Man’s Frailty and God’s Authority: Exposition of Isaiah 6 (Part 1)

In the year that King Uzziah died I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up; and the train of his robe filled the temple.

Isaiah 6:1

I would like you to join me as I go through the first 7 verses of one of the most profound chapters of the Bible. One of the most captivating imagery that can be found in the Old Testament. One of the most scintillating visions of the book of Isaiah: Isaiah chapter 6.

These verses are so rich with divine truth that after I have spent time sharing my insights, I will have merely scraped the surface. This exposition of Isaiah 6 will be divided into three sections:

1. Man’s Frailty and God’s Authority (v.1)  

2. God’s Holiness and Man’s Unworthiness (v.2-5)

3. Christ and the Burning Coal (v.6-7)

We will begin by observing the incapability of man and the omnipotence of God in the first verse.

The Accession and Prosperity of Uzziah

It is imperative that we first understanding the background of this chapter before we come to grips with the weight of the first verse. This can be done by reading through 2 Chronicles 26. There, in one chapter we read of the accession of Uzziah, the prosperity that followed his good reign and his fall resulting from pride.

He set himself to seek God in the days of Zechariah, who instructed him in the fear of God, and as long as he sought the Lord, God made him prosper.
2 Chronicles 26:5 

After acceding to the throne at sixteen, Uzziah achieved much in his lengthy reign as king. We read of how he prevailed against the Philistines, the Arabians and the Meunites (v.7). By the might of God, he was able to conquer all these formidable opponents early on in his reign. He was even brought tribute by Judah’s old enemy, the Ammonites. His fame is said to have reached far and wide, even to the border of Egypt for he had become exceedingly strong (v.8).

Militarily, Judah grew to unprecedented heights. The great multitude of valiant warriors trained, the sturdiest of weaponry forged and the menacing “engines of war” invented, all made Judah seem unassailable to its enemies (v.11-15). Diplomatically, Uzziah had countless allies. Even domestically, Judah flourished remarkably (v.9-10).

The Cause of Prosperity

What was the cause of all this? (Rather, who caused all this?) God and God alone.

God’s munificent hand was with Uzziah, his bright countenance was shown towards him and the doors of his storehouse of blessing were wide open. Both riches and honour come from you, and you rule over all. In your hand are power and might, and in your hand it is to make great and to give strength to all. (1 Chronicles 29:12)

Why did God endow Uzziah with such blessings and triumphs? The answer can be found in verse 5: Uzziah had set himself to seek God. He devoted himself to God and he heeded the wise counsel of Zechariah. Since Uzziah feared God, God was pleased to bless him

He will bless those who fear the Lord, both the small and the great. (Psalm 115:13)

Uzziah’s whole reign can be summarised by the end of verse 5:

…and as long as he sought the Lord, God made him prosper.

The Fall of Uzziah

16But when he was strong, he grew proud, to his destruction. For he was unfaithful to the Lord his God and entered the temple of the Lord to burn incense on the altar of incense. 
19…when he became angry with the priests, leprosy broke out on his forehead in the presence of the priests in the house of the Lord, by the altar of incense.
2 Chronicles 26:16,19

What a pitiable turn of events. At the precipice of his fame, wealth and might, Uzziah’s stubborn pride led him to plummet down. Uzziah wanted to do something that could only be done by the consecrated descendants of Aaron. Even when opposed by Azariah and eighty more priests, Uzziah did not relent. He saw himself fit to burn incense as any other consecrated priest.

Uzziah had a lofty view of himself and a low view of God. At that moment, he no longer honoured God. If he did, he would have obeyed His ordinances. No more did he have the intention of pleasing God or the fear of God, nor was he willing to listen to wise counsel any longer.

As a result, God debased Uzziah to the lowest level imaginable in his time. Just when Uzziah had a high view of himself, God instantly humiliated him. Leprosy became Uzziah’s unfortunate fate.

The Danger of Pride

Uzziah’s father, Amaziah is also have said to have done right in the eyes of the Lord, yet not with a whole heart (2 Chronicles 25:2). After a great victory from God, Amaziah brought the gods of the men of Seir, the very gods that could not lift a finger to save the conquered nation, and worshipped them. (2 Chronicles 25:14) Instead of heeding the correct counsel of God’s own prophet, he took the foolish counsel of his own men. Finally, in his inflated pride he challenged Joash, king of Israel, and marched out to his own demise.

As Amaziah ultimately fell due to pride, so too did his son, Uzziah. As the old adage goes, like father, like son. Pride may well be the most common of all vices. For throughout the Bible we read of more tragedies begotten by a conceited heart than any other sin.

