Seraphims

G-d sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and His train filled the temple.
The train was His royal and judicial robe; for He is represented as a judge and which the train of divine perfections fill. The train, the skirts of His robes, filled the Temple, the whole world (for it is all
G-d's Temple, and, as the heaven is His throne, so the earth is His footstool), it was filled with the manifestations of His glory. Shekinah Glory which is filled enriched, and beautified with the tokens of G-d's special presence.
Isa.6:2 Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly.
Seraphim - This word is nowhere else in the Bible applied to G-d's attendant majestic beings with 6 wings, human hands or voices in attendance upon G-d. Thus called from fire and burning, which this word properly signifies; to represent either their nature, which is bright and glorious, and pure; or their property, of fervent zeal for G-d's service and glory. The beings as flames of fire, that the immorality of that generation might be exhibited, which worthy of being was totally burnt up.
Wings - The three pairs of wings on each of the seraphim are believed to stand for reverence, humility, and speedy obedience to G-d's will. With two he cover his face (to show they are too lowly to look upon G-d), two wings to cover his feet (to hide this "humble" area of the body, so nothing even possibly deficient is seen in the Father’s presence). Two were made use of for flight; when they are sent on G-d's errands they fly swiftly (Daniel 9:21), more swiftly with their own wings than if they flew on the wings of the wind. This teaches us to do the work of God with cheerfulness and expedition.
The seraphim used four of their wings to express their humility, and used two of their wings to express their willingness and ability to serve G-d. This is the proper balance.
Thus they have four wings for adoration and two for active energy; four to conceal themselves, and two with which to occupy themselves in service; and we may learn from them that we shall serve G-d best when we are most deeply reverend and humbled in His presence. Worship must be in larger proportion than energy, adoration must exceed activity. As Mary at Y’Shua's feet was preferred to Martha and her much serving, so must sacred reverence take the first place, and energetic service follow in due course.
With Twain – in Strongs it means a combination (two, both, double, twice).
[3] And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory.
One - Father, Son, and Spirit, for all the three Persons appear in this vision V. 8.
They cried unto another - This denotes the publicness of their ministry, and their harmony and unity in it with zeal and fervency they cried aloud; and with unanimity they cried to another. They sang alternately, but in concert, and without the least jarring voice to interrupt the harmony. The formed upon the practice of alternate singing, which prevailed in the Jewish Church from the time of Moses, whose ode at the Red Sea was thus performed, (see Exodus 15:20,21) to that of Ezra, under whom the priests and Levites sung alternately. It was the same with that which is sung by the four living creatures, Revelation 4:8. Praising G-d always was, and will be to eternity, the work of heaven, and the constant employment of blessed spirits above, Psalms 84:4.
Two things the seraphim here give G-d the praise of:
1. His infinite perfections in Himself. G-d's power was spoken twice (Psalms 62:11), but His holiness thrice, Holy, holy, holy. They say it three times because there are Three Persons in the One G-d.
The particular pleasure they take in contemplating the holiness of G-d; this is a subject they love to dwell upon, to harp upon, and are loath to leave. Holiness, at its root, has the idea of apartness. It describes someone, or something, which is set apart from other people or things. An object can be holy if it is set apart for sacred service. A person is holy if they are set apart for G-d's will and purpose.
3. The superlative excellence of G-d's holiness, above that of the purest creatures. He is holy, thrice holy, infinitely holy, originally, perfectly, and eternally so. G-d's holiness is a part of everything He is and does. G-d's power is a holy power. G-d's love is a holy love. G-d's wisdom is a holy wisdom. Holiness is not an aspect of G-d's personality; it is one characteristic of His entire Being.
4. It may refer to the three person in the G-dhead, Holy Father, Holy Son, and Holy Spirit (for it follows, verse 8, Who will go for us? Herein he was, and is, and will be, holy; his ways are equal.
This often repetition signifies that the angels cannot satisfy themselves in praising G-d, to teach us that in all our lives we should give ourselves to the continual praise of G-d.
His glory not only appears in the heavens but through all the world, and therefore all creatures are bound to praise Him.
The whole earth is full of his glory - the Hebrew more emphatically, the fullness of the whole earth is His glory (Ps 24:1; 72:19). The seraphim surrounding the throne of G-d could see this probably more clearly than Isaiah could. We are often blind to the obvious glory of G-d all around us.
[4] And the posts of the door moved at the voice of him that cried, and the house was filled with smoke.
Post of the door - rather, foundations of the thresholds.
Voice of him - The seraphim are majestic beings, and their voice carries weight. When they speak, the door posts of G-d's throne room shake! The idea may be that Isaiah was watching from the door way, and when the seraphim cried out, he could feel the door posts shake.
