Isaiah 6:1-8; John 3:1-7; Romans 8: 12-17
The event we read from the book of Isaiah happened about 750 years before Christ was born in Bethlehem. The prophet Isaiah came to the temple after the sad announcement of King Uzziah’s death. He was the eleventh King of Judah and came to the throne at the age of 16 and reigned for 52 years. Despite of one moment of failing, when he tried to burn offering in the temple and as a result, he got leprosy, he was a good king.
During the period of Uzziah’s reign, Israel prospered, desert areas were reclaimed by water conservation. The walls of Jerusalem were reconstructed, towers were added, and different defense points were built. A large army was also maintained. The nation’s prosperity under Uzziah was considered to have been a result of the king’s obedience to Yahweh.
When the prophet Isaiah heard the sad news, his heart broke. Uzziah was not only his king, but he was also his friend. In his sadness, Isaiah made his way to the Temple to seek comfort, to renew his faith and to look for hope. Probably the question he had in his mind was, what was to be the future of his people?
Whenever a good national leader dies there is chaos, personal and national. In the case of Judah, it was more critical since it created a vacuum in power that many were ready to fill in. This moment was critical because God made a covenant with David. This covenant is found in 2 Samuel 7:11-13, this is what it says, “The LORD declares to you that the LORD himself will establish a house for you:12 When your days are over and you rest with your ancestors, I will raise up your offspring to succeed you, your own flesh and blood, and I will establish his kingdom. 13 He is the one who will build a house for my Name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.” “I will raise up your offspring to succeed you, your own flesh and blood, and I will establish the kingdom forever.” To establish the kingdom forever is a reference to the kingdom the Messiah was going to stablish. However, in order for this covenant to be valid, David’s offspring must remain in the throne. Therefore, whenever a king die in Judah it was always a political, spiritual, and theological crisis, because there was the possibility that someone not from David’s lineage could come to the throne and the Covenant was not going to be valid. Therefore, Isaiah’s concern was real.
Many of you understand what Isaiah felt because you also know what it means to lose a loved leader, in 1963, many as Isaiah, were shocked with the news: “The President is dead.” John F. Kennedy was killed by an assassin’s bullet – the nation was plunged into grief. People as Isaiah did, went to churches in a great number.
When Isaiah went to the House of the Lord he went because he had received a sad news, the king and friend was dead. However, in the temple he received a great news. God was not dead. He was still on His throne. Isaiah had lost his earthly king, whom he loved, but in the temple, he caught a fresh glimpse of the King of Kings. He met God in an encounter that changed his life radically.
The message for us this morning is Isaiah’s response to God’s presence.
When Isaiah is confronted with the holiness of God, when his eyes were open to the reality of God seated on his throne, he realizes how wrong he was and he cried out, “Woe to me! I am lost, for I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips.” This confession shows repentance, and remorse over his worries and doubts about the future of Israel. God is on his throne; everything is going to be fine. In the midst of grief and the uncertainty of the future, Isaiah received the rested assurance that God was in control, and he had to trust.
After the prophet realized God was in control, he surrendered his life. The LORD asks, “whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” The prophet response was, “Here am I. Send me!” And he was sent with a message.
The message the LORD had for the people and Isaiah was called to share it was not an easy message to preach. It was not a message prosperity; It was a message destruction and suffering, even when he was in control seated on his throne. Listen to the message Isaiah was called to share, “Be ever hearing, but never understanding; be ever seeing, but never perceiving. Make the heart of this people calloused; make their ears dull and close their eyes.
Otherwise, they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts, and turn and be healed.” Then I said, “For how long, Lord?” And he answered: “Until the cities lie ruined and without inhabitant, until the houses are left deserted, and the fields ruined and ravaged, until the Lord has sent everyone far away and the land is utterly forsaken. And though a tenth remains in the land, it will again be laid waste. But as the terebinth and oak leave stumps when they are cut down, so the holy seed will be the stump in the land.”
In the midst of Isaiah’s message of destruction there was also hope. “But as the terebinth and oak leave stumps when they are cut down, so the holy seed will be the stump in the land.” Isaiah 6:13. Again with a message of destruction and suffering Isaiah also shared hope. God was in control even when Israel was taken to captivity.
Now that this world going thru pandemic, rumors of Russia invading Ukraine and a possible response from NATO, remember, God, who is seated on His throne is with us; and if, when we were enemies, Christ died for us, just imagine what He is able and willing to do now that we have been reconciled; now that we are called his children. Let us do as Isaiah, trust, and wait in the Lord, He is faithful; His presence fills this world. He knows what is going on in this world and in your life, in the life of your family and He will help.
Maybe this morning you feel as Isaiah, a man or woman with unclean lips. God wants to touch your lips and make you clean. God’s purpose is to save you, to heal you, to transform you.
Whatever concerns you have, bring them to the Lord, he still seated on his throne; those problems that for you are impossible to solve, bring them to the Lord this morning; those heavy burdens, bring them and He will take care of them. Isaiah entered the temple with a heavy heart; he went out as a messenger. That is what God’s presence can do in one’s life.
It is so easy for us to get focused on our fear, on our problems and forget to be still and let God be God. My prayer is that this story of Isaiah will help us to remember the bigger perspective, God is in control. Yes, even when he is in control, in this world we will have troubles, but take heart! Our Lord Jesus has overcome the world. If you are going through personal crisis listen to Jeremiah 32:27 “Then the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah: “I am the LORD, the God of all mankind. Is anything too hard for me?”