Sunday 05:05:13

King Uzziah began his reign when he was 16 years old. He reigned in Judah for 52 years. He was a good king. 2 Chronicles 26 says, “He did what was right in the eyes of the Lord.” Zechariah instructed Uzziah in the fear of God. As long as he sought the Lord, God gave him success. He built a powerful army, he rebuilt cities, he fortified the walls of Jerusalem with towers and devices to shoot arrows and hurl large stones from the walls. But his success became his destruction. Uzziah became proud. He forgot that his success was from God. 2 Chronicles 26:16-21 - just read this, no slides needed. Isaiah 6:1 After 52 years, the great king of Judah died in about 740 BC under tragic circumstances. There would have been discouragement and disillusionment in Judah because their great king died tragically, in humiliation. Where was God in the midst of tragedy and confusion? He was seated on his throne, ruling and reigning in authority and power. Almost everyone in the Bible who had a vision of heaven spoke about God’s throne. The prophet Michaiah, Job, David, the sons of Korah, Ethan the Ezrahite, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, the Apostle John –when they saw heaven, they all saw the throne of God. No matter what the times or circumstances look like, God is reigning. We can rely on this in times of trouble. He is not caught by surprise. He is not panicked. He is in control. High and exalted, The train of his robe, a symbol of honor and authority, filled his temple in heaven. Isaiah 6:2-4 Seraphim – lit., “burning ones.” Speaks of their awesome appearance and their own majesty. Ezekiel 1:13 describes cherubim: "their appearance was like burning coals of fire, like the appearance of torches going back and forth among the living creatures. The fire was bright, and out of the fire went lightning." The response of these majestic beings to God's majesty: Six wings. 2 to cover his face (to show they are too lowly to look upon the LORD), 2 to cover his feet (to hide this “humble” area of the body, so nothing even possibly deficient is seen in the LORD’s presence), and 2 to fly. Spurgeon: "the seraph remembers that even though he is sinless he is still a creature, and therefore he conceals himself in his nothingness and unworthiness in the presence of the three-times Holy One.” They call out "holy, holy, holy" declaring the perfect holiness of God. Holy means set apart. God is entirely unique, different from all of creation. Creation has been wrecked by sin, humanity twisted by it. But God remains pure, perfect, righteous. The response to God's majesty: The seraphim respond with humility and praise. Isaiah 6:5-7 Isaiah's response, "woe to me, I am ruined" "I am a man of unclean lips" Similar experiences had by Job, Daniel, Peter and John - undone when they saw the majesty of God. Most of them fell to the ground. Why his mouth? Perhaps he heard the seraphim, but realized he was too sinful even to praise God. Perhaps because the mouth is often the outward expression of sin - lies, hate, gossip, pride. The response to God's majesty: The seraphim respond with humility and praise. Isaiah responds with confession of his sin and the sin of his people. God used the seraph to take away Isaiah's sin with a coal. This theme of man's guilt before God, remedied by God is the Bible's theme. It is foreshadowing God's plan to forgive sinners through Jesus' death on the cross. God's response to a sinner: He responds with taking away Isaiah's guilt. Holiness, purity and righteousness flow from God. Isaiah 6:8 God's calling to a cleansed sinner: I send you. Go for us. How strange it is that the God of majesty, sovereignty, and power asks for volunteers! He could make us robots to do His work, or command angels to carry out His will. But God wants willing, surrendered servants. God's majesty transforms the lives of His servants and inspires them to join in His work. Isaiah 6:9-13 - just read, no slides needed Isaiah's mission, to preach to a people who will not listen. But God will preserve a remnant who will receive His grace and favor.