Greetings to you all in Jesus’ name! I’m glad to be here today and sharing from the word of God. It’s so wonderful to be with God’s people, praising, worshipping and fellowshipping with the people of God. Bible says that God’s word does not return empty. It’s the word of power that accomplishes His will. Let us remain with an attentive attitude to receive His word into our hearts.
Warming Up
Have you ever faced or face the uncertainties that come along with the changes in surrounding situations personally? How to construct a biblical perspective in the midst of changing times?
The school where my daughter goes to recently had their graduation. I was looking at the graduates and listening to their speeches. They remembered their memories. They expressed their anxiousness of the things ahead. Its natural. Students at the university, you moved into the university, you must have felt that sensation. Those who are about to graduate, might again feel that the anxiety. How future would be? How the next semester would be? Would they be able to make it through? Questions questions questions. See, Changing Times bring extraordinary challenges before us. They cause anxiety, a sense of uncertainty, sometimes despair, worry and fear about how things are going to be down the line. Particularly, when the stability of our lives, our own communities and the nations are shaken and threatened by the changes by these upheavals that happens in local and global arena, we feel these even more strongly.
In fact, in this time of technological advancement in which we live in, fear and worry travels in light speed and spreads to people and communities that are even far off. It is important to prepare ourselves to brace these challenges and counter them with a biblical and a spiritual perspective that will help us to go through these challenges with a positive attitude. I pray, and believe as we open up the scripture today, we can construct three perspectives to have while facing uncertain situations.
The Context: Isaiah’s Vision of God
The passage we are going to look at in depth is Isaiah chapter 6 which details Isaiah’s awesome vision of God. A few words about Isaiah: he lived in 8th century BC and was probably a court prophet in the southern Kingdom of Judea, an royal advisor to the kings. According to early Jewish traditions, he was from the royal line - a son of Amoz, the brother of King Amaziah. He had a lengthy prophetic career and ministered during the years of king Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah (cf 1:1). He might have prophesied for about 64 years and died a martyr in the time of Manaseeh, the successor of King Hezekiah. He had spoken several prophecies of the coming of Jesus; and the book of Isaiah is quoted in the NT about 55 times, only next to the book of Psalms (68 times). We call Isaiah the messianic prophet.
Isaiah’s ministry began towards the final years of King Uzziah. Chapter 6 begins with the historical note: on the period before the death of King Uzziah: “in the year that king Uzziah died”, that is, 740 B.C. Why does Isaiah begin his call with this historical reference. What was important about this particular time period in Israel’s history? To know about that, we have to turn to 2 Chronicles 26 where we see the details of King Uzziah’s life. Uzziah was 16 years old when he became king and ruled for 52 years. He sought God in his early years and listened and obeyed to the word of God spoken through the prophet Zachariah in (v. 5). God blessed him with military victories over his enemies and gave peace in the land. In verse 15, we read that “his fame spread far and wide.” The very next verse says that “his pride led to his downfall” Remember what Prov 16:18 says “pride comes before the destruction; the haughty spirit before a fall.” We have to be careful when our fame spreads far and wide. Sure, God wants to bless us. We need to be careful, always judging ourselves before God when we are blessed.
Rest of 2 chronicles 26 expands on how King Uzziah was punished for his pride. He went in the temple and wanted to offer the incense, to do the duty of the Priest. In Israel, God separated the task of the king and a priest. Because they are successful in one area, they cannot cross over to the other. Only Jesus will be the King-Priest, in the order of melchizedek. And it was not given to any kings before that. So, when Uzziah went in to the holy place to offer incense, some of the godly priests some 80 of them under Prophet Azariah confronted the king. Thank God for godly people who are able to stand up and speak in times of need, even confronting the leaders who need to be admonished. As the King was speaking to the priests, God stuck him with leprosy and rushed out of temple because God punished him. He lived in seclusion for the rest of his life as a leper until the day of his death. Isaiah’s vision came in the year of the king’s death, probably as he pondered on the tumultuous times that might be ahead after his demise and on the end of a king who was so blessed yet fell into pride, ended up being punished. God revealed himself to Isaiah in a vision. I believe this vision has something special for us, to construct our perspective for Christian life.
