Metaphysical Bible Interpretation of Isaiah Chapter 6
Metaphysically Interpreting Isaiah 6:1-13
6:1In the year that king Uzziah died I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up; and his train filled the temple. 6:2Above him stood the seraphim: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly. 6:3And one cried unto another, and said,
Holy, holy, holy, is Jehovah of hosts:
the whole earth is full of his glory.6:4And the foundations of the thresholds shook at the voice of him that cried, and the house was filled with smoke. 6:5Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, Jehovah of hosts.
6:6Then flew one of the seraphim unto me, having a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with the tongs from off the altar: 6:7and he touched my mouth with it, and said, Lo, this hath touched thy lips; and thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin forgiven. 6:8And 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. 6:9And he said, Go, and tell this people,
Hear ye indeed, but understand not;
and see ye indeed, but perceive not.
6:10Make the heart of this people fat,
and make their ears heavy,
and shut their eyes;
lest they sea with their eyes,
and hear with their ears,
and understand with their heart,
and turn again, and be healed.
6:11Then said I, Lord, how long?
And he answered, Until cities be waste
without inhabitant,
and houses without man,
and the land become utterly waste,
6:12and Jehovah have removed men far away,
and the forsaken places be many in the midst of the land.
6:13And if there be yet a tenth in it,
it also shall in turn be eaten up:
as a terebinth, and as an oak,
whose stock remaineth,
when they are felled;
so the holy seed is the stock thereof.
October 23 1898: Isaiah 6:1-13
Isaiah means Salvation of Jehovah. Isaiah was a man of wondrous prophetic vision. Through living in the spiritual rather than in the mortal sense, the perceptive and intuitive faculties of his soul were developed until he could discern certain existing causes and what would be the result of these causes in the time to come. He realized that God and Love were identical, and that this great Love would ultimately bring forth Christ, the Savior of man.
We see that our energies and faculties have been perverted, and we set to work to turn them back into the manifestation of the True Self.
He saw that some would receive the Truth (Christ) gladly; others would be indifferent to it, or utterly reject it. “There would be no beauty or comeliness that they would desire Him.” – Isa. 53:2.
The vision recorded in this lesson teaches the power of the word; how we create conditions by our use of the word, “By your words are you justified, and by your words are you condemned,” (Matt. 12:37) and also how we are acted upon according as we give heed to what we hear.
Words are storage batteries of energy which is released when we speak, and which works either to bind us more firmly to error, or give us our freedom as sons of God. “Which then shall we speak, words of Truth or words of error? If a man stumble not in word, the same is a perfect man.” – James 3:2. The first step is ton know the Truth; the second is to apply it, or it is of no use to us.
6:1In the year that king Uzziah died I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up; and his train filled the temple. -- In the development of our spiritual natures we reach the stage where we realize what it means enthrone the Christ in our hearts and be covered by the wide-flowing, seamless garment of Truth (the train).
6:2Above him stood the seraphim: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly. -- The two seraphim, are spiritualized reason and intuition, each clothed with perception (wings covering face) and understanding (wings covering feet), and filled with thought to send forth at the bidding of the Lord to . . .
6:3And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is Jehovah of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory. -- Proclaim the glory of the Holy One, the Spirit of Truth, which fills our universe.
6:4And the foundations of the thresholds shook at the voice of him that cried, and the house was filled with smoke. -- The fullness and power of this word is felt to the very center of our Being, and we are moved to acclamations of praise, which, like the smoke of burning incense, “fills the house.”
6:5Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, Jehovah of hosts. -- Then, because of this revelation to us of the Truth, do we become conscious of the fact that we have been speaking untrue words and dwelling in sense consciousness, which makes false statements. We have been saying, I am weak, I am sick, when truth is that in our real Being, we are strong and well.
6:6Then flew one of the seraphim unto me, having a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with the tongs from off the altar: 6:7and he touched my mouth with it, and said, Lo, this hath touched thy lips; and thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin forgiven. -- Having learned the lesson taught us by past experience, we are now ready for the next step higher, our purification by the power of the true word. This is symbolized by the live coal from the altar laid upon the lips.
6:8And 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. -- We see people all … suffering through ignorance of the right way to obtain satisfaction, and their need of help comes to us like a call. We are glad to go to them that we may point out the way. We see that our energies and faculties have been perverted, and we set to work to turn them back into manifestation of the True Self.
6:9And he said, Go, and tell this people,
Hear ye indeed, but understand not;
and see ye indeed, but perceive not.
6:10Make the heart of this people fat,
and make their ears heavy,
and shut their eyes;
lest they sea with their eyes,
and hear with their ears,
and understand with their heart,
and turn again, and be healed.
-- We say to the world, the Truth is within you striving for recognition, but you neither understand nor perceive it. Being too indolent to make the effort necessary for such a radical change, or believing the pleasures of sense sufficient for their happiness, they harden their hearts and shut their eyes and ears to our presentation of the Truth. So in the inner life of each individual Spiritual consciousness is awakened, but is not yet in full control of the faculties, and some one of them, it may be intellect with its pride in itself, refuses to listen.
