Isaiah 6

The Prophet beholdeth in a vision the glory of the true God, v.1. At which he is greatly affrighted, 5. He is confirmed and strengthened in his office and calling, 6. His willingness and readiness to serve unto God, 8. He is sent to the Jews to declare unto them their final ruin and destruction, because of their obstinacy and hardness of heart, 9. Yet so, as that still an holy seed should be reserved and left among them, 13.

1. In the year when King Uzzia [Hebr. Uzziahu] died, [see 2 Kings 15:7.] I saw [in a prophetical vision. See Gen.15.on v.1.] the Lord sitting upon an high and exalted throne, [by the LORD is meant here, the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Compare vers.3. and 8. Therefore this vision is applied unto Christ, John 12:40,41. And to the Holy Ghost, Acts 28:25,26,27.] and his borders [that is, the borders or hems of his garments; to wit, of his royal robes, wherewith the Lord was arrayed] filling the Temple.

2. The Seraphims [The Hebrew word signifieth properly burning; thus the Angels of the Lord are called, because they are zealous, yea burning in zeal, to execute the commandment of the Lord: or, because they burn and consume the wicked like a fire; or because they appear in fiery colour, to wit, red, like fire] stood above [or upon] it [to wit, as Ministers or servants tending and waiting upon the service of the Lord. Compare, Dan.7.10. Rev.4.6,7.] each one had six wings: [Heb. Six wings six wings (were) to one. See the annotate. Gen.ch.7.on v.2. compare Rev.4.8.] with twain (every one) covered his face, [in token of reverence which they bare unto God; or because they were not able to endure the brightness of his glory] and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly. [to wit, to perform the commandment of God speedily. For the Angels are mini-string spirits, Psal.34.8. and 91.11. Heb.1.14.]

3. And the one cried unto the other, [Heb. This cried unto this] and said, Holy, Holy, Holy is the LORD of hosts: [so, Rev.4.8.] The whole earth is full of his glory: [Heb. The fullness of the whole earth (is) his honour, or glory. That is, all the works of the Lord that are in the whole world, they give testimony, and are a clear proof and demonstration of his glory, Psal.24.1. Rom.1.20.]

4. So that the posts of the thresholds were moved, [Hereby is intimated the fierce anger of God, as above, chap.5.v.25. the mountains were moved. And understand here the posts of the Temple] at the voice of him that cried: [that is, of every one of the Seraphims, as v.3.] and the house was filled with smoak. [this was likewise a token or evidence of Gods anger, smoak, and vapour issuing out of his nostrils.]

5. Then said I, [Or, therefore said I; to wit, because I saw those tokens of Gods wrath, who was ready to exercise his judgements] Wo (is) me, for I perish, because I am a man of unclean lips, [or, I am undone. Oth. I am dumb, or tongue-tied, or I am dead; that is, I must presently die; to wit, because I that am a man of unclean lips, have seen the Lord, as straightway followeth. See the annotate, Gen.16.13. and Deut.5.25,26. Exod.24 11. Judg.13.22. (because I am a man of unclean lips) that is, I am a poor sinful man. By the faultiness of the lips; that is, of the words where into a man soon or easily slippeth, doth he understand his whole sinful estate. Compare v.7. and likewise, Jam.3.2.] and I dwell in the midst of a people that is unclean of lips: that is, a people that worshippeth Idols, is bent to lying, and flow or backward to worship, honour, and thank the true God, and to edify their neighbour] for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts.

6. But one of the Seraphims flew unto me [To wit, by Gods appointment, for they stood by the Lord, ready to receive his commands, and to execute the same at his pleasure] and he had a burning coal in his hand, [this glowing or burning coal was a token of the burning off, or burning away of sin; that is, of the cleansing and pardoning of sin] (which) he had taken with the tongs from off the altar, [understand here the altar of burnt-offering, upon which fire was continually kept, this altar being a type of Christ, and of his sacrifice for our sins, Heb.13.10.]

7. And he touched my mouth therewith, [Compare Jerem.1.9. Dan.10.16.] and said, Lo, this hath touched thy lips: so thine offence is departed (from thee) and thy sin is purged. [oth. Graciously covered. This, &c. To wit, this glowing or burning-coal, which I have taken from off the Alter. Hereby is signified, that the pardon of sin proceedeth from the sacrifice & offering of Christ, which was shadowed out by the sacrifices and offerings of the Altar. In like manner, that the Holy Ghost like unto a fire, burneth away sins, and consumeth them.]

8. Then I heard the voice of the Lord, who said, [To wit, the voice of the Father speaking to the Son, and the Holy Ghost, Compare this with Genes.1.26.] Whom shall I send? [to wit, unto the rebellious people of the Jews, to preach and declare unto them my decree concerning their blinding and ruin] and who shall go for us? [to wit, in the service of God, the father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost: for it is God alone that calleth and sendeth the prophet doth now here freely offer his ready service, being strengthened and confirmed by God, being now far more willing and ready to go upon the Lords errand or message, then either Moses or Jeremy was, Exod.3. and Jerem.1.]