I want to highlight three points from the passage that we are studying: the throne, the altar and the fields, in that order.
1. THE THRONE: Let’s read Isaiah 6:1-4.
First, let us turn to our first point THE THRONE: Isaiah looked up and saw God seated on the throne. He saw the angels singing and worshipping God. Lets read Isaiah 6:1-4: 1 In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord, high and exalted, seated on a throne; and the train of his robe filled the temple. 2 Above him were seraphim, 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.
First he saw the Lord seated on a throne as the exalted sovereign of the universe. In the midst of the times of transition, the throne of Israel was so empty for a long time without king, as he was unable to discharge his duties. Isaiah saw the reality that the throne of God stands firmly established. The changes, the turmoil does not affect the fact that God reigns over all nations. Nothing that happens on earth disturbs or surprised our Lord who works in all these things in His amazing ways, that we do not see. When we draw closer to him, we are able to understand the divine wisdom and sovereignty.
What Isaiah saw around the throne was the worship of the angels. We see two cherubims and seraphims; Cherubims are angels with two wings; seraphims with 6 wings and only mentioned in Isaiah 6. Its intriguing to see what they do: they cover their faces with two wings, their feet with two other wings and with two wings they fly. This shows the awesomeness of the presence of God, the glory of the Lord where even angels cannot go free handedly. They say to one another constantly “Holy Holy Holy is the Lord God almighty and Heaven and earth is full of His glory.” The temple where Isaiah stood in his vision was beginning to shake at this mighty revelation. Isaiah sees the pattern of worship that God wants him to see. Worship that exalts God and acknowledges His right to rule over all creation. Where does true worship happens? It happens before the throne of God.
In the tabernacle, the place of OT worship, there were three parts: the outer court, the inner court and the most holy place. The outer court is where all the activities that took place – the washing of feet, the killing of animals, all the religious activities; the inner court was the place of service, where priests would put incese, change the breads, and light the lamp.. but in the most holy place, there was the ark of the covenant. And then there was silence. No one there, but only God’s indwelling presence. In the OT, no one could enter there. Only the High Priest, once a year on the day of atonement. The veil that separated the holy place and the holy of holies was torn when Jesus died on the cross. By the blood of the Lamb we have the confidence to enter into this most holy of holies (Hebrews 10:19). Why do we enter into the holy of holies? To stand before the throne of God and worship.
Worship helps us transcend our limitations to see God in His sovereignty, as the reigning king of the universe. This brings us confidence and strength. Hebrews 4:16 – “Let us approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” We receive grace to help us in our every need when we worship the Lord before his throne. God desires that we must become worshippers, filling our hearts with the radiating glory of our heavenly King. Not just being familiar with the things of God, but being totally committed to God through a life of Worship.
2. THE ALTAR: Let’s read Isaiah 6:5-6.
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.” 6 Then one of the seraphim flew to me with a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with tongs from the altar. 7 With it he touched my mouth and said, “See, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for.”
Isaiah also realized that he needs cleansing to stand before this awesome God. He cried out that he was a man of unclean lips. An angel took the fiery coal from the altar and touched his lips and he was cleansed.
When we see God, we see ourselves. We don’t compare ourselves with others around. I am a better Christian than her. I am a better beliver than him. We feel good. No! We see ourselves before God. His standards. His holiness. His greatness. His perfection. We see that we have fallen short. We have not measured up. A lot of Christians, a lot of people just compare themselves to their neighbors and feel they are doing well. That leads them to complacency. The one who sees God, looks himself as nothing before his standards. I am a man of unclean lips. Isaiah cried out. I think this is something we are to remember.
