Isaiah is called to be a prophet while worshiping in the Temple about the year 740 B.C. In verses 1-7 of this chapter, Isaiah experiences a Vision of the thrice Holy God. He sees only the train of the Lord’s robe and is immediately filled with a sense of dread because he knows that he is a sinful human and cannot be in the presence of the Holy God. Yet God cleanses him, atoning for his sin.
In verses 8-13, Isaiah is given his commission as a prophet. It is perplexing that God would send Isaiah to a people that will not respond to him: they will be “ever hearing, but never understanding.” Why would God send a prophet to the people at this point in time, when it is too late to save the kingdom? While Isaiah is told that most people will reject his message, he is also told that there is still a remnant in the land who will listen to him. This is the “holy seed in the stump” which will hear and will respond. In every case of judgment in the Bible, there are a few people who receive mercy and grace from the Lord and survive.
In fact, Isaiah does have some success. Hezekiah listens to the Word of the Lord and the city of Jerusalem is preserved in the crises of the Assyrian invasion. The king responds to the word of the Lord and the kingdom survives for a time.
Also read Matthew 13
and discuss why Jesus chose to quote this passage at that point in His ministry. The people who heard Jesus preach heard, but refused to understand, and as a result Jesus focused His attention on His disciples, preparing them for His death and resurrection.
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