Holy, Holy, Holy is the LORD Almighty Isaiah 6:1–13

Key Verse 6:3: “And they were calling to one another: ‘Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory.’”

Hi, everyone. How are you? This week was emotionally tough for me. A sincere Christian was assassinated by a very smart college student, who scored within the top 1% on the ACT, because of a political issue. Korea is in a much worse situation than the U.S.A. The current left-wing government began to arrest Pastor Son and many other pastors who participated in the Save Korea movement, and it has started to persecute Christianity. I was so discouraged. I deeply realized that this world is very sick and broken. When I look at young people from a human perspective, I personally cannot find hope. However, in God, I believe there is always hope.

The time of the prophet Isaiah was much worse than ours. God vividly showed His disappointed heart toward His chosen people by pronouncing six woes in chapter 5:

“My loved one had a vineyard on a fertile hillside. He dug it up and cleared it of stones and planted it with the choicest vines. He built a watchtower in it and cut out a winepress as well. Then he looked for a crop of good grapes, but it yielded only bad fruit…. When I looked for good grapes, why did it yield only bad? Now I will tell you what I am going to do to my vineyard: I will take away its hedge, and it will be destroyed; I will break down its wall, and it will be trampled. I will make it a wasteland.”

Judah’s outward condition actually looked good. King Uzziah, who reigned for 52 years, achieved great military and economic success, reclaiming territory and building up defenses during his long reign. However, their inner corruption, pride, immorality, injustice, and spiritual dullness were serious. While Uzziah initially sought God and enjoyed His blessing, his pride ultimately led to his downfall. He was struck with leprosy, which brought him to a tragic end.

Even though people continued their outward religious duties and thought they sincerely served God—proud of being His chosen people—their hearts were stubborn and far from Him. To God, their outward religious activities were disgusting. Isaiah 1:3, 6, 13 describe their spiritual condition:

“The ox knows its owner, and the donkey its master’s manger, but Israel does not know, my people do not understand…. From the sole of your foot to the top of your head, there is no soundness…. Bring no more vain offerings; incense is an abomination to me!”

They faced God’s judgment. God is not only gracious and merciful; He is also holy, holy, and holy. God punishes sin unless there is true repentance.

In this situation, Isaiah encountered the Holy God. We might think like the people of Judah in our current situation: My job, my business, my life—everything is okay. But how is your inner being? How is your relationship with God? Is there any stumbling block keeping you from coming to the Holy God and serving Him?

Isaiah 1:18 admonishes us:

“Come now, let us settle the matter,” says the LORD. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.”

May we find our spiritual state through today’s passage so that we may repent of our sins before the Holy God and restore our relationship with Him!

1. A Vision of the Holy, Almighty God (1–4)

Verse 1 starts with the words: “In the year that King Uzziah died.” King Uzziah had reigned in Judah for 52 long years. At the beginning of his reign, he was humble in the sight of God, so God blessed him and his people with abundance. But when his power was firmly established, he became proud. He once insisted on burning incense in the temple, invading the authority of the high priest. As a result, he was stricken with leprosy and remained leprous until his death. As long as he was on the throne, he maintained the national economy, defense, and international relations with world powers very well. It was a time of peace and prosperity.

However, their worship became superficial, and in their hearts they even served idols. As their spiritual dullness continued, the rulers became greedy, unrighteous, and unjust, like the rulers of Sodom. Young people became very immoral (3:14–16) because of spiritual pride. Their corruption was severe, both spiritually and morally. Judah became like Sodom and Gomorrah. At that time, northern Israel (Samaria) was about to perish at the hands of the Assyrian Empire, and Judah seemed to be next. The Assyrians were looking for every possible chance to invade Judah. What’s more, King Uzziah—whom the people fully depended on—died. When the prophet Isaiah saw the national and international situation, he felt hopeless about the future of his nation. He was in deep despair.

Isaiah went into the temple to pray. What amazing event happened to him? Let’s read verse 1b: “I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up; and the train of his robe filled the temple.” On seeing this scene, Isaiah realized that God was on His throne as the King of kings. The Almighty God, who created the whole world, was still ruling over all nations. After King Uzziah, the strong earthly king, disappeared, Isaiah realized that Judah was too corrupt to be healed and too weak to defend herself. But Almighty God was still reigning.

