Isaiah - Looking Toward the Lord
In a time of crisis, Isaiah found himself shaken by the death of King Uzziah, a good king who had brought prosperity to Judah. Isaiah's confidence was rooted in Uzziah, and with his passing, he felt lost. Seeking the Lord, Isaiah entered the temple and had a profound vision of God on His throne, high and lifted up, surrounded by seraphim proclaiming His holiness. This vision shifted Isaiah's perspective from earthly concerns to the eternal throne of God, reminding him that God is always in control. Upon seeing the Lord, Isaiah recognized his own uncleanliness and felt undone. However, God quickly responded by cleansing him, preparing him for service. Isaiah's reaction was to offer himself to God, saying, "Here I am, send me." This encounter illustrates the importance of seeing God in our crises, allowing us to realign our focus from worldly dependencies to divine purpose. In today's shaking world, we are called to seek the Lord, recognize our need for Him, and respond to His call with humility and readiness to serve.
Outline of Main Points
- Isaiah's crisis after King Uzziah's death
- Seeking the Lord in the temple
- Isaiah's vision of God on His throne
- Shift in perspective from earthly to eternal
- Recognition of personal uncleanliness
- God's cleansing and preparation for service
- Isaiah's response: "Here I am, send me"
- Application for today: Seeking God in crises
1 In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple. 2 Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly. 3 And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory. 4 And the posts of the door moved at the voice of him that cried, and the house was filled with smoke.
5 Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts. 6 Then flew one of the seraphims unto me, having a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with the tongs from off the altar: 7 And he laid it upon my mouth, and said, Lo, this hath touched thy lips; and thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin purged. 8 Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me.
1 I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. 2 My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth.
18 The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,
27 And this word, Yet once more, signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain. 28 Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear:
1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
