Hey Church!

Isaiah 6 offers a stunning vision of Almighty God, ruling from His throne. 

In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up; and the train of his robe filled the temple. Above him stood the seraphim. Each had six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. And one called to another and said: 

“Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts; 
the whole earth is full of his glory!” 

And the foundations of the thresholds shook at the voice of him who called, and the house was filled with smoke.

The mention of King Uzziah’s death puts this encounter with the heavenly King in perspective. Isaiah’s king was dead, the nation in turmoil, and there was practically nothing he could do about it. Perhaps you can relate to that fretful feeling now that we are just two weeks from a presidential election. Isaiah looks up and the all-powerful God meets him there in his powerless state. And we should do the same. 

When Isaiah saw God, did he shake his fist and insist that He change the circumstances according to what appears to be injustice from his earthly perspective? No, he marveled at the holiness of the LORD. And then, having seen Him, he saw himself rightly: 

And I said: “Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts!” 

This Sunday, we will enter the throneroom of that same King, singing “O Lord, My God, how great Thou art!” Let this scene from Isaiah 6 inspire you to sing with a full heart and loud voice. Following “How Great Thou Art,” our praise will turn to confession in “Same God”: “O God, my God I need You now; O Rock of Ages, I’m standing on Your faithfulness.” 

Having humbly confessed before God, Isaiah is not left to wallow in his pitiful estate, but forgiven and anointed for prophetic ministry: 

Then one of the seraphim flew to me, having in his hand a burning coal that he had taken with tongs from the altar. And he touched my mouth and said: “Behold, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away, and your sin atoned for.” 

God’s glory exalted and Isaiah’s sins atoned for, all that remained was the prophet’s “yes and amen”: : 

And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” Then I said, “Here I am! Send me.” 

Our country needs repentance, revival, and renewed devotion to the Word of God. But how will they call on the God who can save them unless they hear the gospel? And how will they hear the gospel without someone proclaiming it with the zeal of Isaiah? And how are they to preach unless they are sent by God’s own hand? “Faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.” 

How will you answer your King? “Here I am, send someone else!“? Or in all humility and faith, “Here I am, send me!”?