Intro: In our passage today, Isaiah has a vision and through this vision God calls him as a messenger to His people. Isaiah has a glimpse of the holiness of God. The clearer this vision of God becomes, the more Isaiah realizes the unholy state of his own heart; he is unclean before God. Instantly, he is aware he can never measure up to God’s standard. God’s people are unclean, too. Recognizing his human sinfulness is what helps Isaiah convey to God’s people the extravagant forgiveness God actually offers to those who will repent and turn from wickedness.
Isaiah endured a cleansing process that was painful yet necessary. It was the only way Isaiah could fulfill the spiritual tasks God had planned for him. Each one of us, as God’s son or daughter, must also go through a painful yet necessary cleansing process in order to fulfill the spiritual tasks God sets before us. We must learn that we represent God who is holy; therefore, we too must be holy. Allowing God to control our lives as we rest in the blood of Jesus and the work of the Holy Spirit is where we place our hope. God has promised to make us a holy people.
Isaiah’s Cleansing and Call
6 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. 3 They were calling out to each other,
“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of Heaven’s Armies!
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.”
Prayer: Lord thank you for this perfect reminder from Isaiah about our need to submit to your will and way to make us holy. Even in the painful places, we know cleansing is necessary. You are faithful to love us the way we need in order to represent you well. Continue the work, Lord. In Jesus’ name. Amen.