“In the year that King Uzziah died I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up; and the train of his robe filled the temple” (Isaiah 6:1 ESV).
Isaiah carefully dates his vision to “the year that King Uzziah died” (ca. 740 BC). Uzziah had reigned for fifty-two years, bringing prosperity and stability to Judah. His death marked the end of an era and the beginning of uncertainty for the nation. Yet in this moment of national mourning and political instability, Isaiah was given a vision of the true King. He saw the Lord seated on heaven’s throne, sovereign and exalted, His glory filling the temple. Earthly kings come and go, but the eternal King reigns forever. The apostle John later declared that Isaiah saw the glory of Christ (John 12:41), and John’s own vision of heaven in Revelation 4–5 echoes Isaiah’s. The contrast is clear: Kings die, worldly kingdoms fall, yet the Lord reigns forever.
Where do we place our hope when earthly leaders fail or circumstances shift? Isaiah reminds us to lift our eyes from the passing thrones of this world to the eternal throne of heaven. Our security is not in human leaders, nations, or political power—all of which can vanish in a moment. Instead, our hope is in King Jesus, who sits exalted above all powers and authorities. When we feel shaken by loss or change, we can be assured that the Lord remains “high and lifted up,” reigning with wisdom, power, and holiness. Like Isaiah, we are invited to behold the King and respond in worship and obedience.
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, we lift our eyes to Your throne today. When earthly leaders fail and human kingdoms crumble, help us to remember that You, O Lord, remain sovereign and unchanging. Teach us to trust not in the shifting sands of this world but in the eternal reign of King Jesus. May our lives reflect confidence in His rule, and may we join the heavenly chorus in declaring, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty.” In Jesus’ name, amen.