God is with Us (Isaiah 6-7)

Isaiah 6:6 — Then flew one of the seraphims unto me, having a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with the tongs from off the altar:

7 — And he laid it upon my mouth, and said, Lo, this hath touched thy lips; and thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin purged.

The coal was taken from the altar. What goes on an altar? A sacrifice. Who was the great and final sacrifice? The Lamb of God, Jesus Christ. It is through Him that we are cleansed; through our Savior and His eternal sacrifice that our iniquity is taken away and our sin purged.

Isaiah 6:9 — And he said, Go, and tell this people, Hear ye indeed, but understand not; and see ye indeed, but perceive not.

10 — Make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and convert, and be healed.

This prophesy of the Jews rejecting Christ also relates to Christ's explanation of why He taught in parables. It was a blessing for all who heard in that those who understood gained greater light and those who did not escaped greater judgement.

Isaiah 6:13 — But yet in it shall be a tenth, and it shall return, and shall be eaten: as a teil tree, and as an oak, whose substance is in them, when they cast their leaves: so the holy seed shall be the substance thereof.

Although Israel will be scattered for their sin, just as a tree can bear seed and replenish even without leaves, so will the desolate house of Israel still have a remnant return. We also know that those who did not return will be gathered (the list 10 tribes). This is the work of the gospel and the glory of God. When His children take on the name of Christ and enter into a covenant relationship with Him, they also receive a name in Israel, becoming part of His covenant family, and becoming gathered.

Isaiah 7:3 — Then said the Lord unto Isaiah, Go forth now to meet Ahaz, thou, and Shear-jashub thy son, at the end of the conduit of the upper pool in the highway of the fuller's field;

Isaiah, famous for writing about the gathering of Israel, banned his son Shear-jashub, meaning a remnant shall return.

Isaiah 7:9 — And the head of Ephraim is Samaria, and the head of Samaria is Remaliah's son. If ye will not believe, surely ye shall not be established.

The Hebrew word for believe and establish here are the same word, which implies that faith is stability. If we don't lean on the Lord, we won't stand at all.

Isaiah 7:14 — Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.

The name Immanuel, one of the names of Christ, means Good is with us. How is God with us? In the mortal ministry of Christ, He was physically among the Jews. When we are baptized, we take upon us the name of Christ so that He is always with us in our hearts, additionally, the third member of the godhead, the Holy Ghost, is with us after receiving the gift by the laying on of hands. Baptism is also the start of our covenant relationship with Christ, which binds us to Him, being with Him. Becoming part of the house of Israel is becoming His people, and He is with His people. Finally, through our Savior's victory over death and sin, we have the opportunity to live with Him forever in eternal life. This verse is one of the most beautiful prophesies in scripture - foretelling the coming of our Savior to fulfill the lynchpin crux of our Heavenly Father's beautiful plan of redemption. It's also a good opportunity to think about how God is with you in your daily life. How have you seen His hand recently?