Look at verses 2 and 3: “Above him stood the seraphim. Each had six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. And one called to another and said: ‘Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory!’”

Seraphs are a group of angels who guard God’s glory in His immediate presence. Revelation 4:6–8 vividly describes them: “Around the throne, on each side of the throne, are four living creatures, full of eyes in front and behind: the first living creature like a lion, the second like an ox, the third with the face of a man, and the fourth like an eagle in flight. And the four living creatures, each of them with six wings, are full of eyes all around and within, and day and night they never cease to say: ‘Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!’”

Even the seraphs could not reveal their faces and feet before the Holy God. With two wings they covered their faces, and with two wings they covered their feet. With the remaining two wings they flew. The angels sang together with all their hearts, saying: “HOLY, HOLY, HOLY IS THE LORD ALMIGHTY.”

Holiness is the most important attribute of God. It is the divine quality from which all creation originates. Holiness sets Him apart from all His creatures. He is the source of purity, truth, power, and authority. His holiness reveals His majesty and purity. God is holy—there is no darkness in Him at all. His holy glory shines far brighter than thousands upon thousands of suns. We cannot stand before the absolute holiness of the LORD. Truly, “HOLY, HOLY, HOLY IS THE LORD ALMIGHTY.”

God’s holiness is also revealed in Exodus 19, when He descended on Mount Sinai:

“Take care not to go up into the mountain or touch the edge of it. Whoever touches the mountain shall be put to death. No hand shall touch him, but he shall be stoned or shot; whether beast or man, he shall not live. When the trumpet sounds a long blast, they shall come up to the mountain.” So Moses went down from the mountain to the people and consecrated them, and they washed their garments…. On the morning of the third day there were thunders and lightnings and a thick cloud on the mountain and a very loud trumpet blast, so that all the people in the camp trembled…. Now Mount Sinai was wrapped in smoke because the LORD had descended on it in fire. The smoke went up like the smoke of a kiln, and the whole mountain trembled greatly. As the sound of the trumpet grew louder and louder, Moses spoke, and God answered him in thunder. The LORD came down on Mount Sinai, to the top of the mountain.

We cannot dare to come before the Holy God as sinners. However, He adopted us as His own people through the blood of Jesus and declares as the righteous and tells us, “Be holy!”

The Holy God also wants His people to be holy, just as He is holy. Holy means “being set apart or separated from the common and impure world. It means “set apart for sacred purpose for His glory”. Because we belong to God right now. This should be priority. We are his even though we live in this secular world.

 Ephesians 1:4 teaches us why the Holy God called us: “Even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him.”

Jesus commands us to be holy in 1 Peter 1:14–16: “As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance. But as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, ‘You shall be holy, for I am holy.’”

Holiness is not optional but essential for God’s people. Hebrews 12:14,16 warns us: “Strive for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord—that no one is sexually immoral or unholy like Esau, who sold his birthright for a single meal.”

The Holy God created human beings in His holy image. Before sin entered the world, we could come directly into His presence and we were holy. However, when sin entered, humanity lost the holy image of God. Sin stripped us of His holiness, and we became fleshly beings.

I believe every religion encourages people to live pure and ethically good lives. Yet no matter how much someone pursues a pure and moral life, their inner sinful nature remains and controls them—unless their life is ruled by Christ. Human charity, education, knowledge, or offerings cannot make anyone holy.

Do you know how dirty and disgusting our corrupted flesh really is? Paul explains in Galatians 5:19–21: “Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.”

It is striking that Paul mentions sexual immorality first among the works of the flesh. In our times, many young people treat sexual immorality lightly, as if it were only a human tendency. But Scripture does not speak that way! History shows how deeply corruption is revealed through sexual immorality.

Think of how horrible Sodom and Gomorrah were in Genesis 19, where same-sex behavior was rampant. Or the shocking remains discovered in Pompeii. God’s judgment fell on them. 1 Corinthians 6:9–10, Ephesians 5:5, and Revelation 21:8 all warn that the sexually immoral will have no inheritance in the kingdom of God and of Christ.

