THE GOD OF HOLINESS Isaiah 6 A KING
- Slides: 7
THE GOD OF HOLINESS Isaiah 6
A KING IS DEAD! (ISAIAH 6: 1) • Clear Historical Context – death of King Uzziah in 740 BC • A good king who finished badly (2 Kings 15 & 2 Chronicles 26) • Prosperous and secure • But of pride, entered the temple and was struck with leprosy • A symbol for the nation? • A nation in decline as it fails to honour God • The death of a king leaves uncertainty and insecurity about the future • But…
THE KING IS VERY MUCH ALIVE! (ISAIAH 6: 1 -2) • In the midst of turmoil, God is on his throne • He is ‘high’ above earthly kings and circumstances • He is ‘exalted’ by the acknowledgement of his kingship • His majesty is present in heaven and on the earth as the train of his robe fill the temple.
THE KING IS HOLY (ISAIAH 6: 3 -5) • Seraphs (‘burning ones’) perhaps indicate God’s purity • Their song is of ‘super-holiness’ – holy, holy! • Holiness • Brightness (‘unapproachable light’ – 1 Tim 6: 16, ‘he wraps himself in light’ – Ps 104: 2 • Set apart – holiness sets him apart from his creation • Reaction to God’s holiness • Creation ‘shakes’ and smoke prevents sight of the holy one • Isaiah finds himself aware of his sinfulness and is silenced
THE HOLY KING OFFERS SALVATION (ISAIAH 6: 6 -7) • In the face of sin, God offers salvation and cleansing • ‘Live coal’ taken from the altar of sacrifice • God himself deals with Isaiah’s sin • ‘Touched his mouth’ – deals with the problem • ‘Taken away’ - removes guilt and provides forgiveness • God’s desire is for relationship. This comes through our holiness and he provides the means
FROM CONDEMNED TO COMMISSIONED (ISAIAH 6: 8) • Isaiah goes from • Being far off (v 1) • Shut of God’s presence (v 4) • Silenced by sin (v 5) close enough to hear God speak part of God’s mission sent to speak • A Holy God is looking for willing messengers who can speak for him
THE COMMISSION COMES AT A COST (ISAIAH 6: 9 -13) • Isaiah’s message would often be ignored, but he was to keep prophesying • Quoted in Parable of the Sower (v 9 -10) • Isaiah would often be rejected with his message • But the privilege of bringing some of the greatest messages of hope (v 13) • Isaiah’s encounter with a holy God leaves him changed forever!
