Isaiah’s Commission--To Stop People Hearing: The fact that this testimony comes here rather than as chapter 1 further reflects the fact that the book called Isaiah is arranged logically rather than chronologically. Chapter 6 takes up many of the motifs in chapters 1–5. It also opens a section of the book in which narrative is more dominant (6:1–9:7) and that stands at the center of chapters 1–12 as a whole. Yahweh’s holiness and the implications of that holiness are of key importance to the chapter.

6:1–4 Uzziah/Azariah died between 742 and 735 B.C. after an outstanding, prosperous 52-year reign and a period of co-regency with his son Jotham (2 Kgs. 15:5) but leaving Assyrian storm clouds on the horizon. Here Isaiah sees the real Lord seated on a throne, high and exalted, king and sovereign…