High And Lifted Up

Have you ever seen something amazing that took your breath away?

In Isaiah 6, the prophet Isaiah saw something amazing. It didn’t just take his breath away, it changed his life! Let’s look at for ourselves. This account will show us four simple, yet powerful points.

1. TRAGEDY (v. 1a)

King Uzziah had been a very godly king, and under his leadership the nation had prospered both economically and militarily. As a result, almost everyone had a prosperous life. However, later in life Uzziah did something terrible: he usurped the priest’s office. For this God struck him with leprosy, forcing him to live in isolation. Uzziah’s death was a turning point for the nation. An era of prosperity was over, ushering in a new era of wickedness. Things would never be the same.

It it often in times of tragedy that God chooses to show His glory in some way. This doesn’t mean that God made the tragedy, simply that He can work in it or through it. Only God can bring glory out of tragedy.

In John 11, one of Jesus’ closest friends dies. The death of Lazarus was a tragedy. But notice what Jesus says about it:

John 11:4, “When Jesus heard that, he said, This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby.”

Isaiah entered the temple that day depressed and sorrowful. It was at this time, this exact moment, that God broke through. Don’t ever doubt what God can do in the midst of a tragedy.

2. GLORY (v. 1-4)

What a sight to behold! This vision was exclusive to Isaiah. God allowed him to see a glimpse of His throne room. There was God sitting on His throne, high and lifted up. His train would be His royal robes, majestically covering His throne. Creatures called seraphim flew all around, crying, “Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory.” These creatures had six wings—two covered their face, symbolizing that they were unworthy to look upon God; two covered their feet, symbolizing that they were never to rest or stop worshipping God; and two were used for flying. But that’s not all—the smoke of the incense filled the temple, making the entire atmosphere even more terrifying. Can you picture it?

The glory of God is something amazing. We cannot make it appear, God must choose to show it to us. But even then, He can only show us a glimpse. If God were to show us His whole glory, it would overwhelm us and kill us. The question is, do you want to see God’s glory in your life?

In Exodus 33, Moses is talking to the Lord one on one. The nation has just committed a grievous sin with the golden calf. Moses goes to the Tabernacle and the pillar of cloud stands at the door. God was speaking to Moses face to face, “as a man speaketh unto his friend.” That’s when Moses was so bold to ask a specific request: “I beseech thee, shew me thy glory” (v. 18).

When was the last time you prayed for that? We tend to pray selfishly for our own needs and wants. We need to get our eyes off of ourselves and ask God to be glorified. “Lord, show me your glory! Let your glory be in my marriage, my family, my work, my ministry, my thoughts, my relationships, my witnessing.”

What will happen when you experience the glory of God?

3. CHANGE (v. 5-7)

When you see the glory of God in your life, it will change you. This was probably the moment when Isaiah got saved, but it doesn’t have to be salvation. The change can be something else. Whatever it is, it should result in humility and repentance.

H. A. Ironside explained it like this: “The effect of beholding God is to make one realize his own unworthiness and the corruption of his own heart. Isaiah saw himself in the light of Jehovah’s infinite holiness. It is ever thus when man is brought consciously into the presence of God.”

When Job saw the power and majesty of God, he said, “I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth thee. Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes” (Job 42:5-6). When Peter saw Jesus’ power over nature, he fell down at Jesus’ feet and exclaimed, “Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord” (Luke 5:8).

II Corinthians 3:18, “But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.”