As the end of time draws near, the spirit of adultery tries harder to devour souls with luring words and actions. Both as a society and as individuals, we must measure our inner purity. Young people especially find it difficult to remain pure. So, how can we keep our purity? How can we be holy?

Holiness belongs to God.

First, we must bring our corrupted sins to Jesus and be cleansed daily by His blood through faith. 1 Peter 2:24 tells us: “He himself bore our sins in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed.” Only the blood of Jesus can purify us from all sin and enable us to die to sin.

“What can wash away my sin? Nothing but the blood of Jesus.What can make me whole again? Nothing but the blood of Jesus.O precious is the flow that makes me white as snow;No other fount I know—nothing but the blood of Jesus.” (Hymn #453)

Second, we must be filled with Christ Jesus—filled with His Word and His Spirit! This is the life of oneness with Him, which Oswald Chambers often emphasized in My Utmost for His Highest. Ephesians 5:18 admonishes us: “Do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit.”

Psalm 119:9–11 teaches us:“How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to your word.With my whole heart I seek you; let me not wander from your commandments!I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.”

Third, we must offer ourselves as instruments for God’s glory instead of giving ourselves to sinful pleasure. Romans 6:11–14 says:

“So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus. Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions. Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness. For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace.”

If we positively seek God’s glory, the Holy Spirit will guide and shape our thoughts and minds. Offering your body to God is not a burden—it is a blessing.

Part Two – The Whole Earth Is Full of His Glory

Look at verse 3 again: “The whole earth is full of His glory.”

Isaiah thought the whole earth was full of despair. He believed the world was too dark to live in. When we hear the news around us, it is filled with dark and sinful stories. When we see the problems in society, they often seem too great to handle. The world appears to be full of violence and wickedness.

But from God’s point of view, it is different: “The whole earth is full of His glory.” All mountains and skies, trees, and even rocks shout God’s glory. “The whole earth is full of His glory.”

My perspective of this world used to be full of darkness before I knew God personally. My heart was crooked. I hated all rich people and the world itself. My earnest desire was to kill every rich person and then kill myself. But after I personally met Christ through His word in Genesis 1:28, I realized that God created each of us wonderfully and with an absolutely good purpose: to declare His glory.

I deeply realized that every tree exists to praise God, the birds sing to praise Him, and the stars shine to declare His glory. Truly, the whole earth is full of His glory. I could praise my God at any circumstance for His absolute goodness and astonish glory as Psalm 19:1 says. “The heavens declare the glory of God,and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.”

After Isaiah deeply realized this reality, his perspective dramatically changed. Even though he declared God’s judgment in the first part of his book, he also shared God’s ultimate hope, salvation, and glory. In God, there is always hope, even in the darkest times, because our God is the God of hope.

Look at verse 4: “At the sound of their voices the doorposts and thresholds shook, and the temple was filled with smoke.” This verse reveals God’s greatness, majesty, authority, and power. His ruling power and authority are so great that even the doorposts and thresholds of the temple shook in His presence.

When we stand before Him, we are like dust or worms as His creatures. Yet, through Christ, He made us His children. Therefore, we should fear Him as the Holy and Almighty LORD, and at the same time love Him as our Father.

Part 3. God Forgives Isaiah’s Sin and Guilt (vv. 5–7)

Look at verse 5: “Woe to me!” I cried. “I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the LORD Almighty.”

According to Scripture, anyone who saw God personally would die immediately. Isaiah was considered by his contemporaries the most righteous man in the nation. He was a prophet of prophets, a spiritual leader of leaders. He came from nobility and associated with princes and kings. God used him to speak to several monarchs of Judah, including king Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah. He was respected as an example of virtue.

Yet in a single moment, when he saw the Holy God, all his self-esteem was shattered. He was destroyed—morally and spiritually undone. His integrity collapsed before the Holy God. He cried, “I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips.”

The tongue is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. Isaiah realized this truth. He confessed that the whole nation was infected with unclean lips: “I live among a people of unclean lips.” When his eyes saw the King, the LORD Almighty, he recognized his own sinfulness. When we meet God personally, we also come to truly recognize ourselves as sinners. The moment Isaiah saw the holiness of God, he understood who he really was. Every nerve in his body trembled. His whole being screamed with guilt. He saw himself as full of corruption and sin, from top to bottom.

