NL 310: God Calls Isaiah - Isaiah 6:1-8

image: “Isaiah's Vision of God on the Throne” (Vanderbilt Divinity Library)

image: “Isaiah's Vision of God on the Throne” (Vanderbilt Divinity Library)

November 15, 2020

Isaiah 6:1-8

Initial Thoughts

  • “Here I Am Lord” hymn- based at least partly on this (and the calling of Samuel)

  • Immediately precedes the O Come, O Come Immanuel passage - MAKE THIS LINK!

Bible Study

  • Two parts of a Three part story:

    • Theophany of God (vv.1-4)

    • Calling of Isaiah (vv.5-8)

    • Prophecy (vv.9-13) not included in Lectionary

  • Why is this here instead of Isaiah 1? Isaiah’s prophecy (vv.9-13) specifically relates to the oracles of chapters 7 and 8

    • Ahaz is afraid and wants to ally with the Assyrians instead of trusting “Immanuel” God with us

  • Theophany - visible manifestation of God - What does this tell us about God?

    • “The year King Uzziah died” - died from leprosy in 742 which he contracted because he arrogantly decided to burn incense to God- a task assigned only to the priests (descendants of Aaron) 2 Chron. 26

      • God is not subject to Kings- even faithful Kings - Kings come and go, but God last forever

    • God is seen! This is extraordinary- rarely is God “seen” - most likely a dream

    • God is enthroned in Jerusalem - God is with Judah (Isaiah 7) not simply enthroned in heaven (Ezekiel 1:1-3:11; 1 Kings 22:19)

      • “There was a correspondence between the Temple in Jerusalem and God’s celestial palace, it is understandable that Isaiah should have a vision of God enthroned in the Temple. God apparently is imagined as having gigantic proportions, with the skirts of his robe filling the entire interior of the Temple.” (Rober Alter, The Hebrew Bible, v. ii The Prophets, p. 641).

    • Only biblical mention of Seraphs- very little is known biblically, simply God is attended by supernatural creatures and then they cannot behold the glory and majesty of God.

      • “It is not entirely clear what these angelic attendants of God look like. Their name shows the verb that means ‘to burn,’ and they might be angels of fire, but then why would they need tongs to hold the burning coal? The root saraf is also associated with the burning venom of serpents… leaving open the disquieting possibility that these seraphim are winged snakes.” (Rober Alter, The Hebrew Bible, v. ii The Prophets, p. 641).

    • Holy, Holy Holy - Holy means “separate” or “other” - three times = Yahweh is the ultimate “other”

    • Hem fills the temple- rob was a sign of power and none can equal the power of God

  • Calling

    • Protestation - common (Samuel doesn’t recognize God’s voice, Jeremiah says he is too young, Moses rejects God’s call repeatedly)

    • Fear - Isaiah has seen what Moses and even Seraphs cannot behold - death is imminent

    • Fear is met with recognition and confession- both individual “I am a man of unclean lips” and corporate “I live among a people of unclean lips”

    • Confession is met with ritualistic purification - coal to the lips - specifically addressing his confession/sin

      • Moses needs proof he talked with Yahweh: is given a staff, given and cured of leprosy, bloody Nile water

      • Jeremiah cannot speak- God touches his mouth

      • Ezekiel given a scroll to eat

    • Seraph acts as intercessor - very priestly acts in response to Uzziah’s disregard of ritual

      • Ritual is important!

    • “The prophet’s lips having been cleansed, he is now ready to take up the mission. There is a linguistic note as well as a spiritual one in all of this: poetry, purportedly representing divine speech, is the prophets vehicle; now, with his lips purified, he is in a condition to utter this elevated and powerful form of speech.” (Robert Alter, The Hebrew Bible, v. ii The Prophets, p. 642)

  • Answering

    • Only after confessing and accepting forgiveness can Isaiah hear the voice fo God- not through seraphs but directly from God

    • “us” most likely referred to the Seraphs and unmentioned divine council over whom Yahweh in majesty reigns - think of a King asking the court - who will go for us

Thoughts and Questions

  • God calls us whether we like it, want it or not- in our weakness (unclean lips) God gives us strength. What is keeping you (or your church) from answering God’s call? How is God helping you overcome that obstacle

  • Isaiah confesses both individually and corporately. What sins are we guilty of corporately and what are we guilty of individually? Are they separable?

  • God with us - in the midst of fear, in the midst of impending invasion, in the midst of dying Kings and unfaithfulness and uncertainty- God is with us. God is Holy and God’s ways are not our ways, but God is with us. How will we preach this while not watering down the fear, turmoil and need for confession?

  • God chooses to offer healing, purification and forgiveness not directly but through a messenger (Seraph). How might we be God’s messengers?

  • Forgiveness can burn us while making us whole

Year 3Eric FistlerIsaiahComment