Jehovah God Is in His Holy Temple, Chapter Eight

Jehovah God Is in His Holy Temple

"IN THE year that King Uzziah died, I, however, got to  see Jehovah, sitting on a throne lofty and lifted up, and his skirts were filling the temple."  (Isaiah 6:1)  With these words of the prophet, the 6th chapter of the book of Isaiah begins.  It is the year 778  B.C.E.

Uzziah's reign of 52 years as king of Judah was, for the most part, a brilliant success.  Doing what "was right in Jehovah's eyes," he enjoyed God's backing in his military, building, and agricultural ventures.  But his success also came to be his undoing. Eventually, his heart became haughty, "so that he acted unfaithfully against Jehovah his God and came into the temple of Jehovah to burn incense."  Because of this presumptuous act and his rage against the priests who censured him, Uzziah died a leper.  (2 Chronicles 26:3-22)  It was about this time that Isaiah started his prophetic service.

We are not told where Isaiah is stationed when he sees the vision.  But what he sees with his physical eyes is clearly a vision, not an actual sighting of the Almighty, as "no man has seen God at any time."  (John 1:18;  Exodus 33:20)  Still, to see the Creator, Jehovah even in vision, is an awesome sight.  Sitting on a lofty throne, which symbolizes his role as everlasting King and Judge, is the Universal Ruler and Source of all rightful government! The skirts of his long, flowing robe fill the temple.  Isaiah is being called  to a prophetic service that will magnify Jehovah's sovereign power and justice.  In preparation, he will be given a vision of God's holiness.

Isaiah provides no description of Jehovah's appearance in his vision-unlike the visions reported by Ezekiel, Daniel, and John.  And those accounts all vary as to what is seen in heaven.  (Ezekiel 1:26-28; Daniel 7:9, 10; Revelation 4:2, 3) However, the nature and purpose of these visions must be borne in mind.  They are not literal descriptions  of Jehovah's presence.  The physical eye cannot see what is spiritual, nor can the finite human mind comprehend the spirit realm.  Hence, the visions present in human terms the information that is to be conveyed.  (Compare Revelation 1:1) In Isaiah's vision a description of God's appearance is not necessary.  The vision informs Isaiah that Jehovah  is in his holy temple and that he is holy and his judgments are pure.

Next time: The Seraphs

From the Book Isaiah's Prophecy Light for all Mankind, 2000