Isaiah 6:1–2 Part 1 of the “When Holy Meets Unholy” Series
Have you ever had a moment where your whole world shifted in an instant? Maybe it was the loss of a job, a breakup, the death of someone you loved, or a sudden health crisis. Life was going one way—and then everything changed. You were left wondering, “What now?” and “Who’s really in control?”
That’s exactly where we find Isaiah in the beginning of Isaiah 6.
The Bible says, “In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up; and the train of His robe filled the temple” (Isaiah 6:1).
Those first few words—"In the year that King Uzziah died"—might not seem like much at first, but for Isaiah and the people of Judah, they meant everything. King Uzziah had been a strong and mostly faithful king for 52 years. That’s longer than many people live! His reign brought peace and stability to the nation. But now he was gone. The future felt uncertain. Fear and anxiety were everywhere.
Maybe you’ve had your own “Uzziah is dead” moment. Maybe you’re in one right now.
Addiction often shows up during these moments. When life feels like it's falling apart, we reach for something to help us feel better—even if it's just for a while. But when the thing we reach for ends up enslaving us, we need more than comfort—we need transformation.
Isaiah's world was shaken. But in that moment, something incredible happened.
👑 God Was Still on the Throne
While the earthly king was dead, the true King was alive and reigning. Isaiah writes, “I saw the Lord sitting on a throne.” God wasn’t panicking. He wasn’t pacing the floor. He wasn’t wringing His hands over the chaos in Judah. He was seated, high and lifted up. Ruling. Reigning. Unshaken.
That vision reminds us that no matter what’s happening in our lives, God hasn’t stepped off His throne. He is not absent. He has not forgotten us. He is still in complete control.
And not only was He seated on the throne, but Isaiah says, “the train of His robe filled the temple.” Imagine that. Not just a piece of God’s robe, but the whole train—the flowing end of the garment—completely filling the most sacred and massive space the Israelites had. Solomon’s temple was over 90 feet long and covered in gold. Yet it was bursting at the seams with just the hem of God’s robe.
In other words, God’s presence filled every inch of that place. Nothing else could be seen. Nothing else could compete.
And here’s the crazy part: If you’re a believer in Jesus Christ, the Bible says God’s Spirit now lives in you. His presence fills you like it filled that temple (1 Corinthians 6:19). You don’t have to climb a mountain to meet Him. You don’t have to travel to a temple. If you’ve trusted in Jesus, the holy God of the universe has made His home in your heart.
😲 Even Angels Cover Their Faces
Isaiah wasn’t alone in this moment. He saw heavenly creatures called seraphim—angels with six wings—flying around the throne. But even these sinless, glorious beings couldn’t look directly at God. With two wings, they covered their faces. With two more, they covered their feet. With the last two, they flew.
These angels didn’t shout about God’s love or power, though He has plenty of both. They cried, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of His glory!”
In Hebrew, repeating something three times is a way of saying it’s the most true, the most extreme, the most real thing possible. God isn’t just holy—He is holy, holy, holy. He’s completely set apart from sin. He’s in a class all by Himself.
Even the angels couldn’t stand uncovered in His presence.
And yet…we often approach God casually, don’t we?
We show up to church distracted. We open our Bibles out of obligation. We pray like we’re sending God a quick text message. Isaiah’s vision reminds us: God is not common. He is not ordinary. He is not small. And when we truly see Him for who He is, we are never the same.
🔥 God’s Holiness Changes Everything
This moment changed Isaiah forever. He would never forget what it was like to see God's holiness up close. It broke him—and then, as we’ll see in future posts, it rebuilt him with grace.
If you’re walking through addiction, this is where real change begins—not with a new habit, a new app, or a new therapist (though those can be helpful)—but with a new vision of God. A true vision of who He really is.
When God shows up, everything changes.
📌 Practical Applications for This Week:
1. Start each day by remembering who God is. Before checking your phone, whisper a simple prayer like, “God, You are on the throne. Help me remember that today.”
2. Take God seriously. Don’t approach Him casually. When you read your Bible or pray, slow down. Picture Isaiah’s vision. Let awe shape your attitude.
3. Ask God to open your eyes. Pray, “God, help me see You as You really are. Let me see Your holiness and Your glory, even in the middle of my mess.”
4. When life feels chaotic, speak truth to yourself. Say aloud: “My King is still on the throne. He is not panicked. He is with me.”
