Isaiah 6:1-13

PROPHET’S CALL

This makes a short lesson but a distinctive one. The prophet is giving an account of himself, relating the circumstances under which he entered the prophetic office, and the authority by which he speaks.

The story divides itself thus: the vision (Isaiah 6:1-4); the effect of the vision in producing conviction and confession of sin (Isaiah 6:5); his cleansing from sin (Isaiah 6:6-7); his call to service (Isaiah 6:8); the dedication of himself to that service (Isaiah 6:8); the divine commission given him (Isaiah 6:9-10). This commission is of a discouraging character. The people will hear his messages but fail to be influenced by them. They will become more and more blind and deaf to the divine warnings, and neither will be converted nor spiritually healed.

This discouraging outlook brings the inquiry from the prophet (Isaiah 6:11), to which the Lord replies down to the end of the chapter. In other words, the people’s blindness and sin will continue for a long while, but not forever. The oak tree retains its substance even after it is felled to the ground, and though Judah will be cast away, a remnant will be saved in the last day. This is the significance of the last clause of Isaiah 6:13, which speaks of the holy seed as the substance, or the stock of the kingdom. By “the last day” is meant the end of the present age, which will be a period of great tribulation of the Jewish people, but, out of which a remnant will be delivered to become the nucleus of the millennial kingdom.

You have had attention called to the law of recurrence in earlier lessons, and will have noted its operation here. In each of the discourses in this book, and now in the story of the prophets’ call, the same ground is being covered over and over again, only with added detail here and there. It is always, sin, penalty, repentance, restoration, deliverance, future blessing. What was said under “Introduction to the Prophetic Scripture” is thus verified.

QUESTIONS

1. What is the prophet doing in this chapter?

2. Can you give its outline from memory?

3. Have you been impressed with its value as a Bible reading or theme for exposition?

4. What is the significance of “the last day”?

5. Can you recall the definition of “the law of recurrence”?