The True Picture

In an earlier post, we saw the hope in looking up to the Lord. Isaiah the prophet had such an experience. He actually saw a vision of the Lord in His majesty and glory, attended by the angelic host. The situation in heaven was stable. God was still in control. The earthly realities were perhaps unsettling, and even a cause for fear of the future. The king, Uzziah, who had been righteous, had become proud and transgressed against the Lord. He spent the end of His life isolated due to leprosy, which was the judgment of God for his sins. We also see that as often was the case, God’s people were in a weak and compromised spiritual condition at best, and totally backslidden at worst. The scene could be distressing for anyone who knew and understood the ways of God, as did Isaiah. But the scene in heaven, and the result for Isaiah, offers hope to us today.

Isaiah 6:1-7: 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 (see Num 14:21). 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.

The heavenly scene provided true perspective.

1. God is in control (v. 1), and His Word will be fulfilled (v. 3).

2. God’s realistic picture of self (Isaiah), and the nation.

3. This caused fear which in turn brought confession.

4. Confession brought purging.

Proverbs 16:6: By mercy and truth iniquity is purged: and by the fear of the LORD men depart from evil.