And he answered, Until cities be waste
without inhabitant,
and houses without man,
and the land become utterly waste,
6:12and Jehovah have removed men far away,
and the forsaken places be many in the midst of the land.
-- And the cry goes up, “How long?” With our understanding opened we may see on both planes of life, the outer and the inner, the same conditions will continue until the “land becomes utterly desolate” and we are driven to forsake the things we held so strongly.
6:13And if there be yet a tenth in it,
it also shall in turn be eaten up:
as a terebinth, and as an oak,
whose stock remaineth,
when they are felled;
so the holy seed is the stock thereof.
-- But an oak tree, when it is felled, has life yet in its roots and sprouts again into renewed manifestation of that life, so the “Holy Seed” within each one will sometime (whether soon or later rests with us) start into active life and grow into the perfect manifestation of God. You have found the Truth, this wonderful Truth, which shows you your real self. You have now to apply it, to prove its power to bring freedom from the bondage of error. “Overcome evil with Good.”
– UNITY magazine.
April 30, 1922: Isaiah 6:1-8
What is the meaning of the death of Uzziah, the king? Uzziah's death symbolizes the passing away of physical strength. The physical gives way to the spiritual.
What is the meaning of Isaiah? The meaning of Isaiah is: “Jehovah is salvation;” it is similar to Jesus, which means the saving power of the I AM.
What is the beginning of every spiritual demonstration? The beginning of every spiritual demonstration is a distinct vision of the special work to be done by the overcomer.
What is symbolized by the seraphim, which Isaiah saw? The seraphim symbolize exalted ideas of Spirit, which purify, cleanse, ennoble, and uplift.
What do the six wings represent? The six wings represent the six freeing actions of mind that lift one above mere sense consciousness.
What is the metaphysical meaning of the words: “Holy, holy, holy, is Jehovah of hosts”? Metaphysically, this is the word of Truth proclaiming wholeness to the whole being. It is the recognition of the omnipresence of the all-powerful creative Spirit, in all its overcoming power.
How is the consciousness cleansed of all personality? The consciousness is cleansed of all personality by the realization of divine purity in both thought and word.
What is the meaning of touching the mouth with the live coal? The coal represents the living word of Truth, which is always spoken by those who understand Truth. Touching the mouth with the coal, signifies enduement by the Spirit with words of Truth. “The word is very nigh unto thee, in thy mouth.”
What is the meaning of, “Here am I; send me”? This represents willingness to do the will of God, wherever and in whatever way the Spirit directs.
May 27, 1923: Isaiah 6:1-8
What is the metaphysical meaning of the death of Uzziah? The name “Uzziah” means strength. The goat is its symbol. Uzziah was king. The king represents the will. The death of King Uzziah means that the thought of physical strength has lost its hold on the organism.
Define the meaning of: “I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up; and his train filled the temple.” The Lord represents spiritual consciousness sitting on the throne of dominion. His train or attendants filling the whole temple, means that the spiritual thoughts are active in the whole body.
What is the meaning of the winged seraphim? Seraphim symbolize pure ideals. The pairs of wings represent the spiritual thoughts working in a material environment, and yet free from material limitations. “They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world”
Define: “Holy, holy, holy is Jehovah of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory.” Holy means wholeness. As the whole consciousness vibrates with the thought of wholeness, perfection and purity, the very earth (the body) is lifted up and glorified.
What is the metaphysical meaning of: “And the foundations of the thresholds shook at the voice of him that cried, and the house was filled with smoke”? The metaphysical meaning of this verse is that the fixed states of consciousness in the physical are unusually disturbed and fearful, and that there is no clear perception in body consciousness of the cause of the commotion.
What is the meaning of: “I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, Jehovah of hosts”? This verse reveals that the personality confesses that it has perceived the divine will (the King, Jehovah of hosts), but that it is not speaking words of spiritual purity, and that its whole consciousness is in an impure environment.
What is the meaning of the seraphim touching the coal of fire to the lips with the declaration, “Thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin forgiven”? This means that when we have received the baptism of Spirit and when we feel the quickening life within, we shall affirm that our lips are consecrated to the good, that they are purified by spiritual life, and that only words of truth shall pass their portals.
What attitude of mind is indicated in verse 8? Verse 8 brings out the thought of complete consecration and a willingness to go forth and do the work of the Lord. “Then I said, Here am I; send me.”
October 23, 1927: Isaiah 6:1-8
Who does the prophet Isaiah represent? Isaiah represents the saving grace of Jehovah, I AM. When the baptism of Spirit falls upon one who has much ideality, that person expresses his prophecies in poetical terms, like those of Isaiah's.
