Tag: Isaiah 6:3-10
Response to a revelation of God’s holiness
Scripture reading for July 17th: Isaiah 5-8
In the presence of the Lord there is an awesome awareness of God’s holiness and glory and of our sinfulness and need of cleansing. The stories of encounters with the Lord in Scripture record humbling effects on those so blessed to experience a personal visitation. It is always by God’s initiative that He reveals Himself to a man or woman. We can’t command a visitation although we can ask humbly. Job asked to have an audience with His maker and found himself unable to answer and repented following the encounter. (Job 42:2-6) Isaiah had a visitation and confessed his sin quickly.
During Isaiah’s encounter, he beheld the Lord on a throne with His robe filling the temple. Above and around Him were heavenly being called seraphs, or “burning ones”. They had six wings and used these to fly and cover their faces and feet. They were calling to each other “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty, the whole earth is full of His glory.” (Isaiah 6:3) When they spoke, their voices shook the doorposts and thresholds of the temple and smoke filled the house. This ‘smoke’ was the tangible glory of God!
Isaiah himself began to cry out in terror of judgment in the presence of this Holy One and His burning angels! He immediately knew his sin would bring judgment and death. He understood that all people among whom he lived were also sinful and were in danger of judgment! Seeing God’s great white throne would spell disaster! (Revelation 20:11-14) God saw his heart and repentance and heard his confession. He sent one of the seraph’s with a burning coal from the altar and applied it to the prophet’s mouth. His sin was taken away and atoned for.
After cleansing, Isaiah heard the Lord’s personal call: “Whom shall I send? And who will go for Me?” Isaiah quickly responded with “Here am I, send me!” (Isaiah 6:8) God told Isaiah that He was sending him to a people whose hearts were calloused and their ears were dull. They had become hardened and would become harder as they refused to listen to God’s prophet! (Isaiah 6:9-10) Jesus quoted these verses as He spoke to the religious people of His day. (Matthew 13:13-15)
In summary, the open heaven Isaiah experienced brought revelation of God’s glory. This led to awareness and confession of his sinfulness and cleansing by God’s grace through fire from the altar. After cleansing he heard God’s call and obeyed! Why not ask God for a fresh revelation of His holiness and glory?