But an angel
sent by God absolves Isaiah of his sin with a burning coal, and Isaiah accepts
the mantle of prophecy. We, like Isaiah, must acknowledge our sin and tremble
before a holy God. But we must also trust in the absolution won by the Son of
God and pronounced by His called and ordained servants.
Isaiah is aware of standing in the very presence of
God and God’s heavenly council (see the “us”
in verse 6; and see 1 Kings 22:19 where the prophet Micah also “saw the LORD sitting on his throne,”
surrounded by heavenly attendants). Isaiah knows he has truly been confronted
by “the King, the LORD of hosts”
(verse 5).
Even though encountering and being encountered by the
holy God appropriately humble him, Isaiah has nothing to fear. God is not out
to kill him, but rather to forgive him. Since this a direct experience of God,
no sacrifice need be brought or offered. The fire of the altar, conveyed by the
seraphs, is cleansing enough. Isaiah is forgiven (verses 6-7).
Isaiah was forgiven; and as the Book of Isaiah will
proclaim, God’s people will be forgiven too (see Isaiah 40-66). Even the more
immediate context of chapter 6 offers a word of hope. While chapter 7
illustrates the truth of 6:9-10 by relating King Ahaz’s failure to comprehend
and trust, the following chapters anticipate a good and faithful king who will
pursue the justice, righteousness, and peace that God wills (see Isaiah 9:2-7;
11:1-10; compare 5:1-7).
In the context of the Book of Isaiah, this good
king-to-come finds its ultimate
fulfillment in the birth, life, ministry, death, and resurrection of Jesus, the
quintessential sign that the holy God will simply not separate God’s own self
from “a people of unclean lips”
(verse 5).
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