It could well be the deadliest of all vices, for we see how pride led to both the fall of man and that of angels; the reason why sin, sorrow and shame continue to pervade the earth. As JC Ryle reminds us, “Pride is the oldest sin in the world. It was before the world.”

Due to Uzziah’s rebellion, God struck him with incurable leprosy till the day of his death. The heading in the NASB aptly describes verses 16 to 23: “Pride is Uzziah’s Undoing”. And so it was; all the riches, the power and the influence he had amassed during his reign were snatched away from him. He lived in a separate house (v.21) where he never exercised authority over his people again. His esteemed name that once spread far and wide was now tainted by the news of his deplorable condition.

It is not surprising to learn why we are reminded again and again throughout the Bible to put on humbleness of mind (Col 3:12) and to be clothed with humility (1 Peter 5:5). “Do you see a man who is wise in his own eyes?” says Solomon, the wisest man in the Bible, “There is more hope for a fool than for him” (Proverbs 26:12).

Amidst Uncertainty

Uzziah eventually dies as a leper. The nation was no doubt still in shock over what had transpired over the years. Now, they were bereft of a great and prominent monarch. Uzziah had reigned fifty-two long years, making him the second longest reigning king in the Bible, but that reign ended tragically.

It is in the midst of such uncertainty that God sends a riveting message to Isaiah son of Amoz. According to rabbinic tradition, Amoz was the brother of King Amaziah. That would mean Isaiah was King Uzziah’s first cousin.

Isaiah must have been in a dark place when he saw this vision. He must have had his fair share of doubts as to why God had acted so harshly towards his cousin. The same God who had blessed Uzziah for his reverence, smote him with leprosy for his irreverence. As we read through the Bible, especially the Old Testament, we read of similar accounts. We read of kings “doing right in the sight of God” and reaping the rewards of their devotion. Then, we read of their eventual backsliding and the tragedies that follow.

However, there is one thing that remains constant throughout this cycle. One factor that is invariable: God’s almighty power. He is able to impart life and to end it. To prolong and to shorten. To give and to take. (Deutoronmy 32:39) It is God who reduces rulers to nothing. (Isaiah 40:23) And this is exactly what God shows Isaiah.

God’s Everlasting Throne

The first thing Isaiah sees in his first ever vision is the same thing Daniel saw in Daniel 7 and what John recounted numerous times in Revelation: God magnificently sitting on His resplendent throne. He was seated lofty and exalted; the train of His robe filling the temple and angels all around worshipping Him.

God shows Isaiah that though Judah’s throne may be empty, the almighty throne above will always be occupied. You, O Lord, rule forever; Your throne is from generation to generation. (Lamentations 5:19)

Though Uzziah’s earthly reign began with a great triumph and ended with a lamentable curse, the Lord’s heavenly kingdom will never been shaken. His dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed. (Daniel 7:14)

Uzziah’s dominion was only over Judah, but the Lord’s supreme authority stretches over all. The Lord has established his throne in the heavens, and his kingdom rules over all. (Psalm 103:19)

Uzziah could never foresee that his reign would end in calamity at the hand of God, but the Lord has declared everything and no one will thwart His plans. I am God, and there is none like me, declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done…I have spoken, and I will bring it to pass; I have purposed, and I will do it. (Isaiah 46:9-11)

He exercises his supreme authority in everything. Our God is in the heavens; he does all that he pleases. (Psalm 115:3)

Even when chaos ensues, God will always remain in total control; for He has decreed it. I form light and create darkness; I make well-being and create calamity; I am the LORD, who does all these things. (Isaiah 45:7)

Whom Do you Serve?

For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.
Romans 1:20

No one has any excuse to doubt the omnipotence and omnipresence of God.

Unfortunately, many in the world are blinded to this truth. Even those who acknowledge this truth are still in the dark. God will always sit gloriously in heaven, but ask yourself these questions to see if God is seated on the throne of your life:

• Does God rule over your life, or do your passions rule over you?

• Do you long to bring glory and honour to the name of the majestic King, or do you live for your own sinful pleasures?

• Do you, with all your heart, soul, mind and strength labour to serve the King of kings and to advance His everlasting kingdom, or do you serve the devil in this wicked fleeting world?

If our answers to any one of these questions are even questionable. We are no better off than Uzziah. The only difference between those that commit such a “treason” and Uzziah is that while Uzziah was met with immediate judgement on Earth, theirs is impending.

We still have time to repent, time to change, time to humbly surrender our lives to the Lord of lords. For he is a good and gracious King. Unlike Uzziah’s allies who were nowhere to be found once he fell, God has promised every one of his loyal vassals that he will never leave them nor forsake them. (Joshua 1:5)

If we still continue serving anything and anyone but the true Lord, our final fate will be the same as that of Uzziah. Eternal exile in the fiery dungeon.