“In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord, high and exalted, seated on a throne; and the train of his robe filled the temple.” (Isaiah 6:1)
The context of Isaiah’s vision of the Lord with the death of King Uzziah, contrasts the end of the 50 year reign of an earthly king with the eternal reign of the Creator of the universe!
Isaiah saw the LORD! He saw God in all His majesty and glory!
Isaiah’s vision of God teaches us that the way we see the LORD will determine how we interact with Him. A diminished view of God will result in a distant relationship with Him, which will impact the way we worship, the way we pray and the way speak about Him. However, an exalted view of God will result in a divine encounter that draws us into an intimate relationship with Him, which will be evident in our worship, prayer and witness.
When is the last time you really saw the LORD? What did you see? What lenses do you wear when you look at God? How is your vision of God distorted by the vision of others? Have you ever really seen the LORD?
While few are graced with a physical vision of God, most see God through the revelation of His Word and in the life of Jesus Christ (Special Revelation) or through a revelation seen through the created order (Natural Revelation).
Romans 1:20 – “For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities – his eternal power and divine nature – have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.”
Colossians 2:9 – “For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form”
Hebrews 1:1-2 – “In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe.”
When Isaiah saw the LORD, he saw His transcendence (otherness) and His immanence (presence)
“I saw the LORD, high and exalted” = transcendence (otherness)
Our response to the LORD's transcendence in worship is one of reverence and honour!
“I saw the LORD…the train of His robe filled the temple” = immanence (presence)
Our response to the LORD's immanence in prayer is one of relationship and intimacy!
A clear vision of God enables us to hold in tension both ‘fear and favour’ as we honour His greatness singing with the angels, "Holy, holy, holy is the LORD almighty" and hold His hand at the same time crying, "Abba, Father."
When we really see the LORD, we cannot help but to witness about a God who is high and exalted, yet fills our lives by His presence.
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