We have been working our way through Isaiah over the past 9 weeks, and today marks the start of a different section. It is a one-verse study, but it is an important one for it sets up the context of the next section of Isaiah.
(A) The throne is empty (Isa 6:1a)
Isaiah sets the scene for us in Isa 6:1. We read about a vision that Isaiah has, and we have information about this vision — when it occurs and what was visible. It took place when King Uzziah (aka Azariah) died. We will have to know something about his reign and also what he meant for Israel, and his death also marks another section in the book of Isaiah.
In Isa 6:1, the Lord is referred to as “Lord” not “LORD”. This tells us that the word being used here is “Adonai”, which describes authority and power.
Clearly, there is something important about King Uzziah’s reign and therefore, his death. In 2 Chron 26:1-5, we read of how his reign started well, for he sought the Lord “did what was right” (2 Chron 26:4). He reigned for 52 years in total (2 Chron 26:3). He “set himself to seek God” as Zechariah, the prophet, guided him (2 Chron 26:5). This is important because he was a young man when he took the throne (only 16) and Zechariah taught him to fear the LORD. This means reverence on his part, but this reverence is a response. The core content is about who God is, evident from the Law. He will have to learn about who God is and what He has done. Do we seek out teaching that causes us to fear the Lord or do we seek out teaching that speaks to our needs and affirms our sense of self?
2 Chron 26:6-15 also details for us his military conquests and victories, especially against the traditional enemies of the people of God — the Philistines. In 2 Chron 26:2, we read also of how he restored the city of Eloth. He also built infrastructure and promoted agriculture. He also ”loved the soil” (2 Chron 26:10), revealing how he is not just a military man. Thus, he secured Israel’s borders and also developed the country.
He also had a strong army (2 Chron 26:11-12). He organised his people well and displayed great leadership over this army. He also prepared weapons and uniforms for the army (2 Chron 26:14). He seemed to be a great engineer too (2 Chron 26:15a). Under his leadership, Israel flourished and his fame spread, until “he was strong” (2 Chron 26:15b). King Uzziah had a wide range of achievements, and “his fame spread far, for he was marvelously helped, till he was strong” (2 Chron 2:15b).
Do you think of yourself as a success at school or work? Are you able to imagine that you are a success because you were “marvelously helped”? This is a picture of being blessed because we have God’s favour. Things go flawlessly and our plans go smoothly because God has blessed the work of our hands.
These verses help us to see the invisible hand of God at work in Uzziah’s life and reign. It is a golden age for Judah, but things take a turn. If we go back to Isa 6:1, with his death, it will introduce a lot of uncertainty. What will happen to Israel now, surrounded by many hostile nations? Will the countries around start pressing in on Judah? Will the army be able to sustain its strength? Will they know the wealth, success and blessing under Uzziah’s reign? Isa 6:1 marks a turn from a golden era to a period of uncertainty. Will God still be faithful? Will He still bless? What will the future look like, now that Judah’s throne is empty?
Characters in the Scripture go through real life experiences is just like you and I. They also wrestled with uncertainty and questions. We seem to be living through an extended period of uncertainty now. We don’t know what is going to come around the corner. Will things be as good as they have been before? Will we return to a period of prosperity? The world is changing and everything is changing. What will our life look like?
(B) The throne on fire (select verses Isa 1-5)
What else do we know about the latter period of King Uzziah’s reign? His reign was not all rosy and good. 2 Chron 26:16-21 tells us an event that took place privately in his life. He “grew proud” (2 Chron 26:16a) and he thought that since God’s favour was on him, he could disregard the roles and offices established, to be a priest. When everything went well, he felt that he could worship God as he pleased. God did not delight in what we do alone, but also in how we do it.
Azariah the priest (interestingly, he has the same name as Uzziah) came in as the king was burning incense and courageously confronted him with 80 priests (2 Chron 26:17). His reign was a good one because there were 80 good men as priests! They told him what he could and could not do (2 Chron 26:18). It is a good thing to be told that there are things you cannot do! In our day, will we have 81 who can stand up against a leader and point out how he has disobeyed God’s word?
As a result of this incident, Uzziah ends up being excluded and Jotham had to rule. Jotham was but a child, and it calls to mind the words of Isa 3:4.
As we read about Uzziah’s life, it teaches us that we cannot be flippant and need to be cautious when iwe approach God. We need to live in a way that reflects the fear of the Lord. Uzziah started out knowing the fear of the Lord but as he grew older, though he didn’t turn to other gods and idols, he approached God with carelessness and a lack of fear. God responded directly by inflicting him with leprosy. This attitude of knowing the favour of God and being careless doesn’t seem like a problem to most of us. We may wonder what’s the big deal or problem if we are still blessed.
This is the Uzziah’s life that also forms the context of Isa 1-5 that we have read in the previous weeks’ studies. The first 5 chapters of Isaiah provides for us insights into the spiritual state of Israel. Isaiah framed the relationship between God and Judah as a parent and a rebellious child who has turned his back against mercy and grace (Isa 1:2-4). They didn’t just abandon him, but also despised and disowned him. Thus, they are utterly estranged.
