Isaiah Sees the Lord
"Here am I. Send me!"
Two things you can tap
- A verse number shows the Bible’s exact words.
- An underlined word shows what it means.
Story
What happened?
Tap a verse number, like , to read the Bible’s exact words.
The whole story, in shortWhat happens, start to finish. Open it if you want the ending first.
In the year King Uzziah died, Isaiah saw the Lord on a throne in the temple, with seraphim calling, "Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of Hosts." Isaiah cried, "Woe is me," because he was a man of unclean lips, but a seraph touched his mouth with a burning coal and said his sin was taken away. When God asked, "Whom shall I send?" Isaiah answered, "Here am I. Send me!"
Where it is in the Bible: Isaiah 6
Who’s who and what came beforePeople, places, and the story so far. Open it anytime.
Scene Card
Cast
- Isaiah: A young man in Jerusalem whom God calls to be a prophet.
- The Lord: God, seated on a throne. LORD in capital letters stands for God's personal name. Jewish readers traditionally don't say it aloud, out of respect.
- Seraphim: Heavenly beings around God's throne. The name may mean "burning ones."
Setting
- The temple in Jerusalem, in a vision.
When
- About 740 BC, the year King Uzziah died.
Before the Story
King Uzziah had ruled for fifty-two years. He was mostly a good king. But at the end, he became proud and was struck with leprosy (2 Chronicles 26:3, 26:16-21).
Now the king was dead. People were uncertain about the future.
Here's what you know: Earthly kings die. But Isaiah is about to see the King who never dies.
Map of the Story
| Scene | Verses | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| 1. The Lord on his throne | 6:1-4 | Isaiah sees God in the temple |
| 2. "Woe is me!" | 6:5 | Isaiah realizes he is sinful |
| 3. A burning coal | 6:6-7 | God takes away Isaiah's sin |
| 4. "Here am I. Send me!" | 6:8 | Isaiah answers God's call |
| 5. A hard message | 6:9-13 | God tells Isaiah what lies ahead |
Plain Retelling
Scene 1 of 5The Lord on His Throne
"In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord seated on a throne, high and exalted; and the train of His robe filled the temple" (6:1).
A train is the long part of a royal robe that trails behind. God's robe filled the whole temple.
Above him were seraphim. Each had six wings. With two they covered their faces. With two they covered their feet. With two they flew.
They called out to one another, "Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of Hosts; all the earth is full of His glory" (6:3).
Holy means completely pure and set apart, unlike anything else.
The doorposts shook at their voices. Smoke filled the temple.
Scene 2 of 5"Woe Is Me!"
Isaiah was terrified.
"Woe is me, for I am ruined, because I am a man of unclean lips dwelling among a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of Hosts" (6:5).
Standing before the holy God, Isaiah saw how sinful he was.
Scene 3 of 5A Burning Coal
Then one of the seraphim flew to Isaiah. In his hand was a glowing coal from the altar, held with tongs.
He touched Isaiah's mouth with it.
"Now that this has touched your lips, your iniquity is removed and your sin is atoned for" (6:7).
Iniquity means wrongdoing. Atoned for means paid for and taken away.
Scene 4 of 5"Here Am I. Send Me!"
Then Isaiah heard the Lord's voice.
"Whom shall I send? Who will go for Us?" (6:8).
Isaiah, forgiven and clean, answered, "Here am I. Send me!" (6:8).
Scene 5 of 5A Hard Message
God told Isaiah that his message would be hard. Many people would hear but not understand. They would see but not perceive.
"How long, O Lord?" Isaiah asked (6:11).
Until the land was ruined and the people taken far away, God said.
But like a tree cut down to a stump, something would remain. "So the holy seed will be a stump in the land" (6:13).
Meaning
What does it mean?
Read It
What Does This Mean?
| The text says | It means |
|---|---|
| "In the year that King Uzziah died" (6:1) | When an earthly king died, Isaiah saw the true King. |
| "Holy, holy, holy" (6:3) | God is completely holy. Saying it three times makes it as strong as possible. |
| "Woe is me, for I am ruined" (6:5) | Seeing God's holiness showed Isaiah his own sin. |
| "Your iniquity is removed" (6:7) | God himself took away Isaiah's sin. |
| "Here am I. Send me!" (6:8) | Forgiven people are ready to be sent. |
| "The holy seed will be a stump" (6:13) | Even after judgment, God keeps something alive. |
Back Then
The temple altar had a fire that never went out. Priests offered sacrifices on it (Leviticus 6:13).