9. Then said he, Go, and say unto this people, [Here the Lord saith not, Unto my people, because they were gone away from him; but he saith, Unto this people] hearing hear, but understand not, and seeing see, but perceive not. [as if the Lord should say, Thou shalt not labour in vain, in teaching and instructing this people, nevertheless go thy ways, and do that which I combellion. (hearing hear, but understand not, etc.) As if the Lord should say, Ye shall indeed hear the words of these Prophecies, but not understand them: and this shall be my just judgement, who will in this manner punish your stubbornness and rebellion, namely, with blindness and hardening. In this sense are the se words used in the New Testament, Matth.13.14. Mark 4:12. Luke 8:10. John 12:40. Acts 28:26. Romans 11:8.]

10. Make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes, [Or, anoint, besmear, lime their eyes] lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and convert, and he [to wit, God] heal [namely, by forgiving their sins, Mark 4:12. See Psal.30.3.] them. [to wit, the people. Make the heart, &c. To wit, by the preaching of my word. By these words the Lord will not signify what his Word preached properly, and in its own nature worketh and effecteth in men: but he foretelleth what should follow upon the preaching of it in the wicked Jews, namely, that they should thereby onely convert themselves, but grow rather yet more stubborn, and more obstinate, because God in his just judgement would give them up to a perverse and reprobate mind.]

11. Then said I, Lord, how long? [To wit, shall this desolation of the people continue. Oth. How long shall this blindness and hardness of the people last?] and he said, Until the Cities [to wit, the cities in Juda] be wasted, [oth. Be surely wasted; to wit, by the many and divers assaults of the enemies of the people of the Jews. As touching the blindness of the people; to wit, of the Jews, the same often happened before the coming Christ; especially in Christ’s time, as appeareth, Matth.13.14. Mark 4:12. and elsewhere: yea, it continueth still unto this day, as appeareth in the greatest part (by far) of the Jews that are this day alive; and shall continue still so long, until the fullness of the Gentiles shall be come in, Rom, 11.25.] so that there to be no inhabitant, and the houses (so) that there be no man, and that the land be destroyed with desolation. [that is, be utterly wasted, so that no man do dwell any more in it, and therefore the same lieth still untilled and unmanured. Examples of this desolation see in the reign of King Hizkia, 2 Kings 18. Of Manasseh, 2 Chron.33. of Josiah, 2 Chron.35. of Joahaz, Jojakim, Jojachin, and Zedekia, 2 Kings 25. And 2 Chron.36. and especially after Christ’s ascension.]

12. For the LORD shall remove those men [To wit, the people of the Jews] far away, [to wit, into captivity in Babylon. Here the Prophet hinteth, that it was the work of God that the Jews were carried away captive to Babylon] and the forsaking [meaning that forsaking, whereby this people was forsaken by God, and delivered to their enemies in the time of the Babylonish captivity] shall be great in the innermost (part) of the land. [Or, in the Midst of the Land; to wit, in the land of Juda.]

13. But yet in it shall be a tenth part, [That is, a small company, in comparison of those that shall be carried away and destroyed. The Prophet would intimate, that this people shall not utterly perish one with another, and none escape] and it shall return, and be to eat up. [Oth. But it shall be again eaten up. For some understand by this tenth part, those that were left in the land of Juda, after that the people were carried away captive, and from thence went down into Egypt, and perished all most miserably. Others understand by the tenth part, the Jews that should return from the Babylonish captivity, and were to suffer much at the hands of the Kings of Syria and Egypt, in the time of the Machabees, and at last of the Romans, and all this by reason of their great and manifold sins] (but) as the oak, and as the hard oak, wherein (there) is yet a prop (or stay) after the casting off (of their leaves:) (so) the holy seed shall be the prop (or stay) thereof. [this is a promise for the comfort and consolation of the godly, namely, that the tribe of Juda should not utterly perish or be destroyed, but that because of some holy children of God, that were found in it, it should be kept and preserved until Christ should come in the flesh. (but as the oak, &c.) or elm-tree. In the Hebrew text are two words used, both of them signifying an oak or oak-tree. For one of them some Translators render the word elm-tree: others, the lime trees: others expound the Hebrew words thus; But as by oaks which stand at the (gate) Schallecheth (the entry) hath a firm prop (or stay) (so) shall the holy seed be his firm prop (or stay.) According to this exposition the Prophet here compareth the godly unto oaks, wherewith the Kings entry was supported and under-propped; or to the Casey or street that was made, by which they passed from Salomon’s house into the Temple, of which see, 1 Kings 10:5. and 2 Kings 12:21. and 1 Chron.26.6. and 2 Chron.9.4. and 11. (so shall the holy seed, etc.) that is, the remnant of the godly; that is, the godly children descended from godly parents. As if he had said, God beateth yet in some measure with the corrupt tree, in respect of the good branches that sprang from it. From some few godly ones sake doth God sometimes spare many wicked ones, Gen.18.3. (shall be the prop (or stay) thereof:) to wit, of that land; that is, of the inhabitants of that land. Oth. Of that tenth part; it is all one, or to one effect.]