Intro: In Isaiah 6 we see the call and commissioning of Isaiah the prophet. We do not know but we assume that Isaiah was in the earthly temple. However, the temple described in verse 1 is the heavenly temple. In the year King Uzziah died. It would be like saying in the year Pearl Harbor was bombed, in the year JFK was shot, in the year the Bomb was dropped. This was a time of crisis and change. The king of Israel was dead. At the same time there was crisis and change Isaiah came face to face with the King of Kings. In a heavenly worship service Isaiah saw a fresh vision of God. It was from this vision of God’s holiness that Isaiah was inspired to pen words like Isaiah 40.8 “the grass withers the flower fades but the word of our Lord stands forever.”
What churches and Christians in America desperately need is a fresh vision of God. We do not need new revelation because all that God is and has for us is revealed in Jesus Christ. Hebrews tells us that Jesus is the exact representation or image of God. What we have lost is the holiness of God. God has become the man up-stairs, the God next door. Max Lucado said it well Immanuel God with Us. In Jesus Christ God came near. Something of the awesomeness and greatness of God has been forgotten. He is our heavenly father, and if you have an earthly father then you know what it is to have a healthy fear of your father.
The church culture of today has so allowed the culture around us to shape the way we do things. The customer satisfaction mentality has invaded our churches. We have to be sure not to offend anyone and worship is all about them. Here in Isaiah we see that worship is all about God. When you sing from a Hymn book you need to remember the songs are all about Him. When you read History in the Bible you need to remember it is His story. What Isaiah got was probably more than he bargained for in a worship service.
I. God’s High Position
Isaiah 6.1 (read)
A) Isaiah was reminded God is sovereign
What did Isaiah see when God showed up? He saw God high and lifted up. Isaiah saw God in His greatness and holiness. With everything that was happening in Israel God was in complete control sitting on His throne in heaven. Here in 6.1 you see Lord but not with the ord in Lower case capitals. This is the Hebrew word adonai. It Means the Lord God almighty, the sovereign or supreme one. John 12.37-40 clearly tells us that Isaiah was seeing Jesus on the throne!
Isaiah saw God on the throne, with His hand on the throttle in complete control.
Someone once said when the outlook is bleak try the uplook! Oh church what we need today is the uplook!
When the doctor says disease God is on the throne, When the boss says fired, God is on the throne, When children disobey God is on the throne.
Isaiah saw God high and lifted up but He also heard the seraphim cry Holy, Holy, Holy.
B) Isaiah was reminded God is separate
This is God’s chief attribute. Seven out of 12 references to the name of God in the Old Testament refer to Him as Holy!! Holy is not something God does it is not something God has it is something God is!
Why are people separate from God? It is a simple answer because they are unholy. If you have ever sinned then you are unholy. God is completely without sin. If you have lied you are a sinner, if you have hated you are a sinner, if you have stolen you are a sinner, if you have cheated you are a sinner, if you have wanted something that doesn’t belong to you, you are a sinner, if you take God’s name in vain you are a sinner. Romans 3.23 goes so far as to say all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. All are unholy.
The seraphim (the burning ones) repeat it three times. This is a Hebrew way of emphasizing what is said. When you are in class you learn that whatever a teacher repeats is important. In the Bible repetition is the main way to show the importance of a statement. Holy, Holy, Holy. God is Holy and you will never know Him as He is until you see Him as Holy God.
What on earth does this have to do with worship. If you divorce God’s holiness from worship all you have is entertainment! Why start on time, why do things in order why not distract others during the song service and preaching? Because we are focusing on the greatness of God!!
Why the cross? The cross was ultimately the result of God’s holiness. Sinful man cannot stand in the presence of a Holy God. God took care of the sin problem.
2 Corinthians 5.21 “For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”
This God that is holy and separate is the God we need to see in our worship!
II. Angels Holy Passion
Many translations say in 6.2 “Seraphim stood above Him,” the intent is not that they are standing above God but that they are attending Him.