God’s Grace to Isaiah (vv. 6–7)

What did God do for Isaiah at that moment?

Look at verses 6–7: “Then one of the seraphs flew to me with a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with tongs from the altar. With it he touched my mouth and said, ‘See, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for.’”

The Holy God is also the God of grace. He immediately took steps to cleanse Isaiah and restore his soul. A seraph brought a burning coal from the altar and touched Isaiah’s lips, symbolizing the removal of his guilt. His sin was atoned for. Isaiah experienced the divine act of cleansing. He was refined by holy fire.

Though Isaiah remained the same man outwardly, inwardly he was completely changed—from a man of despair to a man of cleansing and hope. The old had gone, the new had come.

Isaiah’s Response (v. 8)

How was Isaiah changed after encountering the Holy God?

Look at verse 8: “Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, ‘Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?’ And I said, ‘Here am I. Send me!’”

When God called, Isaiah responded simply and boldly: “Here am I. Send me!” He was now ready to preach God’s message courageously in the dark times of Judah, during the reigns of four kings. He became a powerful servant of God.

To meet the Holy God is a great privilege of divine love and grace for us as well.

God’s Message of Judgment (vv. 9–13)

What was God’s message to Isaiah?

Verses 9–10 say:He said, “Go and tell this people:‘Be ever hearing, but never understanding;be ever seeing, but never perceiving.’Make the heart of this people calloused;make their ears dull and close their eyes.Otherwise they might see with their eyes,hear with their ears,understand with their hearts,and turn and be healed.”

This message seems to stand in contrast to God’s character of love. We know God is full of love and chose Israel as a holy nation and a kingdom of priests. How could He give such a message to His chosen people?

The answer is this: God is both loving and righteous. He loves His people, but He also hates sin. Sin follows the consequences of it.

Israel was chosen to be a shepherd nation, to spread God’s love and righteousness to others, to teach who God is, and to serve as an example. But instead, they became proud and despised others, treating them like dogs—something never intended by God.

They were influenced by neighboring Gentiles, worshiped idols of wood and stone, and repeatedly turned away from God. Although God sent many prophets to call them to repentance, they hardened their hearts and closed their ears and eyes to His word. They even persecuted and killed the prophets. God already knew that when Isaiah delivered His message, the people would resist even more stubbornly.

When Isaiah heard this judgment, he was deeply anxious for his people. He asked, “For how long, O Lord?”

God’s answer is in verses 11–13:“Until the cities lie ruined and without inhabitant,until the houses are left deserted and the fields ruined and ravaged,until the LORD has sent everyone far away and the land is utterly forsaken.And though a tenth remains in the land, it will again be laid waste.But as the terebinth and oak leave stumps when they are cut down,so the holy seed will be the stump in the land.”

This pointed to the coming Babylonian captivity. King Nebuchadnezzar besieged Jerusalem and carried its people into exile for seventy years. Isaiah’s message was to surrender to Babylon as God’s discipline, but the people rejected him, persecuted him, and, according to tradition, martyred him.

Even though God punished His people because of their sins, He still promised restoration in His time if they repented their sins and return to God: “But as the terebinth and oak leave stumps when they are cut down, so the holy seed will be the stump in the land.”

God is gracious, but He is also holy, holy and holy. We emphasize that God is gracious and love but barely teach God’s holiness and we intentionally ignore His holy attribute in our postmodern times. God’s holy attribute hates sins and punishes our sins. Holy God eagerly wants us to be holy.

Conclusion

In this passage, we learn about God’s holy attribute. He is holy. He created us to be holy. When we meet Him—the sovereign ruler—we can find hope and true peace even in the darkest times. God is the God of hope.

The wages of sin is death, but the way of life is repentance and surrender to God. The best way to escape sin is to repent, offer ourselves fully to Him, and live to glorify Him. This is our true spiritual act of worship.

May we continue to grow in His holy image day by day through His word and through a close relationship with Him. May God bless this coming fall semester with His presence and revival!