"LORD of Hosts" means God of armies. It describes God as commander of the armies of heaven.
The church sings the seraphim's song. "Holy, holy, holy Lord" is sung in many churches during Holy Communion. It is called the Sanctus.
Literal Reader Alert
Did the coal burn Isaiah? The Bible doesn't say it hurt him. The coal from God's altar was a sign of being made clean.
Did God want people not to understand? This is a hard saying. God knew many would refuse to listen. Isaiah's message would harden hearts that were already turned away. Jesus quoted these words about people who wouldn't listen to him (Matthew 13:14-15).
Is "Us" a hint of the Trinity? God says, "Who will go for Us?" Many Christians see a hint of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit here. Others think God is speaking to his heavenly court.
How People Feel
| Who | Feeling | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Isaiah | Amazed | He saw the Lord on his throne (6:1) |
| Isaiah | Terrified | He saw how sinful he was (6:5) |
| Isaiah | Forgiven | His sin was taken away (6:7) |
| Isaiah | Willing | "Here am I. Send me!" (6:8) |
For you
What does it mean for me?
Your Turn
Where are you in Isaiah's story? Tap one.
Amazed by God
"Holy, holy, holy." God is greater than we can imagine.
Woe is me
Feeling your sin is the first step. God takes it away.
Forgiven
"Your iniquity is removed." That's for you too.
Here am I
God sends forgiven people. Where might he send you?
You Might Have Heard
"You have to clean yourself up before God can use you."
What's true: God is holy, and sin matters.
What the story is mainly about: Isaiah couldn't clean himself. God sent the coal. God took away his sin. Only then did Isaiah say, "Send me!" God makes us clean first.
Where Jesus is: John says Isaiah "saw Jesus' glory and spoke about Him" (John 12:41). Jesus is the Holy One who came close, and he took away our sin on the cross.
Good News
Isaiah said, "I am ruined." God answered with forgiveness.
"Now that this has touched your lips, your iniquity is removed and your sin is atoned for" (6:7).
God still takes away sin. In the Lord's Supper, Christ touches our lips with his own body and blood, for the forgiveness of sins.
Isaiah saw the holy God and knew he was a sinner. God took away his sin and sent him out.
Big Idea
Isaiah saw the holy God, and his sin was taken away. Then God asked, "Whom shall I send?" and Isaiah said, "Here am I. Send me!"
If this story brings up big feelings, talk with someone you trust, like a parent, pastor, or counselor.
For leaders and parentsLuther, church readings, and notes for teaching.
From Luther
Luther wrote a hymn based on this vision, called "Isaiah, Mighty Seer, in Days of Old." It is a German version of the Sanctus, the "Holy, holy, holy," for the Lord's Supper.
In Church
Many churches follow the Revised Common Lectionary. It reads Isaiah 6:1-8 on Holy Trinity Sunday in Year B, and on the Fifth Sunday after the Epiphany in Year C, next to Jesus calling his first disciples.
We quote Luther for what he got right about grace. He also wrote terrible things about Jewish people. Read our note on that.
Memorize
How do I keep it?
One line from this story to learn by heart. Practice a little now. It will come back later so it sticks.
Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of Hosts; all the earth is full of His glory.
How did that feel?
You finished Isaiah Sees the Lord.
Using this at church
Read in church on
- The Holy Trinity Year BFirst reading, Isaiah 6:1–8
- Fifth Sunday after the Epiphany Year CFirst reading, Isaiah 6:1–8 [9–13]
For a newsletter or sermon notes
Isaiah Sees the Lord, explained in plain words. Isaiah sees God on his throne and cries, "Woe is me!" A burning coal touches his lips. About 8 minutes. https://freescripture.org/stories/isaiah-sees-the-lord/
Lines for the next eight Sundays, on Digital Lutheran Church