Expert: Brenda Martin - 4/21/2004

Question
Hie Brenda

What light does the call story in Isaiah chapter six shed on the prophetic ministry of Isaiah.  

Answer
ISAIAH CHAPTER SIX

The first six chapters 1-6 give the setting in Judah and Jerusalem and relate Judah's guilt before Jehovah and Isaiah's commissioning.

Isaiah's message “concerning Judah and Jerusalem” (1:1–6:13).

See him there in sackcloth and sandals as he stands in Jerusalem and cries out: Dictators! People! Listen! Your nation is sick from head to toe, and you have wearied Jehovah with your bloodstained hands upraised in prayer. Come, set matters straight with him, that scarlet sins may be made white like snow. In the final part of the days, the mountain of Jehovah's house will be lifted up, and all nations will stream to it for instruction. No more will they learn war. Jehovah will be raised on high and sanctified. But at present Israel and Judah, though planted a choice vine, produce grapes of lawlessness. They make good bad and bad good, for they are wise in their own eyes.

“I, however, got to see Jehovah, sitting on a throne lofty and lifted up,” says Isaiah. Along with the vision comes Jehovah's commission: “Go, and you must say to this people, ‘Hear again and again.'” For how long? “Until the cities actually crash in ruins.”—6:1, 9, 11.

Through the inspired Scriptures, Jehovah gives us glimpses of his marvelous heavenly organization. (Isa. 6:2, 3;)

Circumstances of people change. Today a person may be too busy to listen; another time he may gladly take the time. One member of a household may not be interested, but others may be. People themselves change; serious problems in life may stimulate an awareness of spiritual need.—Isaiah 6:8, 11, 12.

Daniel 10:15, 16a Daniel was strengthened when the angel touched his lips. (Compare Isaiah 6:7.)

We too have the ‘Go ahead' signal from the Highest Authority to keep going on in his work of witness no matter what happens before Armageddon comes.” (Isa. 6:1-12) It was no time to slack the hand and relax.

The spirit shown by the missionaries is like that of the prophet Isaiah. When Jehovah alerted him to an opportunity for special service, he responded: “Here I am! Send me.” (Isa. 6:8) This willingness of spirit has moved thousands of young men and women to leave behind familiar surroundings and relatives to serve for the furtherance of God's will wherever they are needed.

There were occasions in Israel's history when a cloud covered the literal sanctuary, and this manifestation of Jehovah's glory prevented the priests from entering there. (1 Kings 8:10, 11; 2 Chronicles 5:13, 14; compare Isaiah 6:4, 5.) These were times when Jehovah was actively involved with developments on earth.

In chapter 6 of the book of Isaiah, we are given a glimpse into the heavenly courts. How highly favored Isaiah was to see the holiest One in all the universe seated upon his celestial throne attended by glorious seraphs! What an awesome vision that was, revealing the highly favored position that those seraphs occupied, for he is the All Holy One whose sacredness they acclaimed as they testified to his holiness by emphasizing it in a threefold way! The seraphs are interested in helping Jehovah's worshipers to be holy as God is holy.—Isaiah 6:5-7.

As obedient children, we should want to show thankfulness to our Father for all his gifts, including our delightful home—the earth—which will be restored to even greater glory under the Kingdom rule of his Son.—Isaiah 6:3; 29:22, 23.

As we view the worsening conditions on earth and experience how people in general are unresponsive to the Kingdom good news, we may be inclined to ask, as did God's prophet, concerning our preaching: “How long, O Jehovah?” To which Jehovah replies:

“Until the cities actually crash in ruins, to be without an inhabitant, and the houses be without earthling man, and the ground itself is ruined into a desolation.” (Isaiah 6:10-12)

At his appointed time Jehovah will carry out this execution of judgment, first upon Christendom and then on all other segments of Satan's world. Christ's 1,000-year reign of peace will follow immediately.—Revelation 20:1-3, 6.

When Isaiah had a vision of Jehovah God at his temple. Isaiah felt the need for being spiritually cleansed, and he was mercifully given the needed cleansing. This put him in the favorable position to respond to Jehovah's invitation with the eager cry: “Here I am! Send me.” (Isaiah 6:1-8)

These are some points I managed to find, I hope they help in understanding Isaiah chapter 6.

All the best Brenda