Scripture:
Isaiah 6:1-10 NKJV
[1] In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lifted up, and the train of His robe filled the temple. [2] Above it stood seraphim; each one had six wings: with two, he covered his face, with two he covered his feet, and with two, he flew. [3] And one cried to 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 door were shaken by the voice of him who cried out, and the house was filled with smoke. [5] So I said: “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 my eyes have seen the King, The Lord of hosts.” [6] Then one of the seraphim flew to me, having in his hand a live coal which he had taken with the tongs from the altar. [7] And he touched my mouth with it, and said: “Behold, this has touched your lips; Your iniquity is taken away, And your sin purged.” [8] Also, I heard the voice of the Lord, saying: “Whom shall I send, And who will go for Us?” Then I said, “Here am I! Send me.” [9] And He said, “Go, and tell this people: ‘Keep on hearing, but do not understand; Keep on seeing, but do not perceive.’ [10] “Make the heart of this people dull, And their ears heavy, And shut their eyes; Lest they see with their eyes, And hear with their ears, And understand with their heart, And return and be healed.”
Observation:
As Isaiah is taken into the throne room. He does his best to give us an accurate picture of the situation he finds himself in. He does a pretty good job of doing so if you ask me. As I was reading this, I could almost see the smoke filling the room. As the angles circled, GOD’S throne repeated the characteristics is GOD that they were seeing… holy, holy, holy. It almost makes me wonder if there is any other way to describe the father of all creation. When Isaiah came to the understanding of the weight of the situation he was in, he was faced with his humanity. Knowing that he was in the presence of GOD Almighty. His sin came to the front of his mind, and he knew that it would not be possible to be in GOD’S presence and hold on to who he used to be. So, his confusion was not only something he felt conviction over, but he knew it would be necessary if he were going to leave this situation unscathed. Immediately after saying he had unclean lips, an angel of the LORD took a coil from the altar with tongs and touched his lips. One thing that we should know as we look at this passage is that the fire of the altar has to do with Purification. The coil that was taken from the altar was not intended to harm Isaiah but to sanctify him for the work that GOD had in store for him. After the coil touched Isaiah’s lips, GOD presented HIS invitation to Isaiah. Whom will I send who will speak the truth? Who is willing? You can only rephrase the question so many ways before you just have to come to terms with the face that GOD uses man to spread the gospel, but that man has to be a willing vessel. HE is not going to send someone who doesn’t want to go, and he knew Isaiah was the right man for the job. Especially after he saw GOD in all HIS glory and survived it, the message that was given to Isaiah, I find a little odd. You would think that HE would want HIS people to hear and see HIS glory. Yet GOD basically tells Isaiah to tell them that they are numb and don’t truly understand what has been said or shown to them over their entire existence. They have handed down stories of miraculous situations and watched GOD deliver them time and time again, yet they still decide to serve other gods. I believe that what is being said is much like the verse in Chronicles… “If my people who are called by my name will humble themselves, turn from their wicked ways, and seek my face, I will heal their land.”
Application:
The harvest is ready. Over the last few years, I have seen a shift in the world and the way the people are. I am amazed at how many are seeing that chasing after their sin is not the answer. How will they know if they are not told? In the light of who we are without GOD, we have to see that we can not do it without HIM. The day I met Jesus, I was faced with the weight of my sin. On my knees at the altar, I knew that I had no chance and not enough words to justify my actions over the last 30 or so years of my life. HE would need to wash me clean. Along with my confusion, I felt GOD touch me with the blood of HIS son, and my life has never been the same. HIS next request for me was scary, and I wished I could say I received it in the same manner that Isaiah did, but I didn’t. I ran. It wasn’t until 7 years ago that I fully surrendered to the work HE had in store for me. However, now I can see my life no other way. I know that HE has set me aside for the work of the ministry. In fact, HE has turned my whole life into ministry, and after all, why not after the price HE paid for it? He took the unclean life I offered HIM and painted a beautiful picture of HIS redemption power. Then, HE asked me if I was willing to go into all the world and proclaim the gospel but listen, I’m not anything special. If you are reading this…HE is doing the same thing to you. The chances are you have had an encounter with Jesus, and your life has been changed, and now you’re wondering what to do with that. Well, let me tell you. The same question that GOD asked Isaiah. HE is asking you. Are you willing to go…can I send you? HE did pick you up to sit on a chair in the church on Sunday and Wednesday and do nothing the rest of the week. He touched you with the hot coil to send you out to your workplace or marketplace or the park wherever you come into contact with people… that’s where people need to hear what GOD has done in your life. Give them the same hope GOD has given you. It’s time to put your hands and feet to work for the kingdom. HE has set you free to speak the truth.
Prayer:
Father, your plan is so absolutely amazing. You have taken the broken prices of our lives and painted a picture of redemption for the whole world to see. Help us to show them how wonderful you are. How amazing your plan is and how you can use even the broken parts of us to bring about a change so evident that it could only be you who made it happen. We know that you did not save us to sit down, but you have sent us into all the world… even if that world is our workplace, there is someone who needs the hope you have placed in us. Help us do your work set up, devine appointments, and open our eyes to see them. Taking every opportunity that we get to speak about how you set us free from ourselves. It’s in the mighty name of Jesus I pray amen.