Holy, Holy, Holy Series

HOLY, HOLY, HOLY (ISAIAH 6)

Are you old enough to remember the first Indiana Jones movie – The Raiders of the Lost Ark? Do you remember the final scene when Indiana Jones and friend were bound and the ark was seized by the Nazi raiders?

However, the raiders made a wrong move and decided to open the box-like object holy to the Jewish faith. One of the Nazi leaders dipped his hand to feel the box’s fine sand and another laughed that they got nothing. Initially nothing happened. From then on, it was chaos. Electricity pierced the caves, forcing the soldiers to drop their guns. Then a spark or light stirred in the box and smoke boiled over like soup and fog. Indy shouts to his friend, “Shut your eyes, don’t look at it. No matter what happens, don’t look at it.”

Next, streams within the cave dramatically whirled around the soldiers as one said, “It’s beautiful!” At this time, waves and waves of fire, electricity and smoke rushed from the box and streamed into the air, transforming into a pretty face before assailing the transfixed audience from all directions, melting away and blowing up their faces. Then the streams whisked out of the cave and up into the sky before returning into the box.

How do you behave encountering God’s holy presence? Do you say “wow” or “woe” before Him? Unlike the gods of the nations, the God of Israel is holy.

What is your purpose in life? Do you still have a passion to change the world, make a difference and save lost souls? Where is your commitment?

Isaiah caught a dramatic vision of the Lord’s holiness in the year King Uzziah died. The good king Uzziah had died and vacated the throne but the Lord God was reigning and seated on his throne. Kingdoms and governments rise and fall, come and go, but God’s throne is unshakable, high and exalted. Uzziah’s entombment was powerfully contrasted with God’s enthronement. The earthly king was buried in his regal robes but the fringe of the heavenly king’s robe blanketed the whole temple.

The mere mention of God and presence of His holiness caused a huge commotion and a choir outbreak among angels in heavens and on earth. According to the orthodox view, the seraphs stand at the head of the nine choirs of angels. Surrounding the seat of the enthroned Lord, they ranked ahead of cherubim that carried the chariot of the divine throne (Keil & Delitzsch). The radiance of God’s holiness was too luminous for the seraphs to bear and too wondrous to behold, so much so that they covered their faces, eyes and feet, breaking out in chorus, “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory.” Holiness is the very essence, foundation and core of His Being.

How should men response to God’s holiness? Is His holiness for show? What should our attitude be in the presence of the Holy One?

Confession is Required for the Sinner

6:1 In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord seated on a throne, high and exalted, and the train of his robe filled the temple. 2 Above him were seraphs, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. 3 And they were calling to one another: “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory.” 4 At the sound of their voices the doorposts and thresholds shook and the temple was filled with smoke. 5 “Woe to me!” I cried. “I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the LORD Almighty.” (Isa 6:1-5)

The pastor walked into the church alone and felt an overwhelming sense of God’s holiness. He went to the front, knelt down at the altar rail, and began to beat himself on the chest, crying out, “Oh Lord, I am nothing!”

A few moments later, the minister of music entered the church. He too felt the overwhelming presence of God and, seeing the pastor at the altar, went

and knelt down beside him. He also began to strike his chest and say, “Oh Lord, I am nothing. I am nothing.”

It happened that the whole staff, one by one, began coming in. The minister of recreation, the minister of education, eventually, the whole staff, all kneeling at the altar bemoaning their “nothingness” before the Almighty.

A little while later, the church custodian came in and got caught up in the revival, as well. He knelt beside the ministerial colleagues and began beating on his chest, adding to the refrain, “Oh Lord, I am nothing. I am nothing.”