As Isaiah is called to serve, his vision is full of God’s revelation. The temple is filled with hem and smoke, and the world is filled with God’s glory.

God Sightings

November is halfway finished, and what does that mean? Advent is almost upon us! (So, you should order your faith formation resources for the winter!) The reading from Isaiah 6 marks the fourth lesson in our “God Sightings” unit theme, and it is the sighting-est God sighting of them all. Previously, the Narrative Lectionary narrowly missed Solomon’s sighting of God at the inauguration of the temple (more on that later); Elijah’s encounter with God in the wilderness and in the foreign town of Zarephath; and Jonah’s encounter with God in the belly of a fish. Isaiah’s encounter is in his face, literally.

Visions of God

God does not appear to us mortals very often. As God does not have a physical form like many of the gods in polytheistic religions do, these theophanies are often more metaphorical: a flaming torch, a burning bush, a cloud (pillar or otherwise), a fiery pillar, etc. Isaiah’s vision is one that is more anthropomorphic with the suggestion of human-like clothing, though he doesn’t see a body (I’m not clear that “sitting on a throne” involves seeing a likeness of a body or not). But all these visions of God serve a purpose: to underlie the importance of a particular message.

It struck me as I was reading this text that the three aspects of God’s revelation here use the image of fullness:

… the hem of [God’s] robe filled the temple. (verse 1)
… the whole earth is full of [God’s] glory (verse 3)
… and the house filled with smoke (verse 4)

Filled with a Hem

The hem that Isaiah describes would be the bottom portion of a robe, which would normally be ornately embroidered and worn by priests and kings. While he doesn’t describe it, I can only imagine how fancy God’s hem would be. God is, after all, the King above all kings. But why a hem, a giant hem at that? In the Hebrew Bible, the word translated “hem” (or sometimes “train”) is used in two different ways aside from this instance. In the Book of Exodus, it is found in the descriptions of the high priest’s ceremonial garment. In the prophets, it refers to a woman’s skirts. This is the only instance that pertains to God. I would assume that this is a connection to the high priest, given the location in the temple.

Filled with Smoke

As the seraphim are calling out, the house of the Lord is filling with smoke. This brings to mind another theophany: when God gave Moses the Torah.

Now Mount Sinai was wrapped in smoke, because the LORD had descended upon it in fire; the smoke went up like the smoke of a kiln, while the whole mountain shook violently.

Exodus 19:18

Smoke also brings to mind a more common theophany form: a cloud. Just a few verses before the one above, Sinai is covered with a thick cloud (Exodus 19:16). God also appeared to the Israelites as a pillar of cloud (during the day, fire at night) during the journey from Egypt (Exodus 13:21-22). When Solomon finished the temple and the Ark of the Covenant was moved in, “a cloud filled the house of the LORD” such that the priests could not do their duties (1 Kings 8:10-13).

So, I don’t think the smoke filling the temple in Isaiah’s vision is a mere special effect. It is a part of God’s revelation.

Filled with Glory

It is not just the temple that is filled with God’s revelation.

And one called to another and said: “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts; the whole earth is full of [God’s] glory.”

Isaiah 6:3

Glory is a bit of a slippery word in my mind. In one sense, it’s pretty straightforward. It’s high honor and reputation; for humans it is often about great and heroic achievements. And that fits with God as well. The earth is full of God’s fame and reputation: God’s name. Creation knows how great and awesome God is.

But—in God’s case—glory is more than that. It’s not just abstract (people’s knowledge and opinion), it has more substance than that, and it comes back to that word “full.” When I look at the places this word is used in the Bible, it has a physicality to it. It’s used with flour and water, silver and coal. Just like the temple was filled with smoke, so the whole world is filled with God’s glory—God’s presence.

Holy Spirit, Glory, and Us

The earth is full of God’s presence. This is not just a statement of God’s omnipresence. While the entire universe cannot contain God (1 Kings 8:27), God is here with us. Now. And God is specifically present with us in the divine person of the Holy Spirit. And God has chosen to not only live with us but to live within us, making us little temples of the Holy Spirit. So, God’s glory does not just fill the earth, it fills us, too.

Faith Formation Connections

While what I’ve discussed here is a bit abstract for our younger disciples, the passage has plenty of dramatic details. It engages the senses: sight, sound, touch, smell, even taste (though I wouldn’t recommend actually putting coals to your mouth, even if they aren’t hot). And, you can even make the connection between God’s glory filling the earth and God’s presence within each of us—though you should probably skip the interpretive steps on how to get from one to the other. And don’t forget to connect the seraphim’s song to the Great Thanksgiving in the communion service (assuming you use it). It’s important to make as many connections between education and worship (not to mention home) as possible!

In God’s glory,

Gregory Rawn (Publisher)

Free Resource

During the main Narrative Lectionary year (September 8 to June 8), we provide a free resource download from one of our products to help you in your faith formation ministry. This week, download the activity “What’s My Calling?” from our Living the Word: Youth (NL) curriculum, though this activity can be used with other age groups!

Order Faith Formation Resources

Order now for winter (and spring)! The fall season of our year-long resources ends on November 24, 2024, so now is a great time to order winter and spring seasons for the Narrative Lectionary, Revised Common Lectionary, and Classic Sunday School products. Products are available for immediate download. If you don’t have much time for children’s Christian education, then check out our Kids Mini Lessons for the NL and RCL.

Are you looking for shorter resources for family/intergenerational events or Sunday school? Check out our Learning Together series, a set of five-lesson units on a variety of topics. You can read outside reviews on both our newest Do Justice and Created to Care units! Our faith formation resources are easy to use, theologically sound, and inclusive.

At Spirit & Truth Publishing, we might have exactly what you are looking for:

• Resources for the Narrative Lectionary (2024-2025): Products for all ages (with NEW mini lessons, if you only have a short time for elementary faith formation).
• Classic Sunday School Curriculum: Key Bible stories for PK-2nd and 3rd-6th, also great for your Christian elementary school!
• Learning Together: Five-lesson, topical units for VBS, Sunday school, children, and intergenerational classes.
• Cross+Generational Confirmation
• Resources for the Revised Common Lectionary (2024-2025): Intergenerational classroom, mini lessons for children.
• Worship and Liturgy Education

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