In Isa 1:12-15, we also see how God’s people weren’t all turning to foreign religions. They were going to worship and still did what they had to do. They went to all they had to, but God said that their attendance was abominable. God detested it because they practiced a false religion. They were not performing new forms of worship, but were doing the old forms with hearts that were far from him. God's people had also lost every level of responsible leadership. (Isa 3:1-5). With this removal, they turned to life of mutual oppression. They lived lives of conflict and calculation and sought what was best for themselves only.
Thus, as we read in Isa 5:4, 8-23, Israel produced horrible fruit that was worthless. They were greedy, hedonistic, planned evil, distorted the truth, proud, and lived in outright rebellion (scoffers). These 6 groups were the wild grapes that were produced.
Reading Isa 1-5 and 2 Chron 26 together helps us to see the similarities between the nation and Uzziah’s life! It is a heart of rebellion at the heart and root of all things. Uzziah’s reign was a prosperous one, but we also see the seeds of their decline. Where is God in their hearts? Is he worthy of worship, not just in religious life but in the day to day life? What is important is what we do on Monday to Friday, not just on Sunday. A God-centred life is one where He flavours every part of our being.
In the year Uzziah died, there was an empty throne, but even before that, the fire was already raging. Things were not as great as it looked.
(C) The throne is the LORD’s (Isa 6:1b)
What is the effect of Isaiah seeing what he saw? Though there’s no longer a king in Israel with an empty throne, Isaiah’s vision saw that God is still on His throne. In Isaiah’s vision, he uses the “Lord” to describe what he saw. This term of reference for God draws attention to his power and honour and seeks to exalt him. Isaiah is dumbstruck by this vision (Isa 6:5) and refers to God as the “LORD” (the covenantal name, YHWH here). He recognises that God is the King who sits on the throne.
Years later, John saw a vision of a throne in heaven, with One seated on the throne (c.f. Rev 4:1-3). He had a glorious appearance, one of dazzling beauty and surrounded by 24 thrones with elders. From the throne came flashes of lightning and thunder. In front of the throne is a sea of glass.
In 1 Tim 6:15-16, we also read of how Paul describes God as one who is utterly sovereign but dwells in unapproachable light. No one can see and approach Him. In Rev 4, John is struggling to put into words what he saw.
In this year of Uzziah’s death, Isaiah saw God. He had a vision of God. This itself is worth for us to stop. In our moments of uncertainty and confusion. The thing that makes everything find its proper place is if we encounter God. In Isa 6:1, we see that Isaiah was doing his regular, weekly duty when he encountered God. As he worshipped obediently, he caught a glimpse of God, glorious and holy, and his robe filled where Isaiah was! In moments of great uncertainty, we are to continue doing what God has called us to do faithfully. It is in this setting that God meets His people.
This is what the psalmist wrote about in Ps 27:3-5, as he described the joy of being in the presence of the Lord in the temple. Even in the time of war, as long as he is in the temple, he knows that he is secure. He does not fear anything as long as he is in God’s presence.
How can we be in the presence of the Lord? Ps 24:3-6 tells us that he who has clean hands and a pure heart and seeks God! We will know blessing when we seek Him and His face!
God graciously shows what is true — He is on the throne and His robe fills where Isaiah is. God is always reigning. But this moment is a subjective experience of an objective reality. His authority, power and sovereignty defines the space that Isaiah inhabits, and is not a far-off truth. Do you want to be where God is? Is this your desire? To be in the presence of the holy God is the safest place to be. To be moved by who He is banishes every trace of fear.
In just this one verse, Isa 6:1 recounts for us how a man of God sees the vision of a God who is high and lifted up but is also close by because His robe fills this place! This is important because the first 5 chapters have just been a diagnosis of the people’s spiritual state. Now, God is going to speak to this man to call him to speak to the people! The first 5 chapters set the stage for the rest of the book and the Bible. What are the Lord’s plans for Isaiah and the rest of human history?
In Rev 5:2, we read of a scroll and the problem is that no one knows if the scroll can be opened. Can God get things done? Will His purposes come true? But one comes forward who is found worthy. He alone takes the plans of a holy God and makes it happen in the world. He is worthy to make all of God’s plan come true because He was slain. This qualifies Him! The death of this slain Lamb qualifies Him to bring about all of God’s purposes and plans. Everything in our life and in this world is in the hands of the one who was slain. This is the story of Isaiah as it unfolds. The One on the throne planned for this Lamb to come to be slain.
Is your Christian identity put on hold from Monday to Saturday? Remember that your work is in the hands of the Lamb who was slain. So are your relationships. Everything in history and time is in His hands. Bow before Him! He doesn’t just want our religious life. He wants all of us and He regains and rules, both now and forevermore.