Isaiah 6
1 It was in the year King Uzziah died that I saw the Lord. He was sitting on a lofty throne, and the train of his robe filled the Temple. 2 Attending him were mighty seraphim, each having six wings. With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they flew. 3They were calling out to each other,
“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of Heaven’s Armies!
The whole earth is filled with his glory!”
The whole earth is filled with his glory!”
4 Their voices shook the Temple to its foundations, and the entire building was filled with smoke.
5 Then I said, “It’s all over! I am doomed, for I am a sinful man. I have filthy lips, and I live among a people with filthy lips. Yet I have seen the King, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.”
6 Then one of the seraphim flew to me with a burning coal he had taken from the altar with a pair of tongs. 7 He touched my lips with it and said, “See, this coal has touched your lips. Now your guilt is removed, and your sins are forgiven.”
8 Then I heard the Lord asking, “Whom should I send as a messenger to this people? Who will go for us?”
I said, “Here I am. Send me.”
9 And he said, “Yes, go, and say to this people,
‘Listen carefully, but do not understand.
Watch closely, but learn nothing.’
10 Harden the hearts of these people.
Plug their ears and shut their eyes.
That way, they will not see with their eyes,
nor hear with their ears,
nor understand with their hearts
and turn to me for healing.”
Watch closely, but learn nothing.’
10 Harden the hearts of these people.
Plug their ears and shut their eyes.
That way, they will not see with their eyes,
nor hear with their ears,
nor understand with their hearts
and turn to me for healing.”
11 Then I said, “Lord, how long will this go on?”
And he replied,
“Until their towns are empty,
their houses are deserted,
and the whole country is a wasteland;
12 until the Lord has sent everyone away,
and the entire land of Israel lies deserted.
13 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.”
Thought for the Day
And we know that the stump referred to here is Jesus himself. It is from Him that the new Israel, the church, grows again.
But first note the model of worship Isaiah experiences in the beginning of the passage. He enters God's presence and sees Him in His Holiness. He finds himself among the seraphim who are engaged in worshiping the Lord. They are calling out - singing - to one another of the wonders of the Lord. Having experienced God's holiness he recognizes his own unworthiness and realizes he is sure to face his doom. He does all that any one of us can do. He confesses his sin and the sins of the people he lives among. Immediately upon his confession he is given a sign of God's forgiveness. Then having experienced all of this he is ready and willing to take God's message to others.
And what a message it is. And it is a message that though Isaiah spoke it to the land of Israel many centuries ago, it is also relevant for us in our land today. My prayer is that we would understand and turn to God for healing before we are brought to the destruction that Israel faced. I pray that you have eyes and do see. Ears and do hear.
Today's ADVENTure
As you leave worship today think; what is the message God is sending me to deliver. To whom am I to bring it. How best can I convey that message so that they and I will understand it and be healed by it.
their houses are deserted,
and the whole country is a wasteland;
12 until the Lord has sent everyone away,
and the entire land of Israel lies deserted.
13 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.”
Thought for the Day
And we know that the stump referred to here is Jesus himself. It is from Him that the new Israel, the church, grows again.
But first note the model of worship Isaiah experiences in the beginning of the passage. He enters God's presence and sees Him in His Holiness. He finds himself among the seraphim who are engaged in worshiping the Lord. They are calling out - singing - to one another of the wonders of the Lord. Having experienced God's holiness he recognizes his own unworthiness and realizes he is sure to face his doom. He does all that any one of us can do. He confesses his sin and the sins of the people he lives among. Immediately upon his confession he is given a sign of God's forgiveness. Then having experienced all of this he is ready and willing to take God's message to others.
And what a message it is. And it is a message that though Isaiah spoke it to the land of Israel many centuries ago, it is also relevant for us in our land today. My prayer is that we would understand and turn to God for healing before we are brought to the destruction that Israel faced. I pray that you have eyes and do see. Ears and do hear.
Today's ADVENTure
As you leave worship today think; what is the message God is sending me to deliver. To whom am I to bring it. How best can I convey that message so that they and I will understand it and be healed by it.
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