From the light thrown upon this blessed vision, in the other parts of scripture, as before shown, and all evidently, and plainly directed to prove that it is the person of Christ, who manifested himself to the prophet; we shall now be the better able to enter into an apprehension of all that follows; that is, as far at least as our capacities are enabled to go in the subject; and I hope that both writer and reader, will find cause to adore Jehovah, in his threefold character of person, in and through the only medium by which we can approach to adore him, even this glorious God-man Mediator, for such gracious and saving discoveries of himself. The seraphim, which are here said to have stood above, Paul calls the cherubim of glory: consequently they are not angels, Hebrews 9:15. A reference to other scriptures, will, I think, prove that they cannot mean angels. The first account we have of a subject like this in Isaiah's vision is Genesis 3:24, where cherubim and a flaming sword, are said to have been placed at the east of the garden of Eden. In Leviticus 1:1; Isaiah 6:2, Jehovah saith, I will appear in the cloud on the mercy - seat. In the prophecy of Ezekiel, chap. 1 (Ezekiel 1:1) the vision he saw of the glory of the Lord, was under the similitude of four living creatures. And as an explanation of this astonishing vision, John the beloved apostle, in the view of heaven opened, which he was favoured with, saw four beasts in the midst of the throne, and round about the throne, Revelation 4:6. Now angels are nowhere said in scripture to be in the midst of the throne. What those seraphim in Isaiah's vision are, I do not presume to say: but I humbly conceive, from the frequent mention made in scripture of them, and especially as having the face of a man joined in the representation, and this from the very opening of the word of God, at the garden of Eden, to the close of it in the Revelation; that it is intended to set forth the divine glory: and at the same time to show that the only access to Jehovah for fallen man, is in and through the person, glory and grace of the Lord Jesus Christ. The word itself, Seraphim, which is plural, means Burners. And this will not be found unsuitable to the idea, that they represent the glory of the Lord, in and through a Mediator; for the Holy Ghost hath by the apostle, declared, that our God is a consuming fire, Hebrews 12:29. And the hymn sung, which Isaiah heard, I humbly conceive, was not sung by the seraphim, but the heavenly host; similar to that song, which John heard, of redemption. They that sung it were neither the beasts nor the elders: for Jesus took not upon him the nature of angels. The song of redemption could only be sung by the redeemed from among men. See the words of the song itself, Revelation 5:9-10. Respecting the wings of the seraphim, it is worthy remark, that nothing is said of their form. If upon the supposition that they themselves are designed as symbols of God in Christ, there will be no difficulty in the apprehension concerning those wings. The Lord is veiled to his people in covering; and swiftness to fly to their help and salvation; and yet, in the dispensations of his providence, his path is hidden: these may be easily understood as emblematically represented. Concerning the infinite holiness of Jehovah, which the hymn celebrated, every part of scripture concurs in the testimony. And in nothing more, than by the wonders of redemption. God never took a more decided method to impress his creatures with a due sense of the holiness of his nature, than by the death of Christ. In that one act, a greater display was made of the holiness of Jehovah, than if all creation had been offered up in sacrifice. It spake in the loudest voice, that rather than the Lord's holiness shall be tarnished, the holy child Jesus shall die. The effect wrought in heaven, by the voice of him that cried, may serve to show the infinite awfulness of the divine presence, even in mercies. Reader, think what a solemn thing it must be to have to do with God, even when God is coming forth to bless. Oh the tremendous state of unregenerated sinners, when the Lord comes forth to judgment!
Related Commentaries of Isaiah 6:2
Isaiah 6:2-4
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.
3 And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory.
4 And the posts of the doora moved at the voice of him that cried, and the house was filled with smoke.