Isaiah 6: The Terror of Holiness, God for Us in Christ -- 2019/09/20

Rev. Braun Campbell, pastor of St. John’s Lutheran Church in Alexandria, Virginia, joins host Rev. AJ Espinosa to study Isaiah 6. Chapter 6 goes back to the beginning of Isaiah’s ministry, when he was first called to serve as a prophet. He has a glorious vision of God’s exalted robe, His flowing robe, and His fiery angel attendants serving in the Temple. The first five chapters of shown us though that God’s glory is to be feared: as the angels sing “Holy, holy, holy,” Isaiah nearly loses his life. God tells him to speak words of condemning law; repentance would only come after the Assyrian devastation. When we sing “Holy, holy, holy” in church, the glory of God comes into our midst, hidden by the bread and wine of the Lord’s Supper. Like Isaiah, we should feel holy fear as we approach God’s presence. The bread taken from the altar purges the sin from our lips like a burning coal, commissioning us to speak for God, fearful prospect. How long? Come, Lord Jesus!