The seraphim have one occupation: Their existence is given over to the praise and worship and honor of the L-RD G-d who is enthroned in heaven. What could we possibly do that is a higher calling than that? They sang so powerfully, the door posts were shaken! Shouldn't we sing with the same passion, the same heart, the same intensity? Do those angels have more to thank and praise
G-d for than we do?
Cried - There are voices in heaven sufficient to drown all the noises of the many waters in this lower world, Psalms 93:3,4. This violent concussion of the Temple was an indication of G-d's wrath and displeasure against the people for their sins; it was an earnest of the destruction of it and the city by the Babylonians first, and afterwards by the Romans; and it was designed to strike an awe upon us. Shall walls and posts tremble before G-d, and shall we not tremble?
House – Temple
Filled with smoke - This smoke reminds us of the pillar of cloud that represented the presence of G-d (Exodus 13:21-22), the smoke on Mount Sinai (Exodus 19:18), and the cloud of G-d's Shekinah glory that filled the Temple (1 Kings 8:10-12). A cloud of glory often marks the presence of the L-RD.
[5] Then 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, the LORD of hosts.
Woe –What made Isaiah feel like he was coming apart? Two things. First, the sight and sound of the seraphim. Second, the vision of the L-rd G-D.
I am undone – to be silent because he was a man of polluted lips, and dwelt among a people of polluted lips, and was unworthy, either to join the seraphim in singing praises to G-d, or to be the messenger of G-d to His people.
All men, in the presence of G-d, must inevitably be overcome with a sense of wickedness and unworthiness; but that is a different thing altogether from being as wicked as are those in full rebellion against G-d. Confession of sin here as a conscious realization of the wickedness of all flesh in the sight of G-d, and not as an admission that he was just as wicked as the people generally were in that rebellious era.
G-d will never do anything with us till He has first of all undone us.
Unclean lips – instead of boasting of your excellence, and trusting in your might, or comforting yourself in your comparative innocence, you will also be dumb before Him, because you have been a man of unclean lips, and because you hast still an unclean heart.
By nature, our lips are full of flattery and false intent: With flattering lips and a double heart they speak (Psalm 12:2). By nature, our lips lie and are proud: Let the lying lips be put to silence, which speak insolent things proudly and contemptuously against the righteous (Psalm 31:18). By nature, our lips deceive: Keep your tongue from evil, and your lips from speaking deceit (Psalm 34:13). By nature, our lips are violent: Swords are in their lips (Psalm 59:7). By nature, our lips bring death to others: The poison of asps is under their lips (Psalm 140:3).
I have seen the King - not strictly Jehovah Himself (John 1:18; 1 Tim. 6:16), but the symbol of His presence. Isaiah was a righteous, godly man by all outward appearance. Yet when he saw the enthroned King, the L-rd of hosts, he saw how sinful he was in comparison. Isaiah's life may have been as brilliant as a diamond. But when you lay a diamond against a perfectly black background, and have the right light upon it, you can see every flaw and imperfection - flaws that were invisible before. Even so, when Isaiah's righteous life lay against the background of G-d's perfection, it looked different.
L-rd - Hebrew, "JEHOVAH."
[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:
Flew - By G-d's command.
Unto me - The seraphim had been in the temple, Isaiah outside of it.
A coal - literally, "a hot stone," used, as in some countries in our days, to roast meat with, for example, the meat of the sacrifices. Fire was a symbol of purification, as it takes the dross out of metals (Mal. 3:2, 3). Both a token and an instrument of purification.
The tongs - These majestic beings, surrounding the throne of G-d, ministered to Isaiah. One flew to Isaiah with a live coal - which means the coal was still hot and burning. It was so hot that even an angel had to use the tongs from the altar.
The altar - Of burnt-offering, in the court of the priests before the temple. The fire on it was at first kindled by G-d (Lev. 9:24), and was kept continually burning.
[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.
Laid it - So as only to touch my lips, and not to burn them; which G-d could easily effect.
Mouth . . . lips - The mouth was touched because it was the part to be used by the prophet when inaugurated. So "tongues of fire" rested on the disciples (Acts 2:3, 4) when they were being set apart to speak in various languages of Jesus.
Lo - This is a sign that I have pardoned and purged the uncleanness of thy lips.
Iniquity - conscious unworthiness of acting as G-d's messenger.
Purged - literally, "covered," that is, expiated, not by any physical effect of fire to cleanse from sin, but in relation to the altar sacrifices, of which Messiah, who here commissions Isaiah, was in His death to be the antitype: it is implied hereby that it is only by sacrifice sin can be pardoned.
This declares that man cannot render due obedience to G-d, till He has purged us.