View Isaiah 6 in the note window.
The glory of the Lord, ver. 1 - 4.
Isaiah is terrified, ver. 5.
Is confirmed for his message, ver. 6 - 8.
The people's obstinacy unto desolation, ver. 9 - 12.
A remnant shall be saved, ver. 13.
1: I saw - In a vision. The Lord - The Divine Majesty as he
subsisteth in three persons. His train - His royal and judicial
robe; for he is represented as a judge.
2: Stood - As ministers attending upon their Lord. Seraphim - An
order of holy angels, thus called from fire and burning, which this
word properly signifies; to represent either their nature, which is
bright and glorious, subtile, and pure; or their property, of fervent
zeal for God's service and glory. Covered - Out of profound reverence.
3: Cried - Singing in consort. Holy - This is repeated thrice, to
intimate the Trinity of persons united in the Divine essence. Glory - Of
the effects and demonstrations of his glorious holiness, as well as of
his power, wisdom, and goodness.
4: The posts - Together with the door itself. Such violent motions
were commonly tokens of God's anger. Smoak - Which elsewhere is a token
of God's presence and acceptance, but here of his anger.
5: l am - I am a great sinner, as many other ways, so particularly
by my lips. I am an unclean branch of an unclean tree; besides my own
uncleanness, I have both by my omissions and commissions involved myself
in the guilt of their sins. Have seen - The sight of this glorious and
holy God gives me cause to fear that he is come to judgment against me.
6: Flew - By God's command. A coal - Both a token and an instrument
of purification. The altar - Of burnt - offering.
7: Laid it - So as only to touch my lips, and not to burn them; which
God could easily effect. Lo - This is a sign that I have pardoned and
purged the uncleanness of thy lips.
8: Who - To deliver the following message. The change of the number,
I and us, is very remarkable; and both being meant of one and the
same Lord, do sufficiently intimate a plurality of persons in the Godhead.
9: Perceive not - The Hebrew words are imperative; yet they are
not to be taken as a command what the people ought to do, but only as a
prediction what they would do. The sense is, because you have so long
heard my words, and seen my works, to no purpose, and have hardened your
hearts, and will not learn nor reform, I will punish you in your own kind,
your sin shall be your punishment. I will still continue my word and works
to you, but will withdraw my Spirit, so that you shall be as unable, as now
you are unwilling, to understand.
10: Fat - Stupid and senseless. This making of their hearts fat, is
here ascribed to the prophet, as it is ascribed to God in the repetition
of this prophecy, (Joh 12:40), because God inflicted this judgment
upon them by the ministry of the prophet, partly by way of prediction,
foretelling that this would be the effect of his preaching; and partly
by withdrawing the light and help of his Spirit. Heavy - Make them dull
of hearing. Lest - That they may not be able, as before they were not
willing to see. Convert - Turn to God.
11: Lord - An abrupt speech, arising from the prophet's great
passion and astonishment: how long shall this dreadful judgment last?
Until - Until this land be totally destroyed, first by the Babylonians,
and afterward by the Romans.
12: Removed - Hath caused this people to be carried away captive into
far countries. A forsaking - 'Till houses and lands be generally forsaken
of their owners.
13: A tenth - A small remnant reserved, that number being put
indefinitely. Return - Out of the Babylonish captivity, into their own
land. Eaten - That remnant shall be devoured a second time, by the kings
of Syria, and afterwards by the Romans. Yet - Yet there shall be
another remnant, not such an one as that which came out of Babylon, but
an holy seed, who shall afterwards look upon him whom they have pierced,
and mourn over him. When - Who when their leaves are cast in winter, have
a substance within themselves, a vital principle, which preserves life in
the root of the tree, and in due time sends it forth into all the branches.
The support - Of the land or people, which, were it not for the sake of
these, should be finally rooted out.
