February 13, 2023
Bishop, W. F. Houston, Jr.
Isaiah 6:8 AMP)
*Then I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?” Then I said, “Here am I. Send me!

Isaiah has gone through training from the Lord in order to preach to the people of Judah. The Lord first manifested His royal status by having angels constantly proclaim His holiness in adoration. (Isa. 6.3-4) After catching a glimpse of God's holiness, Isaiah was brought to his knees by a profound realization of his own depravity and the sinfulness of his people (Isaiah 6:5). After Isaiah's repentance, the Lord provided atonement by having a seraph place coal from the altar on his lips (Isaiah 6:6).

Isaiah is now prepared to devote his life to the Lord. Insight into God's holiness, the prophet's own wickedness, and the Lord's desire to atone for his sin have all come to the prophet. He's ready to stand in as the Lord's representative to a people who, like him, need the Lord's forgiveness and to turn away from their sins.

The Lord finally speaks to Isaiah. God wants to know who He should send. To whom does the Lord address his words? As in Genesis 1:26, the Lord may refer to the Trinity in this verse. Alternatively, He may be referring to the "hosts" of heaven, which include the seraphim that dwell in His throne room (Isaiah 6:2). This could also refer to the phenomenon known as the "royal we," in which monarchs and other leaders collectively refer to themselves in the third person.

Just a few moments before, Isaiah was on the verge of declining such a mission. He was acutely conscious of the fact that he did not deserve to speak in God's stead (Isaiah 6:5). Now cleansed by the grace of God, Isaiah confidently offered his services as a volunteer for the work of God. Both the service of the Lord and the communication of vital information to the people of Judah are very important to Isaiah.