Matthew Henry Commentary Isaiah 6
Matthew Henry Commentary
Isaiah 6
Matthew Henry Commentary
Isaiah 6
"In the year that king Uzziah died I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up; and his train filled the temple. Above him stood the seraphim: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly. And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is Jehovah of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory. And the foundations of the thresholds shook at the voice of him that cried, and the house was filled with smoke. Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, Jehovah of hosts. Then flew one of the seraphim unto me, having a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with the tongs from off the altar: and he touched my mouth with it, and said, Lo, this hath touched thy lips; and thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin forgiven. And I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then I said, Here am I; send me." — Isaiah 6:1-8 (ASV)
In this figurative vision, the temple is thrown open to view, even to the most holy place. The prophet, standing outside the temple, sees the Divine Presence seated on the mercy-seat, raised over the ark of the covenant, between the cherubim and seraphim, and the Divine glory filled the whole temple. See God upon His throne. This vision is explained in John 12:41, that Isaiah now saw Christ's glory and spoke of Him, which is a full proof that our Savior is God.
In Christ Jesus, God is seated on a throne of grace; and through Him the way into the holiest is laid open. See God's temple, His church on earth, filled with His glory. His train, the skirts of His robes, filled the temple, the whole world, for it is all God's temple. And yet He dwells in every contrite heart.
See the blessed attendants by whom His government is served. Above the throne stood the holy angels, called seraphim, which means "burners"; they burn in love to God and zeal for His glory against sin. The seraphim, showing their faces veiled, declare that they are ready to yield obedience to all God's commands, though they do not understand the secret reasons of His counsels, government, or promises. All vainglory, ambition, ignorance, and pride would be removed by one view of Christ in His glory.
This awe-inspiring vision of the Divine Majesty overwhelmed the prophet with a sense of his own vileness. We are undone if there is not a Mediator between us and this holy God. A glimpse of heavenly glory is enough to convince us that all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags. Nor is there a person who would dare to speak to the Lord, if he saw the justice, holiness, and majesty of God, without discerning His glorious mercy and grace in Jesus Christ. The live coal may denote the assurance given to the prophet of pardon and acceptance in his work, through the atonement of Christ. Nothing is powerful to cleanse and comfort the soul but what is taken from Christ's satisfaction and intercession.
The taking away of sin is necessary for our speaking with confidence and comfort, either to God in prayer or from God in preaching; and those will have their sin taken away who complain of it as a burden and see themselves in danger of being undone by it. It is great comfort to those whom God sends, that they go for God, and may therefore speak in His name, assured that He will support them.
"And he said, Go, and tell this people, Hear ye indeed, but understand not; and see ye indeed, but perceive not. Make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they sea with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and turn again, and be healed. Then said I, Lord, how long? And he answered, Until cities be waste without inhabitant, and houses without man, and the land become utterly waste, and Jehovah have removed men far away, and the forsaken places be many in the midst of the land. And if there be yet a tenth in it, it also shall in turn be eaten up: as a terebinth, and as an oak, whose stock remaineth, when they are felled; so the holy seed is the stock thereof." — Isaiah 6:9-13 (ASV)
God sends Isaiah to foretell the ruin of His people. Many hear the sound of God's word but do not feel its power. God sometimes, in righteous judgment, gives people up to blindness of mind because they will not receive the truth in the love of it.
But no humble inquirer after Christ needs to fear this awful doom, which is a spiritual judgment on those who will still hold fast to their sins. Let everyone pray for the enlightening of the Holy Spirit, that they may perceive how precious are the Divine mercies, by which alone we are secured against this dreadful danger.
Yet the Lord would preserve a remnant, like the tenth, holy to Him. And blessed be God, He still preserves His church; however, professors or visible churches may be lopped off as unfruitful, the holy seed will shoot forth, from whom all the numerous branches of righteousness shall arise.
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