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lesson today and again in Rev. 4:6-8, where they are called “ beasts” but more properly, “ living creatures.” The seraphim are always identified with the holiness of the Lord, safe guarding approach to Him— in Eden, lest man should seek to take the fruit of the tree of life; in the Holy of holies, with eyes resting upon the blood- sprinkled mercy-seat under which were the Ten Commandments. God is a holy God. There is no ap proach to Him save through the blood- offering which nécessitâtes» a confession of sin, acknowledgment of unworthi ness, recognition of the atoning sacri fice. So our Lord testifies in John 12: 41; - “These things said Esalas, when he saw his glory, and spake of him.” Out of Christ, the Atoning One, God is a consuming fire. Through Christ alone we have access to God, as Father. Isaiah’s vision was of the Lord upon the throne, High -and lifted up. Such a vision is essential for every soul— saint and sinner. Let every knee bow now and every tongue confess before it is too late, now while it is called to day, “ Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord of hosts!” Stop while you teach, and press the question upon every scholar, “Will you bow now or wait until you will be compelled to bow?” (Phil. 2: 10 ) (2) THE SINCERE CONFESSION, v. 5. “ I am a man of unclean lips.” This confession of Isaiah is in re sponse to the voice of God— the Voice heard above the cry of the seraphim— the Voice that made the threshold trem blé. Have you ever been startled by the voice of thunder as it pealed through the heavens and shook the house? (Psa. 104:7) “At thy rebuke they fled: at the voice of thy thunder they hasted away.” Isaiah felt, as every honest man, whose eyes have been opened to see his sins as God sees them, must feel (Job. 42:5, 6)
Outline:
(1) The Seraphic Vision (2) The Sincere Confession (3) The Sin-purging Fire (4) The Summons and Sentence. Introduction: Isaiah was one of the greatest of God’s prophets and preachers, whose ministry extended over a period of more than fifty years during the reigns of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz LESSON and Hezekiah, kings of EXPOSITION Judah, and perhaps T. C. Horton beyond that peripd. He . was the son of Amoz, (not Amos, the prophet) a Jew, whose home was in Jerusalem. Tradition says he lived to be a hundred years old and was sawn asunder by the order of king Manasseh. Isaiah was a princely preacher whose messages were of the loftiest character. He was bold, uncompromising with error, sympathetic and tender toward individuals who had fallen under the judgment of God and had forfeited all right to mercy. Living in the days of Israel’s apostasy, with wicked rulers in authority, he rang true to the mes sage given him by Jehovah, demanding unconditional obedience to the law of God on the part of the rulers, and yet currying no favor with the people, — a true man of God who lived a life pleasing to God and paid the penalty by the sacrifice of his own life. (1) THE SERAPHIC VISION, vs. 1- 4. •There are five distinct lessons in the passage given us for study this week, and there is danger in an attempt to teach them all. The seraphim are associated, but not identical with the cherubim and the four living creatures. We find them first mentioned in Gen. 3:24: “And he placed at the east of the gar den of Eden Chernblms, and a flaming sword, to keep the way of the tree of life.” Again, in Ex. 25:18-20, then in our
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