Isaiah, Part 4
Isaiah’s Revelation and Purification
Isaiah 6:1-13
Introduction
- Welcome to Seasons! We are so glad that you’ve come to worship with us!
- Last week, we reviewed the warning for Judah – same one we need today!
-- Honesty: We are a sinful people, with a sinful history, who are trapped in sin!
-- But the forgiveness / protection we need is in God’s promised Messiah (Jesus)
-- RE: Jesus said to us: John 14:3, “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.”
-- He spoke this to fulfil promise in Isa 4:3, “All who remain in Zion” (EXP.)
- Continuing this week, let’s look at one of the most crucial callings of a prophet
-- It is not often that the vision/ministry is this clearly outlined … we must see this
-- Take away: Often this is misconstrued in meaning, prayerfully today will clarify
- Read Isaiah 6:1-13 / Pray
- TR: Past few weeks we have examined God’s feeling towards Judah’s rebellion
-- And in that rebellion, we saw a promise (Ch 1-4) of God’s pending response to it
-- Enter in the man himself, Isaiah: he is just a regular man, yet one called by God
-- There are 4 things for us to see today – help us to understand Isaiah’s ministry
Point 1 – Isaiah’s Vision
- Date of the vision: ~740 BC (v1); this is his first calling to preach
-- We do know that his ministry lasted 50 years – 50 yrs of testifying for God
- Isaiah sees the Lord (this is God) in all of His glory (v1) (sight is s gift)
-- Sitting on a throne, high & lifted up; the train of His robe filled the temple
-- Appearance was one of majesty; power; think: kings sit on thrones (not chairs)
- He also sees the attendants of God: seraphim (v2) standing above the throne
-- Seraphim; “saraph” in Hebrew; “burning ones”
-- Their wings described - 6 wings each, each with a purpose for their work
-- IMP: Their praise was heard (v3) – SEE how they proclaim: to each other!
-- APP: In the presence of God almighty, all they can do is proclaim His beauty!
• Ref also in Revelation 4:8 … so each can cover his face (to show they are not worthy to look upon the LORD), so each can cover his feet (to hide this “humble” area of the body), so nothing even possibly deficient is seen in the LORD’s presence (so each can simply fly by Him and not gaze on Him)
• With voices so powerful that the foundation of the temple was shaken
- The temple was filled with smoke (v4) – consider: Shekinah Glory of God
-- The very presence of God in Heaven; often manifested in presence of God
-- Exodus 40:34-35, “Then the cloud covered the Tabernacle, and the glory of the Lord filled the Tabernacle. Moses could no longer enter the Tabernacle because the cloud had settled down over it, and the glory of the Lord filled the Tabernacle.”
- TR: Never let this pass you by: To see God was a matter of life and death in OT
-- To experience His very presence would have ruined anyone – as we’ll see next
Point 2 – Isaiah’s Reaction
- TJ: Please, whatever you do, understand this point as if your future depends on it
-- This reaction of Isaiah’s sight is truly what WE need more of today! (reverence)
- Isaiah realizes & comes to a place of despair – “I am doomed” (woe is me) (v5)
-- This tracks exactly with what others did who saw this same vision:
-- Ezekiel fell on his face; Daniel lost all strength (prostrate); John fell as dead
- BIG: It is in this place, Isaiah understands his own guilt of sin (v5)
-- He is a man of unclean lips, he dwells among people of unclean lips
-- APP: He is unworthy to see this or even to be here (eternity’s implications)
- Why does He have such despair? (v5) “I have seen the King…”
-- He was very mindful of where he was; speaks to being fully conscious
• Perhaps he was remembering Exodus 33:20, (to Moses, cleft of a rock) “But you may not look directly at my face, for no one may see me and live.”
• This may have appeared as a “vision”, but he was fully within his faculties
- Never miss this: In God’s presence, you are still you – you know who you are!
-- CH: Perhaps this might help us as we repent of our sin now before we are there?
- TR: As a man who confesses his own sin, he needs only one thing now …
Point 3 – Isaiah’s Absolution
- Repenting of sin, he is approached by the seraphim (v6) (God’s attendants)
• One takes a piece of coal from the altar (referenced in Exodus 30:1-10)
• RE: Temple built in Exodus 25:8 was a replica of the one in Heaven
• SEE: Isaiah now stands before what Moses was instructed to replicate …
- APP: It is his repentance which leads to the purging of his sin (v7)
-- His mouth was touched with the coal; a sign of purification before God
- It represents a sacrifice (could’ve been painful) for forgiveness of his sin
-- The same symbolism is represented in Jesus on the cross to forgive our sin
-- There is an atonement to be paid for your sin as well (either by Jesus or you)
-- Why? Because sin = death; and its then he could be acceptable before the Lord!
- TR: Note what happens … he then can HEAR what is happening in Heaven!
-- GET: He hears more than just the worship of angels, but the conversations!
Point 4 – Isaiah’s Commission
I. The Lord’s question and Isaiah’s response (v8)
• “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” God is looking for servants!
• Know this: Isaiah was overhearing a heavenly conversation (a privilege)
• The “us” is the triune godhead: the Father, the Son, and the Spirit
o Same referenced in Genesis 1:26, “Let us make human beings …”
- It is here that we get these famous words: “Here I am – send me!”
-- SEE: Isaiah has been freed from the guilt of his sin; he is ready to go and serve
-- He had a heart to love people (freedom) & a heart given by God’s cleansing!
-- CH: If we believe our sins are forgiven … how can we not respond like this?
II. Isaiah’s Commission (v9)
- What to tell the people – most dreadful part of his ministry: (consider) (vv9-10)
• Your message will harden the hearts of the people
• People will keep on hearing, but they will not understand their condition
• People will keep on seeing, but they do not perceive their need in sin
• People will keep on sinning, but they will not turn to God to repent
- APP: Isaiah was to preach – God knew their hearts would only refuse more
-- Jesus dealt with the same people: Matt 13:13-15 (see screen); quotes Isaiah!
- Big Question: So, if the people will not change – why go?
-- Because there will be a remnant who will accept - but not all …and so …
-- Those with hardened hearts will know on judgment day why they’re condemned
III. Isaiah’s Ministry Term (vv11-12)
- Human aspect: “how long” is the question Isaiah asks, look at God’s response:
• Until the towns are empty and their houses are deserted
• Until the whole country is a wasteland (nothing good remains)
• Until the Lord has sent everyone away (from promised land)
• Until the entire nation is deserted (and found without hope)
• Until the day of judgment has come and passed … BUT!
Big Idea – There is Hope for Today!
- The remnant and the holy seed will still be protected and remain! (v13)
-- “If even a tenth - a remnant - survive, it will be invaded again and burned. But as a terebinth or oak tree leaves a stump when it is cut down, so Israel’s stump will be a holy seed.” Even in the destruction, there will still be life / hope to remain!
- FACT: A remnant shall return and will also be judged for their life
-- Israel would continue to be disobedient after this cleansing; God will still judge
-- EX: When they returned from Babylon captivity …sin will still run rampant
- However, the message of the Lord, the words He has spoken, will still remain!
-- This is where we see ourselves – as continuing messengers of God’s promise
-- The revelation of the Messiah is still to come … but in it all God is still faithful!
- As we continue in Isaiah (and live today) I pray that this WILL encourage you!
- Pray
