WHAT DID ISAIAH SEE?
“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. 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.
And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of
hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory.
And the posts of the door moved at the voice of him that cried, and the
house was filled with smoke. 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. 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: 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.” -- Isaiah 6:1-7
How many times have you read
Isaiah 6 and said to yourself, "What did Isaiah see?" How many times
have you heard sermons about the prophet's vision and gone away asking the same
question? I cannot tell you all that he saw, but you can be certain of this? ISAIAH SAW THE LORD JESUS CHRIST IN HIS
REDEMPTIVE SAVING GLORY (John 12:37-41). A revelation was made in his heart
of the preincarnate Son of God as the sinners' almighty, effectual, sovereign
Substitute.
1.
He
saw THE MERCY-SEAT OF GOD (v. 1)
with Christ upon it. Having redeemed his people, Christ has been exalted as
Lord over all things. He rules the world from the mercy-seat! The throne from
which our God exercises his total sovereignty is the throne of grace (Heb.
4:16).
2.
God
showed Isaiah THE MESSENGERS OF HIS
GRACE (v. 2). The seraphim represent gospel preachers, whose hearts burn
with zeal for the glory of God, so that they swiftly fly to preach the gospel
of his grace and glory in Christ wherever they are sent.
3.
Then
Isaiah heard of THE MAJESTY OF GOD,
his transcendent holiness, his glorious dominion, and the revelation of his
glory in all things (v. 3).
4.
In
the light of all these things, this man saw THE MISERY OF HIS OWN CONDITION before God (v. 5). By nature he was
a sinful wretch, justly condemned, without hope before the great and holy God.
Once a sinner is brought to the confession of his depravity, guilt, and just
condemnation before God, mercy is on its way!
5.
As
soon as Isaiah confessed his sin, he saw THE
MYSTERY OF REDEMPTION (vv. 6-7). "Then"
- after Christ revealed himself and exposed Isaiah's sin - "Then flew one of the seraphims unto me,"
one of God's preachers, "having a
live coal in his hand, which he had taken with tongs from off the altar."
That live coal represents the everlasting gospel of redemption accomplished by
Christ himself. This is the message all God's servants carry with them (Isa.
40:1-2). "And he laid it upon my
mouth, and said, Lo, this hath touched thy lips; and thine iniquity is taken
away, and they sin is purged." The gospel preached in the power of God
the Holy Spirit is effectually applied to the hearts of chosen, redeemed
sinners. And the proclamation of sin forgiven purges the consciences of all who
believe.
Grace Baptist Church of Danville - Grace For
Today Radio Message #791
2734 Old Stanford
Road - Danville, Kentucky 40422-9438
Donald S. Fortner, Pastor -Telephone 606-236-8235 - Email
grace@mis.net