Note that Isaiah could not cleanse himself, he needed the cleansing from the altar! Bible says that we can not forgive our own sin; He needed divine intervention. Let’s think for a while: There are so many problems and inequality in our world, in our societies. We want to set them all right and fixed. We imagine, we can educate ourselves better and all these inequalities and injustices would disappear. That is not happening. But, what is happening.. the more we get advanced in technology, human beings find more advanced weapons of killing and destroying. Instead of bringing peace, we have made weapons of mass destruction. Education alone cannot transform the society or our world. The problem of the world is not ignorance that can be fixed through education... the real problem of humanity is the evil and sin in human heart. It is human sin, that separated people away from God; that must be atoned through sacrifice at the altar.
In the OT, Altar is the place were sacrifices were made by Israelites. The innocent animals were killed and their corpses were burnt. Altar is the place of death on the one hand, and sanctification for the other. It brought death to the innocent animal, but the person that offered the sacrifice received sanctification. The ultimate altar was the cross. Where Jesus laid down His innocent life for the sins of the world. He sacrificed and died for your sins and mine. The wrath of God was poured on Him like a consuming fire when He took upon the sins of the world. From the fire of divine wrath, our sins can be cleansed. Jesus death brings forgiveness to our sins and brings us sanctification.
I am a man of unclean lips, unclean mouth. But we know, out of the fullness of the heart mouth speaks. The real uncleanliness is in the heart. Through the forgiveness that Jesus offers from the cross, our hearts can be changed. Sins are consumed and forgiven. We are made alive in Christ. We are made new in Christ. We are made into a new creation. The angel carried the fire from the altar and touched Isaiah’s lips. Isaiah was cleansed. The word of God carries the message of the cross is like the fire that sanctifies us. First look up, next look within; first see God’s greatness and holiness, second receive the cleansing from the altar, cross.
3. THE FIELDS: Once he was cleansed, Isaiah heard the voice of God ‘who shall I send?’ – Isaiah 6:7-8.
7 With it he touched my mouth and said, “See, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for.” 8 Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?” And I said, “Here am I. Send me!”
This call was not given before the cleansing. Now, he was ready and said: ‘Here I’m and send me!’. For the fields are ready, there are many millions waiting to hear the words of God (cf. Luke 10:2): 2 He told them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.
What is our goal in life? Bible says that God made human beings to love Him and love one’s neighbor. The worldly people think that the entire purpose of life is to maintain a bank balance and to generate more and more wealth. Christians have a kingdom mindset. We just don’t look for our well being. We listen to the voice of God. Who will go for us? Who will bring our message of reconciliation to the world?
Bible says that we are ambassadors of Christ. Let’s read 2 cor 5:20-21
20 So we are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, “Come back to God!” 21 For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin,[d] so that we could be made right with God through Christ.
This is to say, you have a place in the kingdom of God. Don’t just don’t draw a circle around your life and live there. Be strengthened by God’s sovereignty; Be sanctified by Christ’s atoning sacrifice. Be an ambassador of the gospel. “who shall go for us?” let’s say “Here I am!” yes, the Lord wants us to be an Agent of Peace and Reconciliation.
CLOSING REFLECTION: WHO IS THE LORD Isaiah saw? Let’s read John 12:41
41 Isaiah said this because he saw Jesus’ glory and spoke about him.
I saw the Lord, high and exalted, seated on a throne; and the train of his robe filled the temple.
A godly person braces himself with godly perspective to face the challenges to come. To be at rest in times of unrest, to be confident all the times in God, it is important to have this threefold perspective imprinted on our lives. God wants to guard our hearts from fear and pride, cleanse us with the fire of cleansing from the altar, and open our eyes to the fields that are ripe for harvest. Our vision of the glory of Christ must precede our proclamation of the gospel of Christ (John 12:41).
Help me Lord to expel the fear of our surroundings, unseen situations, and the pride that might gradually creep into our hearts! Help us to go deeper into your presence and becoming a worshipper. Let the fear be replaced with faith in you, the Sovereign King. That we may commit ourselves to a life of daily repentance and to serve you where ever you call us to serve. May your name be glorified through our lives! PRAISE the LORD!
