Isaiah & You

Isaiah 6:1-8

In the year of King Uzziah’s death, I saw the Lord sitting on a high and exalted throne, the edges of his robe filling the temple.  Winged creatures were stationed around him. Each had six wings: with two they veiled their faces, with two their feet, and with two they flew about.  They shouted to each other, saying:

“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of heavenly forces!

All the earth is filled with God’s glory!”

The doorframe shook at the sound of their shouting, and the house was filled with smoke.

I said, “Mourn for me; I’m ruined! I’m a man with unclean lips, and I live among a people with unclean lips. Yet I’ve seen the king, the Lord of heavenly forces!”

Then one of the winged creatures flew to me, holding a glowing coal that he had taken from the altar with tongs.  He touched my mouth and said, “See, this has touched your lips. Your guilt has departed, and your sin is removed.”

Then I heard the Lord’s voice saying, “Whom should I send, and who will go for us?”

I said, “I’m here; send me.”

Isaiah is one of the Major Prophets in the Old Testament.  He served in Judah under five kings spanning a career of over 50 years.  His name means “Yahweh is salvation,”  which would serve as a good tagline for his prolific service as a prophet.

Today’s scripture is his first-hand account of his call to that work.  Many scholars believe that this encounter with God took place in the Temple, but for me, it doesn’t really matter where it took place.  Isaiah had an authentic encounter with God which can and often does take place in all kinds of surprising places.  Notice though Isaiah’s response to his recognition that he is in the presence of God:

“Mourn for me; I’m ruined! I’m a man with unclean lips, and I live among a people with unclean lips. Yet I’ve seen the king, the Lord of heavenly forces!”

I am unworthy.  I don’t even deserve to be sitting here is Isaiah’s sentiment.  Many who have had powerful encounters with the presence of God have shared that sentiment.  I have had the sentiment many times over the years.  The sentiment is reality; we are not worthy to be in God’s presence.  We are not worthy of the work God calls us to do.  Recognition of this reality is, I believe, a pre-requisite to be used by God.  People who honestly believe they deserve on their own merits to be one who speaks and acts on behalf of God are dangerous people and you should be wary about what they say and do.

So Isaiah’s response is completely appropriate.  It is at this point that the messenger touches Isaiah’s lips with a burning coal to symbolize God’s consecration of him as a mouthpiece for God.  It’s is God’s action that legitimizes our service to God.  It is also God that will sustain Isaiah for a grueling ministry.  I love Britannica.com’s description:

“[Isaiah] was thus commissioned to give voice to the divine word. It was no light undertaking; he was to condemn his own people and watch the nation crumble and perish. As he tells it, he was only too aware that, coming with such a message, he would experience bitter opposition, willful disbelief, and ridicule, to withstand which he would have to be inwardly fortified. All this came to him in the form of a vision and ended as a sudden, firm, and lifelong resolve.”

“Here I am; send me.”  Isaiah replies.

God has sent many of you into important work and you have gone and continue to go faithfully.  I pray that God continues to sustain you.  For those who don’t feel they have been sent, I pray that you will recognize that you currently sit in the presence of God who WANTS to send YOU.  Will you respond as Isaiah did?

Prayer:  Here I am, Lord.  I am unworthy, but I am willing.  Send me. Amen.

Prayer Focus:  Pray for those who are considering responding to God’s call to serve.

Song:  Pinati Williams – Here I Am, Lord (Cover)