Isaiah Chapter 6 A Vision of Holiness, Calling, and Commissioning

 

                                           

                                                 Photo by Alicia Quan on Unsplash

Isaiah Chapter 6 A Vision of Holiness, Calling, and Commissioning

Introduction:

Isaiah chapter 6 is a key part of the Book of Isaiah. In which this chapter Isaiah has a strong and amazing vision of God. During this vision God calls Isaiah to become a prophet for the nation and give His message to the people.

Earlier, the people of Israel were doing wrong, and it was said that God would punish them. But in this chapter, Isaiah talks about his own experience with God.

God’s holiness and power are seen by Isaiah. His own sin and the sin of those around him are realized by him. But mercy is shown to Isaiah, and he is forgiven by God.

Then a question is asked by God — who will go and speak for Him? Isaiah replies, “Here I am! Send me!”

Through this chapter, lessons are given about God’s holiness, human sinfulness, God’s forgiveness, and the challenge of being a prophet. A turning point in Isaiah’s life is shown here.

Verses 1–4: The Vision of the Lord

The year of King Uzziah died, the prophet Isaiah had a powerful vision for the people of Israel. He saw the Lord sitting on a great throne, which lifted high above everything. The Lord’s robe was so long that it filled the whole temple, showing that how great and powerful He is.

This was an important moment for the King Uzziah which had been a powerful and successful leader of the nation but things went wrong when he tried to do the job of a priest which something he wasn’t allowed to do (as told in 2 Chronicles 26). In result His death brought a time of confusion and uncertainty for the people of Judah and both the politically and spiritually.

In the midst of this uncertainty, Isaiah was given a vision of God’s eternal rule—unshaken and supreme. While human kingdoms come and go, God remains exalted forever.

Around God’s throne were seraphim, angelic beings whose name means “burning ones.” They had six wings: two covered their faces, two covered their feet, and with two they flew. This showed their deep reverence and humility before God. They called out to one another as they flew.

“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts Therefore the whole earth is full of His glory!” (Isaiah 6:3)

This repeated the cry of “holy” is known as the trisagion and it powerfully expresses of God's absolute purity and perfection, and the uniqueness of God.  God is not just good or moral But He is completely set apart and beyond anything else in the creation. Holiness here its is also refers more than righteousness; it speaks to God’s very nature.

As the seraphim called out, the temple shook to its core and filled with smoke—showing the incredible power and greatness of God's presence, even in heaven.

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Verse 5: The Prophet’s Response

“Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts!” (6:5)

Isaiah’s reaction is immediate and honest—he is undone. “Woe is me” is not mere drama; it is a pronouncement of doom, usually spoken by prophets to announce judgment. Now Isaiah pronounces it upon himself.

When Isaiah sees how the holy God is, he suddenly realizes that  how sinful he is especially in the way he talks. He says his lips are unclean. This is a big deal because Isaiah is a prophet, and his job is to speak God's message. But Isaiah doesn't just talk about himself—he also says that the people around him are sinful too, saying, “I live among people with unclean lips.” He is showing that he and all of Israel are guilty and that no one is good enough to stand before a holy God.

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Verses 6–7: Cleansing and Grace

“Then one of the seraphim flew to me, having in his hand a burning coal... and he touched my mouth and said: ‘Behold, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away, and your sin atoned for.’” (6:6-7)

After Isaiah admits his sin, God begins to make him clean. One of the angels brings a hot coal from the altar a sign of cleansing and sacrifice and touches it to Isaiah’s lips. The fire, although it can hurt, removes sin and makes him pure. This symbolic act communicates divine atonement and forgiveness. Importantly, it comes from God’s initiative, not Isaiah’s merit.

This moment is deeply theological: it points to the idea that God’s grace meets us in our confession. Only after the recognition of sin can true transformation begin. Isaiah does not cleanse himself—the cleansing is done to him. This foreshadows the greater atonement offered through Christ in the New Testament.

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Verse 8: The Call and Commission

“And I heard the voice of the Lord saying ‘Whom shall I send and who will go for us?’ Then I said, ‘Here I am! Send me.’” (6:8)

Having been forgiven, Isaiah now hears God’s voice for the first time. The divine question—“Whom shall I send?”—is both heavenly and communal (“for us” may imply the divine council). It’s not a command but an invitation.

Isaiah’s response is famous: “Here I am! Send me.” It’s a declaration of availability, not necessarily confidence. It comes after cleansing and transformation, showing that forgiveness leads to mission. Isaiah doesn’t ask for details or guarantees—his readiness flows from gratitude and a changed heart.

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Verses 9–13: A Difficult Mission

“Go and say to this people therefore ‘Keep on hearing but do not understand keep on seeing but do not perceive.’” (6:9)

What follows is startling. God commissions Isaiah to preach, but the message will harden hearts rather than heal them. This is one of the most paradoxical callings in Scripture. Isaiah is sent not to produce revival, but to confirm judgment.

Why? Because the people had long rejected God's word. Now, their rejection will be part of their judgment. The prophet’s message will expose and solidify the rebellion in their hearts. This passage is quoted multiple times in the New Testament (e.g., Matthew 13:14, John 12:40, Acts 28:26) to explain why people reject Jesus’ message.

Isaiah then asks a natural question: “How long, O Lord?” (6:11). God’s reply is bleak—until cities lie waste, and the land is desolate. But He ends with a note of hope:

“The holy seed is its stump.” (6:13)

Though judgment will be severe, it won’t be total. A remnant a “holy seed,” remains—a promise of future restoration. This line hints at messianic hope pointing ahead to Jesus, the true Seed who would bring salvation.

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Conclusion: The Gospel in Isaiah 6

Isaiah 6 is not just a historical call narrative—it is a theological masterpiece. It mirrors the pattern of the Gospel:

1. Vision of God’s Holiness – We see who God truly is.

2. Conviction of Sin – In the light of His holiness, we recognize our unworthiness.

3. Cleansing by Grace – God provides atonement.

4. Commission to Serve – Forgiven people are called to be messengers.

5. Endurance in Ministry – Even when results are discouraging, God’s word must go forth.

Isaiah’s story is like our own. We all make mistakes in lifes, but God even forgive us when we repent from our Sin, He give us a purpose, and send us to do important things. It might be hard, but He’s always with us.