The Call of Isaiah

In the year that King Uzziah died, Isaiah saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lifted up, and the train of His robe filled the temple (Isaiah 6:1). Above it stood seraphim, each having six wings. They used two wings to cover their faces, two to cover their feet, and two to fly. One cried to another, stating that the Lord of hosts is holy and the whole earth is full of His glory. The posts of the door moved at the voice of the one who cried, and the house was filled with smoke.

Isaiah stated that he was undone because he was a man of unclean lips and dwelt among a people of unclean lips, yet his eyes had seen the King, the Lord of hosts (Isaiah 6:5). One of the seraphim flew to him, carrying a live coal which he had taken with tongs from the altar. The seraph touched Isaiah's mouth with the coal and stated that his iniquity was taken away and his sin purged. Isaiah then heard the voice of the Lord asking who would go for them, and Isaiah responded, 'Here am I; send me.'

Commanded to go, Isaiah was told to tell the people to hear but not understand and see but not perceive. He was instructed to make the heart of the people fat, their ears heavy, and shut their eyes, lest they see, hear, understand, and be healed (Isaiah 6:10). When Isaiah asked how long this would last, the Lord replied it would continue until cities were wasted without inhabitant, houses were without man, and the land was utterly desolate. The Lord stated that a tenth would remain, though it would be consumed like a terebinth or an oak whose substance is in them when they cast their leaves (Isaiah 6:13).