June 30

In the year that king Uzriah died, I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple.—Isaiah 6:1.

I saw. Observe the freedom of God in his choice of men, to be near him and know him. And in the measuring out of the degrees of discovery unto those men differently, some had extraordinary revelations; and though prophetic visions now cease, yet there are certainly higher and clearer coruscations of God upon some souls, than upon many others; who yet are children of light, and partake of a measure of that light shining within them. Thus we are not carvers and choosers, and, therefore, are not peremptorily to desire any thing in kind or measure that is singular; that were pride and folly. But above all things we are to esteem, and submissively to desire, still more and more knowledge of God, and humbly to wait and keep open the passage of light; not to close the windows, not to be indulgent to any known sin or impure affection; that will soon obstruct it. Into a filthy soul, wisdom will not enter.

In the year that king Uzriah died, I saw the Lord on his throne. There is another king named here, to denote the time by, but he was a diseased and a dying king, who lived some years a leper, and then died. Men may speak in a court style of vain wishes, O King, live for ever; but this king here on the throne, is indeed THE KING IMMORTAL, the everliving God.

God measures and proportions all his means to their ends. When he calls men to high services, he furnishes them with suitable preparations and enablements. Thus here with the prophet: he was to denounce heavy things against his own nation, a proud, stubborn people; to deal boldly and freely with the highest, yea, with the king himself; and he is prepared by a vision of God. What can a man fear after that? All regal majesty and pomp look petty and poor after that sight. Two kings together on their thrones in royal robes (1 Kings xxii.) did no whit astonish him who had seen a greater. I saw, says Micaiah, the Lord sitting on his throne, and all the hosts of heaven standing by. Much like this is the vision of Isaiah here before us.

Eyes dazzled with the sun, see not the glittering drops of dew on the earth; and those are quickly gone, with all their faint and fading glory, to a soul taken with the contemplation of God. How meanly do they spend their days, who bestow them on counting money, or courting little earthly idols in ambition or love! From how high a stand does he look down on those, who looks on God, and admires his greatness, wonders at what he sees, and still seeks after more! These two are, therefore, joined together, beholding the beauty of the Lord, and inquiring in his temple. Psalms 27:4. One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to inquire in his temple.