Preparing For The Approaching Judgment

Isaiah 6:1-8

Preparing for the Approaching Judgment

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. 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. And one cried to another and said:

"Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts;

The whole earth is full of His glory!"

And the posts of the door were shaken by the voice of him who cried out, and the house was filled with smoke.

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."

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. And he touched my mouth with it, and said:

"Behold, this has touched your lips;

Your iniquity is taken away,

And your sin purged."

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."

Illustration - I CANNOT CALL YOU FRIEND! Unknown...

My friend, I stand in judgment now.

And I feel that you are to blame somehow.

On earth I walked with you day by day.

But never did you point the way.

You knew the LORD, In His truth and His glory.

But never did you share the story!

My knowledge then was very dim.

You could have lead me safely to Him.

You taught me many things, This is true.

I called you friend, And I trusted you.

But I have learned, And now it is too late

You could have kept me from this fate,

We walked by day, And talked by night,

And yet you showed me not the light.

You let me live and love, AND DIE,

You knew I would never live on high.

Yes, I called you friend in life,

I trusted you through JOY and strife.

And yet on coming to this end,

--- I CANNOT CALL YOU MY FRIEND!

It has often been said that if God does not judge America then He must apologize to Sodom and Gomorrah. Let me assure you that America will be judged for her sins and God will not be apologizing to anyone.

Today, we are examining a passage of scripture that speaks to us as much as if we were standing in the presence of God right now. Isaiah received a vision from God that was at a critical juncture in their history. Isaiah was given this revelation not because he deserved it but because God saw fit to reveal Himself to Isaiah. King Jeroboam II died three years prior to the death of King Uzziah.

King Uzziah, aka Azariah, along with King Jeroboam II of Israel, (2 Chronicles 26:1-23; 2 Kings 14:21-22) brought prosperity and prestige to their nations, rivaled in greatness only by David and Solomon. Judah became a great nation once again through King Uzziah’s 52 years of visionary leadership. They became a military power and a political machine. They were financially prosperous and became agricultural leaders in the Middle East. But they had one problem -- they were spiritually bankrupt!

Although King Uzziah was known as a great king, his pride led to his downfall. He was struck with leprosy because he attempted to offer incense in the temple. This was only allowed by the priests and King Uzziah simply presumed upon God’s grace.

It has been noted that the Roman Empire began shortly after the death of Uzziah. While Israel began a decline in power, the Roman Empire would continue to grow until the words of Isaiah, as given by God, would come to fruition.

Although the people had prospered materially and were enjoying the benefits of God’s blessings, they were in pitiful shape spiritually. In the first four chapters of Isaiah, God reveals the judgment that was going to fall upon them. He does give them hope should they choose to repent and turn to Him. In chapter five, God discloses His planting of a vineyard that represents Judah who had failed to bear any fruit. It was in the year that King Uzziah died that Isaiah received the words that commissioned him to prophesy to a people who would not turn. Let’s examine what four things Isaiah experienced in the presence of the Lord.

First, we notice that Isaiah encounters

The Vision of God’s Sovereignty

Isaiah begins with what he saw in his vision. The first thing he describes is the One on the throne. Notice His POSITION on the throne. It is one of authority, royalty and accomplishment. We know that all authority has been given to Jesus. He is the Royal Seed that has been promised since Genesis 3:15. The One sitting one the throne is also the One who is worthy to sit at the Father’s right hand because He has accomplished His work on the cross.