“In the year King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord” (Isaiah 6:1). I have always had an understanding of this verse. However, recently I found myself asking questions – what was so peculiar about that year? Why did Isaiah see the Lord after King Uzziah’s death? The very same year he died—what is the significance of that?
For a long time, I interpreted or understood the passage a certain way. I used to think Uzziah’s death was almost a requirement for Isaiah’s encounter—as if Uzziah himself stood in the way of Isaiah seeing the Lord. Maybe he did, maybe he didn’t. Maybe his presence created a comfort zone, a form of security, or even a distraction. Scripture doesn’t give us all the details.
But tonight, as I write, my understanding is shifting. I’m seeing it differently. I’m concluding that King Uzziah’s death wasn’t so much a barrier removed as it was a catalyst—a propellant that pushed Isaiah into deeper pursuit of God. It wasn’t that Isaiah couldn’t see the Lord before; rather, something about that moment, that loss, that disruption, stirred something in him. A holy hunger. A deeper seeking. A posture that positioned him for revelation.
In other words, Uzziah’s death was not the requirement—it was the turning point.
And isn’t that just like God? To take what shakes us, what unsettles us, what feels like a loss, and use it to draw us closer to Him? To push us into seeking the One who has all answers, all clarity, all power? Isaiah’s encounter was not about the timing of someone’s death—it was about the posture of his heart in a pivotal moment. A moment God used.
Because truly, all things—even the things we don’t understand—work together for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose.
Why? Allow me to share a little bit about King Uzziah as I have learned.
King Uzziah became King at such a young age of 16, and at such a young age, he knew the Lord. He knew the God of his father. Even more impressive is the fact that he steered and governed God’s people with reverence for the Lord. He acknowledged God in all of his ways; with the help of God, he brought restoration to God’s children – II Chronicles 26:2. With the help of God, he conquered cities that attacked God’s children – II Chronicles 26:6, Oh! he built, built walls, fortresses, towers for God’s children – they must have felt so protected and secure. During his reign, the land flourished, and food and flocks were abundant.
I find it really impressive that he chose to serve the Lord and please Him in all his ways at age 16. I, on the other hand, was doing my thing at that same age. However, this was a young boy loving the Lord, but leading God’s children and serving as a king. There was no way in this life I could have served as a leader at 16. I recently downloaded Facebook only because I plan to promote a business on there; however, Facebook has other plans of reminding me of the foolish choices I made as a teenager. It keeps reminding me of posts I made 15 years ago, and I am literally cringing at my posts – like what was I thinking! Where was my head in those days? I am eternally grateful that the Lord saved me and continues to draw me to Him.
So with all that said, I hope you see why King Uzziah stands out to me. Not only did he take up leadership at such a young age, but he pleased the Lord for 52 years of his reign (2 Chronicles 26:4). The Bible tells us he sought the Lord. I imagine that with every decision—whether small or great—he inquired of God. He asked for God’s wisdom, God’s guidance, God’s help. And Scripture says that as long as he sought the Lord, God marvelously helped him (2 Chronicles 26:5).
His fame spread far and wide, for he was marvelously helped till he became strong
II Chronicles 26:15
Now, this is where King Uzziah’s downfall began. Somewhere along the journey, he became strong in himself. He let pride slip into his soul. The same king who once depended so heavily on God began to believe he could now do everything on his own, without the One who had always helped him. And truly, pride does come before a fall—because King Uzziah fell hard from grace.
For reasons I still can’t fully comprehend, he convinced himself that he was holy enough to burn incense before the Lord. But in those days, incense burning was sacred—deeply sacred. It was reserved exclusively for the priests, men who had devoted their entire lives to consecration and purity. This wasn’t a casual task; it was a holy office set apart by a Holy God. God, who knows the weight of His own presence, designed it so that only those who lived in continual purity could stand before Him in that role. No uncleanness, no pride, no self-exaltation could stand in that space.
While doing this little study, something settled strongly in my heart: King Uzziah’s death pushed Isaiah to seek God for himself. Isaiah must have closely watched the king’s life—how God lifted him, how God helped him, how God prospered him. And Isaiah must have also witnessed the crash. The fall. The consequences.
I imagine questions may have raced through his mind:
Why would a good God let this happen?
How could a king so marvelously helped by God turn away from Him”
Who is this God whose ways are higher than ours—whose wisdom we can’t easily trace?
How can I truly know Him for myself?
I believe questions like these stirred Isaiah deeply. They ignited a hunger—a quest to truly know the Most High God. So in that very year King Uzziah died, Isaiah sought the Lord… and the Lord made Himself known. God opened Isaiah’s eyes and gave him a glimpse of heaven. And it was no coincidence that the very first revelation Isaiah received was God’s splendor—then God’s holiness.
Isaiah saw the Lord, high and lifted up, and the train of His robe filled the temple (Isaiah 6:1). I wholeheartedly believe God revealed Himself this way—as exalted, unmatched, and enthroned—to make something clear: no one should ever grow so proud, so self-assured, as to think God is optional or dispensable. That was the very root of Uzziah’s fall. He became so accustomed to divine help that he began to assume it was his own ability. And honestly, we’re not that different.
It’s so easy to get used to success… so easy to forget we are helped. Helped daily. Helped quietly. Helped marvelously.
I remember a moment in my own life—I can’t recall all the details, but I remember the feeling. I made a boast in myself. I was so sure I would ace a test on my own strength. Completely forgetting that God had been the One strengthening me all along. And right after making that boast? I failed the test terribly. I mean, embarrassingly bad. Over time, through experiences like these, God has reminded me—and keeps reminding me—that everything I am, and everything I accomplish, is by His grace alone.
Apostle Paul said the same: “By the Grace of God I am what I am” (1 Corinthians 15:10). He refused to take credit for what God had done through him. And if Paul, with all his accomplishments, chose to boast only in the Lord, then surely we must learn to do the same.
Because truly, we are nothing without His Grace.
But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all, yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me
I Corinthians 15:10
I mean, if a great and accomplished man like Apostle Paul makes his boast in the Lord, who am I to boast in my ability or strength? Who are we to boast in our ability and strength?
Although making our boast in the Lord isn’t the core of my message today, I think it is a noteworthy piece of the lesson to take with us. The very core of this piece is to learn to channel our questions to the right quarters. I cannot say I understand your plight or the questions tugging at your heart right now, but I am certain of a God who has answers for you. My God says that He sure would reveal deep and secret things, things we never imagined, only if we sought Him with all of our hearts – Jeremiah 33:3
In the year King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord. This depicts a posture of seeking, a posture of waiting, patience – Isaiah had his gaze on the Lord; he must have waited patiently, as he gave himself endlessly to seeking the Lord, asking the Lord questions non-stop till he saw the Lord.
In the year King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lifted, and the train of His robe filled the temple – Isaiah 6:1-3. The revelation goes on and on, and it completely changed the whole trajectory of Prophet Isaiah’s life, career, and ministry. Only after this encounter with the Lord did he actually start living out his divine purpose.
I know you got questions, how about you make out time to really seek God for yourself? instead of running away from Him or running to something else that’s not God. In Jesus’ name, may you see the Lord, may you know Him intimately, may your love for Him deepen, may His love for you become so glaring that you stop to doubt.