Isaiah 6.2 (read)
Not even the angels that attend God see His radiance and Glory uncovered. Proverbs 1.7 “The beginning of knowledge is the fear of the Lord” The modern, emerging church today is losing or has lost A Holy and Healthy fear of the Lord. Many say that this Hebrew word means awe, reverence. When you get the picture of God that Isaiah did you can’t help but fear the Lord. A healthy dose of fear would do many Christians good today!!
Matthew 10.28 Do not fear those who kill the body but are unable to kill the soul; but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.”
Pastors, churches, individual Christians desperately need to see the reverence of God in the passion of the angels.
With four of their wings they covered their faces. They feared, respected, honored God so much that even as they obeyed Him they would not directly upon His awesome appearance. As they recognized God’s greatness they were ready at all times with two wings to spring to His service when He called.
What did this heavenly vision do to Isaiah? Did it cause him to run out of the earthly temple a paranoid schizophrenic? Was he given a permanent room in a padded cell? He was awakened by God’ s holiness to his own hellishness. The Holiness of God when viewed honestly will reveal our sinfulness.
III. Isaiah’s Humble Posture.
“Woe is me for I am ruined I am undone.”
To Isaiah’s peers He was upright, righteous, a man of unmatched integrity. Just one glimpse of the greatness of God changed his self perception. It took God to reveal His guilt, it took a picture of deity to reveal Isaiah’s dirtiness.
Have you ever seen God in such a way that it revealed who you really are? Have you ever recognized that you are a sinner separated from God without hope? That is what the vision did for Isaiah. It revealed reality to Him. God sees us as we are. He sees your heart.
What happened when Isaiah saws this vision of God?
A) Conviction
Woe is me I am undone. The Hebrew word for “undone” means to come apart at the seams. Isaiah was totally exposed for who he was before a holy God.
B) Confession
A vision of the holiness of God that brings true conviction of sin is always followed by confession of sin.
Regardless of excuses, sin is a prison from which you can never be freed until you admit it is your own fault that you were thrown in the slammer.
There is a story told of a king on board one of those ancient ships that was moved by slaves rowing large oars. The king went below to visit the slave galley where these men were shackled down to the oars. This was punishment for being prisoners, for disobeying the laws of the state and of the land. The king was down there walking among these men and was talking to them and he asked one man, “Why are you here?”
He said, “Sire, I was just praying you would ask me that question. Some of my enemies falsely accused me.”
The king said, “Oh, that is terrible. I am sorry to hear that.” He then asked another prisoner. “Why are you here?”
He said, “Well Sire, I just happened to be on a street corner when a crime was committed, and I was arrested with the other people. But I was doing nothing wrong.”
The king said, “Oh, that’s just horribl.”
Well, as he went down the line talking to every prisoner, every prisoner had some excuse, some justification, some reason for being there. Nobody would admit they were there for anything they had done.
Finally, he came to one last man and said, “And why are you here?” The man hung his head and said, “Sire I am here because I have sinned. I have sinned against myself, I have sinned against the state, I have sinned against you the king, and I have sinned against God; that’s why I’m here. I am a criminal and I am suffering for what I have done.”
The King said, “You scoundrel, you rogue, you vile wicked person, what are you doing here among so many honest and upright men? Guard! Loose this man and let him go!
Always remember that the real mark of having seen the real God is when real conviction comes into your heat and leads you to real confession.
C) Cleansing
Because Isaiah came clean he was made clean. The cleansing power of God went to work on Isaiah’s behalf. God is holy but He is also merciful. When we confess our sins God goes to work. He cleanses us with the Blood of Jesus.
1 John 1.9 “If we confess our sins, God is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us of all unrighteousness.”
D) Calling
Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?
Here am I send Me!
Oh pastors all over the world rejoice a volunteer!
Conclusion: What is the big deal about worship? It is about seeing God in all his Glory. In seeing God for who He is we see ourselves as we truly are. We are convicted of sin, we confess, our sin, we are cleansed then we are called. We can declare the greatness and goodness and worth of God.
Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord God almighty.
