KJV Isaiah 6:1-4  In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord high and lifted up … the seraphim… covered his face … and cried, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts…”

NASB Isaiah 6:1-4 In the year of King Uzziah’s death I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, lofty and exalted … the seraphim covered his face … and called out, “Holy, Holy, Holy, is the LORD of hosts…

Isaiah’s experience was life-changing, marking and moulding his ministry from that point in time. So majestic and awesome was the scene and the sight that he cowered in fear with a sense of his own sinfulness. The man who had pronounced woes on others (ch 5) now pronounces a singular and solemn woe on himself.

This scene should also speak to us and bow our hearts in worship. Think of the many contrasts suggested here.

High

The throne and its sitter are described as elevated and elevated above the events of life and the passing of great kings. This throne is eternal and is not touched by death. Yet the One Who sat on the throne (John 12:41) would be brought very low, even into the dust of death.

Lifted Up

The throne is described as being lifted up, held in honour and bathed in glory. The throne-sitter was here among us, and He was “lifted up.” But it was a tree on which He was lifted in order to accomplish redemption and draw “all men” to Him.

Seraphim Covered their Faces

How different for our Lord. Instead of men covering their faces before Him, they blindfolded His eyes and smote Him upon the face. They used His blessed face as the target for their vile spittle. They plucked the hair from His beard to shame Him and humiliate Him. Energized by demonic power, they sought every tactic to inflict the utmost pain and shame upon Him.

One Cried unto Another

The cries surrounding the cross were far different from those that filled Isaiah’s ears. At Calvary, there were cries that alleged He was an impostor and mocked His every claim and His every act of mercy. He Who angelic beings owned as holy, sinful man taunted as the worst of criminals.

The Whole Earth Filled with His Glory

Here is a great paradox. No one could describe the scene that day at Calvary as one of glory for the victim of the cross. Yet, in a unique way, it was a scene of untold glory. Here was a scene displaying the glory of an obedient Son, a faithful servant, a spotless Lamb, a willing and intelligent sacrifice. Earth had never seen a glory equal to this. This scene will one day result in the entire earth being filled with His glory and owned by every individual.

Uzziah was a good king whose death was the occasion for the vision. Yet even he failed and became marked by pride, lifting himself up to a position for which he was not qualified. But the high and lofty One humbled Himself and became the lifted serpent of John 3 and Son of Man of John 8:28.

Consider

Find one or two more contrasts in this portion from Isaiah.