesterday I ordered a new book on this very subject, a study of the times in Scripture God so “manifested” Himself, a discussion of all those theophanies, or Christophanies!)
Next, Isaiah’s “call” involved the humiliation of the potential servant, conviction leading to confession of sin, and a sense of unworthiness. “Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts.”
Isaiah’s “call” also led to the “cleansing” of those sins! (In the New Testament, 1 John 1:9 would be the “go-to” verse to explain this phenomenon. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”) God can only use “clean” vessels! Listen to the Prophet once again: “Then flew one of the seraphims unto me, having a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with the tongs from off the altar: and he laid it upon my mouth, and said, Lo, this hath touched thy lips; and thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin purged.” (This fiery “coal” is likely taken from the brazen altar, implying bloodshed!) “Without shedding of blood is no remission.” Hebrews 9:22
Then Isaiah’s “call” expects his response, personal obligation. “I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me.” Wow! “For US?” Yes, another Old Testament indication of the Triune God’s Essence! God asks here, He does not command! And Isaiah (having been properly prepared) freely volunteers, acquiesces!
Now lastly, Isaiah’s “call” included a “commission.” (To whom shall he go?) “And he said, Go, and tell this people ….” The many (religious but lost) Jews of the Land. (Although most of them would not listen to the Prophet’s warnings! And God told Isaiah that in advance.)
Wow!
Yes, this is a full call narrative, one of the most explicit in the Bible.
I recently read a Preacher who summarized these verses in the following manner:
First, Isaiah saw the Lord!
Next, Isaiah saw himself!
Then … Isaiah saw the need!
But I would add: Isaiah also “heard” the Voice!
And obeyed!
Then later, praise the Lord, he wrote a Book!
— Dr. Mike Bagwell
I am just thrilled this cold, rainy Saturday morning that God’s uses us humans to help in His Work! To preach His Word! Paul was excited too: “And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry” 1 Timothy 1:12