What is represented by the live coal with which the seraph touched the lips of the prophet? The live coal represents the burning inspiration of Spirit that touches the lips or the word of the prophet, who pours forth a stream of wonderful words that are descriptive of the majesty and the mysteries of God.
April 7, 1929: Isaiah 6:1-8
What does the prophet Isaiah represent? Isaiah represents the saving grace of Jehovah in man's I AM identity (Jesus). When the baptism of Spirit falls upon one who has much ideality, that person expresses his prophecies in poetical terms, like those expressed by Isaiah.
What is the meaning of the word seraphim and what do seraphim represent? The word seraphim is the plural of “seraph.” A seraph is one of an order of celestial beings conceived as fiery and purifying ministers of Jehovah. In literature the pictures of seraphim are often colored red, symbolizing sacred ardor and purity.
What is the metaphysical meaning of the seraphim that Isaiah saw in his vision? Isaiah saw the seraphim as the Word going forth to purify man's conscious mind (“face”), man's subconsciousness (“feet”), and man's concept of the superconsciousness (“with twain he did fly”).
What is the meaning of the statement, “And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy is Jehovah of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory”? This means that the purifying word of Jehovah in its wholeness is declared for the glorification of the body (“the whole earth”).
What results when the purifying word is felt in body consciousness? When the radiations of the spiritual forces fill the body consciousness, all one's old material thoughts are stirred, and there is mental confusion (“the foundations of the thresholds shook”).
How does the natural man feel when the word of Spirit awakens his consciousness? The natural man realizes that not only his lips, but the lips of his associates, are speaking unspiritual words.
What is represented by the live coal with which the seraph touched the lips of the prophet? The live coal represents the purifying power of the spiritual word; also it represents the burning inspiration of Spirit in one who, like Isaiah, pours forth a stream of wonderful words descriptive of the majesty and mysteries of God.
September 3, 1939: Isaiah 6:1-13
Why did the time of Isaiah's vision of the Lord correspond with the year that King Uzziah died? The death of King Uzziah means that physical strength has lost its dominant hold on the organism. Isaiah, which means “help of Jehovah” or the higher self, then sees his opportunity to serve God in the flesh.
What is the symbolical meaning of the statement that “his train filled the temple”? All the thoughts, intentions, and purposes that serve God or belong of right to the divine in man find expression in and through his body, which is the “temple” referred to.
What do wings represent? Wings represent freedom from material limitation.
Why is the seraph's proclamation that Jehovah of hosts is holy and that the whole earth is full of His glory rep resented as shaking the doorsills of the temple and filling the house with smoke? As the most unyielding and therefore the safest indoor spot during an earthquake, the doorsills or “foundations of the thresholds” are well-known places of refuge. Even these havens, which represent the open way to spiritual illumination, are moved by the irresistible power of spiritual holiness, a state so far surpassing man’s comprehension that his ordinary perception cannot grasp it. “The house was filled with smoke,” reducing visibility as awe reduces one’s power to understand.
What purifying agent touched Isaiah’s lips? The coal of fire from the altar represents the divine energy that communicated itself to Isaiah upon his becoming willing to give up the lower for the higher, the personal for the impersonal, the animal for the divine.
What is the gist of the divine message delegated to Isaiah? Isaiah was to proffer the help of Jehovah to man, that he might understand where materialistic thinking and living would lead him and be guided to change his ways, while there was yet time. To make the message more arresting he is told to continue in materialism and take the consequences in captivity and loss of country.
How is material thinking and living shown to result in man’s complete destruction? By the figure of the tree cut down to the stump (stock), which in its turn is destroyed by persistent and long-continued material thinking and living.
November 11, 1945: Isaiah 6:1-6
In the text for today how is the eternal nature of the kingdom of God indicated? [It is indicated] In comparison with the reign of an earthly king, Uzziah, which lasted fifty-two years. When that reign came to an end, the heavenly kingdom remained, with “the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up.” “Of his kingdom there shall be no end.”
How may we see God? As Isaiah saw Him, in a vision or a mental conception of what the Supreme Being is. “His train filled the temple.”
What does this signify? That love and good will, the attributes of God, fill the mind and body temple of all who are conscious of the divine themselves.
Is it possible for us to see the divine manifested in all things? It is as we become fully conscious of God. As we realize the truth of the words “Holy, holy, holy, is Jehovah of hosts” as applying to all that we are in mind, body, and soul, we see holiness or wholeness expressed in all that impinges on our consciousness.
Does a vision of limitless power always fill us with joy and gladness? It does when we are equal to making wise, right use of what we visualize. Where understanding is unequal to the task of using power aright, discouragement may follow the vision.
What purifies the mind and heart sufficiently to allow us to express the Truth of Divine Mind? Zeal for Truth. When the “live coal . . . from off the altar” touches his lips a man becomes qualified to bear the me
ssage of Truth to all who will hear it, for he then speaks in sincerity and states his inmost convictions.Transcribed by Lloyd Kinder on 12-08-2013
