We read in this passage how Isaiah saw a vision of the Lord and heard the voice of the Lord. The circumstances surrounding this experience was the death of Isaiah’s king and friend, Uzziah. We learn about king Uzziah in 2 Chronicles 26.
Uzziah was a good king, until he allowed pride to make him arrogantly violate God’s law by assuming a privilege reserved only for a priest by offering incense on the altar in the Lord’s temple. He was struck down with leprosy and ended his days living a1one, ruling through his son, Jotham (2 Chronicles 26:16-23).
Isaiah apparently went to the temple to mourn the loss of the king. A loss, which in Isaiah’s mind, represented:
A. Loss of leadership - 2 Chronicles 26:1-5
B. Loss of prosperity - 2 Chronicles 26:6-10
C. Loss of stability - 2 Chronicles 26:11-15
It was at such a time, a time of loss, that God’s voice called to Isaiah. God’s voice also calls to us in times of loss. At such times of change and transition, God’s voice calls to us to remind us that . . .
1. He Is Still Upon His Throne - vs. 1-4
Isaiah’s experience teaches us that as we go through loss, we need to focus on the One who is in charge of all things and is still upon His throne! How do I remind myself that God is still on His throne?
A. Choose to be aware of His presence - v. 1
“Surely the Lord is in this place and I did not know it.” - Genesis 28:16 (Amplified)
There is not a place where God is not present - even the place of loss.
B. Choose to adore His person - vs. 2-3
“The whole purpose of coming before the King is to praise Him to live in recognition of His splendor. Praise - lifting up our heart and hands, exulting with our voices, singing His praises - is the highest occupation of any being. What happens when we praise the Father? We reestablish the proper chain of command; we recognize that the King is on the throne.” - Max Lucado, Walking With the Savior
C. Choose to be in awe of His power - v.4
As his attention was drawn to the One upon the throne, Isaiah found himself in awe of His power! Likewise, we will never be in a position to know much of the power of God, until we purposely seek to be aware of His presence and adore His person!
“Praise is insisting on the truth.” - T.W. Hunt
As we “insist on the truth” about God through the practice of praise and thanksgiving, we will be helped to see the truth, even as did Isaiah, that no matter what change might take place around me, there has been no change in the God who reigns above me and lives within me!
2. He Is Still At Work In Me - vs. 5-7
Whenever we face difficult times, we tend to wonder where God is and if He has forsaken us. But the fact is that He is seeking to work in our lives just as much in times of loss as he is in good times. And what is it that God is working in our lives to do? God is seeking to do in our lives what he did in Isaiah’s life on this occasion. God works to . . .
A. To show me more of myself - v. 5a
B. To show me more of Himself - v. 5b
And as God worked in Isaiah’s life, he was led to . . .
1) Conviction - v. 5a
Isaiah recognized that apart from the Lord, his situation was hopeless!
2) Confession - v. 5b
Isaiah confessed his lack of faith and how he had joined in with others in decrying their situation now that the king had died.
3) Cleansing - v. 6-7
As a result of his confession, Isaiah received cleansing. God is always at work to lead us to a humble dependence upon Him; but this is especially true in times of 1oss. So the question I should ask is not, “Is God at still at work in my life?,” but rather, “Am I willing to let God work in my life?” God’s desire is to make us better, not bitter!
Lohman Strauss in his book, In God’s Waiting Room: Learning Through Suffering, a book he wrote while his wife recovered from a stroke, likens life’s experiences to ingredients that went into the cakes he remembers his mother baking during his childhood.
Each ingredient, the flour, baking powder, shortening, the raw eggs, by themselves aren’t very enjoyable snacks. When properly mixed together though, they created something delicious.
“And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.” - Romans 8:28 (NLT)
“God is more interested in molding our character than in making us comfortable.”
“Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, vision cleared, ambition, inspired, and success achieved.” - Helen Kellar
Yes, God is still upon His throne and He is still at work in my life, even in times of loss. But there is more . . .
3. He Is Still Moving In The World - v. 8
Having been called to recognize God was still upon His throne, and having allowed God to work in his life, Isaiah was ready to truly hear the voice of God, calling him to move beyond focusing on the loss he had experienced with the death of king Uzziah, to focusing on the work of God in the world around him and how he might be a part of it.
A. The Call - v. 8a - “Whom shall I send?”
God calls us to live our lives on mission for Him.
B. The Commission - v. 8b - “And who will go for us?”
Our mission is to represent the Lord in this world.
“Now then we are ambassadors for Christ.” - 2 Corinthians 5:20 (NIV)
C. The Commitment - v. 8c - “Here am I. Send me!”
Here is perhaps the greatest prescription for dealing with loss of any kind - get involved in the lives of others for God! God can even take your difficult experiences in life and use them to bless others.
“All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort. He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us.” - 2 Corinthians 5:3-4 (NLT)
“One man awake can awaken another,
And the second can waken his next door brother.
And the three awake can waken the town,
By turning the whole place upside down.
And the many awake can make such a fuss,
That it finally awakens the rest of us!”
God called Isaiah to quit mourning and get moving. To quit considering his loss and commit to live. To stop focusing on himself and start focusing on others. To stop looking at life’s problems and start surrendering to God’s purposes.
And that’s exactly what Isaiah did. Consequently, he went on to become one of the greatest prophets of God in the history of Israel. This time of loss resulted in tremendous gain for Isaiah because he heard and heeded the voice of God.
Conclusion: Are you going through a time of loss? A time of despair and confusion? God’s voice is calling to you today in the same way He called to Isaiah. He’s saying, “Look to me - I am still upon my throne! Learn from me - I am still at work in your life! Live for me - I am still at work in the world!”
