Tuesday, July 17, 2012

Isaiah 6:2


Copyright Ó 2012 J. Neely
Isaiah 6:2

2 Above [ma`al] it stood [`amad] the seraphims: [saraph] each one ['echad] had six [shesh] wings; [kanaph] with twain [shanayim] he covered [kacah] his face, [paniym] and with twain [shanayim] he covered [kacah] his feet, [regel] and with twain [shanayim] he did fly. [`uwph] KJV-Interlinear

2 Seraphim stood above Him, each having six wings; with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. NASB

In the presence of the Lord, Jesus Christ, stood several seraphim.

Here is referenced one of the three categories of angelic beings mentioned in the Bible - Cherubim, Seraphim, and Living Creatures.

The second category is mentioned here - Seraphim. The word for Seraph comes from their copper color, with a meaning of a burning or fiery serpent.

The numbers of the Seraphim are not mentioned however it is implied that they are many with the plural ending to the name.

Each Seraph has six wings. Two cover the face, two cover the feet, and the other two are used for their mobility.

There are a lot of speculations in commentaries, as to the meanings of the wings and the positions that they are in. Some suggesting that they cannot bear to see the glory of the Lord, or that their feet represent something less than honorable so they have to be covered, however the angels are higher than mankind at this point in history and Isaiah, in this vision is seeing the glory of the Lord, and Isaiah is the lessor creature in this vision.

Their covering is more representative of an acknowledgment of Gods glory which is far greater than anyone else's. This is a position of humility and respect more so than a position of embarrassment. Their glory is covered and not presumed so that only the glory of the Lord is in view here.

We'll see later on that Isaiah will offer his services to serve God, but the Seraph will bring a burning coal to remove the sin in him (Isaiah). So Isaiah's presumption is quickly squashed until he is cleansed of his sins. But more on that later on in our study.

Even though they subordinate themselves to God, they can still maneuver efficiently and effectively, and swiftly. They are not bound to one spot.

In contrast to the Seraphim that are mentioned here is Satan who is not mentioned here. Satan rejected God. Satan being in the Cherubim category, and being the highest of all the angels, did not subordinate himself to God, viewing himself as equal to or even greater than God.

Later in history man will be made greater than the angels and Satan who thought himself as high in the heavenly pecking order, will discover that despite all of his own glory, he will become a second class citizen (actually even lower) to the lowly humans on this planet.

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