yon and consolation, diversity and univer- sality are felt by all but attained by none. One moment with the Seraphim made him seraphic; and the sight of the Lord sent him forth the Evangelist among the prophets. 111. ISAIAH'S VISION. 1. The time: "the year Uzzlah died" (2 Chr. 26:23). 2. The Place: "the temple," not the sacred shrine, but "the Court of the Priests." Uzziah dared the former and a burning finger inflamed his forehead with leprosy and he went forth unclean. Isaiah stood awe struck without and a burning coal touched his lips and he went forth clean (6:7). 3. The Scene: The prophet's eye was opened (2 Kgs. 6:17): The interven- ing veils dissolved and the awful interior was disclosed to view. He •saw (1) "the Lord sitting upon a throne, high, lifted up, and His train (flowing robes) filled the tem- ple." That was "OUR JESUS" (Jno. 12:41); (2) "The Seraphim.", Six-winged glories— "With twain he covered his face" —in shame- faced awe; "with twain he covered his feet" —with lowly huitiility; "with twain he did fly" —with swift obedience. "Six wings he wore to shade His lineaments divine, the pair that clad His shoulders broad hung mant'ling o'er his breast With regal ornament; the middle pair girt Like a zone his waist, and down-skirted His loins with feathered mail, And colors dipt in heaven; the third His feet o'ershadowed from either heel, with downy gold Sky tinctured grain." —Milton. (3) What he heard: The antiphony,' the seraphim crying responsively, "Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord of Hosts," cried one, "The whole earth is full of His glory," answered another. This was the "Trlsaglon," i. e., the Thrice-holy, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. "Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Al- mighty, Heaven and earth are full of Thee" (Rev. 4:8). (4) What he felt: The earth quaking under his feet "at the presence of the Lord of the whole earth." (5) What he said: "Woe is me' for I am undone; because 1 am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell among a people of unclean lips" (v. 5). If the faithful and godly are so dismayed at the sight of the Most Holy, what shall become of the sinner and the ungodly? Even in the presence of Deity with His glory robes laid aside, Peter cried out, "Depart from me,- for I am a sinful man, O Lord" (Luke 5:8); This lesson teaches us how God prepares men for hard service. The theme can be found in the words, "Who wilLgo for Me?" and "Here am I; send me." A man's rela- tion to the Lord is largely dependent upon his vision of the Lord and his vision of the Lord determines his understanding of him- self and of the world around him. Men will never measure higher than their Ideals, and ideals are governed by the kind of a God men serve. The Lord Jesus Christ is a different person to different people, de- pending upon their vision of Him. To some He is a hard master, to others H q is a Won- derful Saviour, and to still others He is the altogether lovely One. Some serve Him through sense of fear, others from sense of duty, and still others become His bond servants through their love for Him. Isaiah saw the Lord sitting upon the throne, high
but in the last day men will call to the rocks to fall on and hide them from His face. Men will find out their sin then for their sin will find them out" when His face like the sun brings out spot and stain unseen under clouded skies. IV. THE PURIFICATION. 1. "If we confess our sins He Is faithful and Just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (1 Jno. 1:9). .2. "Then flew one of the seraphim," with "a live coal," "from the altar," "laid it on (his) mouth," and said, "Lo, this hath touched thy lips: and thirie Iniquity Is taken away, and thy sin purged." The "coal" was from the blood-sprinkled "altar;" the fire ("live coal") was "the Holy Ghost sent 2° Wn 4) heaven (2 Chr. 7:1; Act» 1:8; V. THE CALL AND ACCEPTANCE. The Voice of the Lord (Gen. 3:8; Ex. 3:4; Luke 3:22; Acts 22:7). "Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?" In this dispensation the commission is universal Go ye Into all the world," it is now a word to all with a word for all. 2. Isaiah's Response: "Here am. I, send me" (1 Kes 22:19-21; 1 Sam. 3:4; Acts 9:6) Who wili show this alacrity to do the will of God' H »w many have said "I go, sir, and went not" (Matt. 21:30)? It is probable that those who go not," have never seen the Lord high, and lifted up; have never heard "Holy HSgfe holy, Lord God of Hosts;" nor known that "the whole earth Is filled with Thy glory;" nor felt "Woe is me, I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell among a people of unclean lips;" nor been freed from their iniquity;" nor been touched with a "live coal from the altar." "Who will go for us?" "Send me. VI. THE MISSION. 1. It was to Judah and Jerusalem (1:1). 2. It was to a rebellious and wicked people (1:1-5:30). 3. It was to denounce dreadful judgments on them (1:—39:31). 4. It was with blessed admixture of exhortation in- vitation, consolation, and coming and ever- lasting salvation to the happy remnant who "seek the Lord while He may be found, and call upon Him while He Is near" (55-6) Fearful as are his indictments and judgments do not forget that "Isaiah" is almost iesu and like it means JEHOVAH SAVIOR. Read Isaiah 35:53, 55, 60, 66. This vision was so marvelous that Isaiah saw the reflection of his own wickedness find the sinfulness of the people around him. There was need for but one thing more and that God supplied. The cleansing of this man from sin. Jacob had a vision of God and it filled him with dread. Daniel had one and it prostrated him in His pres- ence. John hsd one on Patmos and fell as dead. Stephen had one that filled him with glory and prepared him for a martyr's death. When we get the true vision of the risen Christ our souls will be drawn out to Himself, the sense of His sacrifice. His service, His devotion in 'our behalf will so mirror to us ourselves that we will hate the sins that hide His lovely face and we will separate ourselves from everything that dis- and lifted up, his eyes had seen the Kins, the Lord of Hosts.
Pith and Pivot. T.C.H.
Made with FlippingBook Online newsletter