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"But as truly as I live, all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the Lord"
(Numb. 14: 21).
This initial promise strikes the key note. The glory of the Lord and the fulness of the
whole earth are connected with the overthrow of satanic opposition and the full faith of
His people. This is seen in the seven occurrences of the expression "the whole earth"
already reviewed.
At the close of that prayer which looks forward to the kingdom of Christ on earth,
David said:
"Blessed be the Lord God, the God of Israel, Who only doeth wondrous things. And
blessed be His glorious name for ever: and let the whole earth be filled with His glory:
Amen and Amen" (Psa. 72: 18, 19).
Again, the triumphant twenty-fourth Psalm, which speaks of the entry of the King of
glory and the lifting up of the age-abiding doors, opens with the statement: "The earth is
the Lord's, and the fulness thereof" (Psa. 24: 1).
The subject is carried to its completion in the N.T. where the fulness is seen expressed
and realized in Christ. It would take us too far afield to examine these N.T. references
now, but the reader is directed to the article dealing with the Pleroma in Volume XIII,
pages 165-170.
In contrast therefore with the failing King Uzziah, Isaiah sees the pledge of final
fulness in the Christ of God. There is a comparison also between Isaiah himself, the
nation and Uzziah, for he too confesses uncleanness.
"I SAW ALSO THE LORD."--In the year that King Uzziah died.
"ALSO I HEARD THE VOICE OF THE LORD."--After Isaiah had confessed
uncleanness.
This "seeing" and "hearing" is in direct contrast to the failure of Israel which is
manifested in verse 10.
"Then said I, Woe is me!" (Isa. 6: 5).
The effect of the vision of the Lord upon the beholder has ever been the same. Job,
the "perfect" man, said that if he could but stand before the Lord he would maintain his
integrity, but when at last his wish was gratified, he said:
"I have heard of Thee by the hearing of the ear; but now mine eyes seeth Thee.
Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes" (Job 42: 5, 6).
Daniel's comeliness turned to corruption in the presence of an angel (Dan. 10: 8); Peter
besought the Lord to depart from him because he was a sinful man (Luke 5: 8); and John,