ISAIAH tells us that, “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 seraphim; 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” (Isa. 6:1-41In 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. 2Above 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. 3And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory. 4And the posts of the door moved at the voice of him that cried, and the house was filled with smoke. (Isaiah 6:1‑4)).
Let us consider this wondrous vision, and the effect it produced on him who beheld it. Isaiah saw the Lord in His exaltation, seated upon His throne, His skirts filling the temple of God, and seraphim celebrating His holiness continually. His glory filled the whole earth, and the house was filled with smoke, which sets forth His glory in judgment. And overwhelmed in his soul, as he realized the infinite holiness of the One with whom he had to do, Isaiah cried out, “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” (vs. 5).
Shall this be written on the page of Scripture in vain for your soul, dear reader? Or shall it turn to your blessing as did Isaiah’s vision to him? The King, the Lord of hosts, whom he beheld, is the same with whom you have to do. He is the high and lofty One who inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy (Isa. 57:1515For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones. (Isaiah 57:15)). He is the One of whom Moses and Israel sang: “Who is like unto thee, O Lord, among the mighty ones? who is like thee, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders?” (Ex. 15:1111Who is like unto thee, O Lord, among the gods? who is like thee, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders? (Exodus 15:11)). This is the One, infinite in holiness, who is the Judge appointed of God. To Him every sinner must render account. And where is there a single soul of man who could answer Him one in a thousand? Are you an exception? Hear what David said, “Enter not into judgment with thy servant, for in thy sight shall no man living be justified” (Psa. 143:22And enter not into judgment with thy servant: for in thy sight shall no man living be justified. (Psalm 143:2)). Were you or I to receive our just desert, the glory of the Lord in judgment would overwhelm us, and His infinite holiness demand ow eternal expulsion from His presence.
What then is the effect upon your soul, in the light of the glory, and holiness, and judgment of the Lord, the Son of God? Surely if you realize your true state and are honest before Him, you will cry with Isaiah, “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.”
And what was the consequence of Isaiah’s confession? Did the woe of God fall upon him? Did judgment overtake him. He owned he deserved it. He confessed to naught but uncleanness in His most holy sight. But judgment is God’s strange work, And He has devised a plan, whereby for His own glory He can put the sinner’s sin away, clear him from judgment, and make him henceforth His willing servant.
Immediately Isaiah was brought to self-judgment he was met by mercy. “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” (vers. 6:7). There are cherubim and seraphim connected with the throne of the Lord. The former appear to be in relation with the exercise of judgment, and the latter with the exercise of mercy. A seraphim flew to Isaiah. He was an object of mercy. Mercy was waiting upon him through righteousness, and met him immediately in his need. The altar was before the throne. The sacrifice had been offered. The fire had consumed the sacrifice. The seraphim had taken the live coal with the tongs off the altar. He held it in his hand. He flew to Isaiah the moment he confessed his sin. He laid the coal on his mouth. And as the Lord’s messenger he pronounced in righteousness and mercy the putting away of his sin. The unclean and undone sinner stood henceforth clean every whit in the sight of the Lord.
How richly all this pictures forth the blessing of the glad tidings to us! The moment the sinner of today is led to true self-judgment, and the confession of his sinful and unclean state in the sight of the Lord, he finds the infinite mercy of God waiting on him through righteousness, and ready to put his sin away. Everything has been done on God’s part on our behalf. He has manifested His love in sending His Son. He has been to the cross and borne the judgment of sin. And in His case, instead of the fire consuming the sacrifice, the sacrifice consumed the fire. In mercy and in righteousness He waits to be gracious. And the moment the sinner repents, swifter than the swiftest seraphim ever flew through space on mercy’s errand, the Lord puts his sin away. “To him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works, saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin” (Rom. 4:6, 76Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works, 7Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. (Romans 4:6‑7)).
The work of Christ on Calvary is a finished work. Nothing whatever is needed on the part of the sinner but self-judgment. It is the one who discovers his uncleanness in the sight of God, and his deep need of a Saviour that believes on Him. And on the ground of Christ’s finished work, God forgives and justifies him, clearing him from all sin by His precious blood, so that he henceforth stands clear and clean in His most holy sight, and that forever. Reader, is this your case?
And Isaiah’s sin having been purged, he heard the voice of the Lord, saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” And he replied instantly, “Here am I; send me.” The Lord had an object in putting Isaiah’s sin away. No doubt it fitted him to be with Himself in the eternal future. But He desired him for His servant now. And He wanted a willing servant. Isaiah was conscious of this the moment he heard the Lord’s words. The Lord is the sender of His own servants. But His servants must be ready and willing to go where He sends them. Hence the Lord uttered two things: “Whom shall I send?” and “Who will go for us?” Isaiah was ready and willing to go, and replied, “Here am I”; but conscious of his need of being also sent, he added, “Send me.” And the Lord sent him, and found him a willing, faithful, and devoted servant.
So also today. The Lord not only justifies him that believeth, and fits him for His own blessed presence in the eternal future, but He wants him to serve Him now. Have you heard His voice, not only assuring you of the putting away of your sin, but saying, “Whom shall I send?” and “Who will go?” And how have you replied? Have you said with Isaiah, “Here am I; send me.” It is a blessed service to be engaged in. No other master is like Him. His yoke is easy, and His burden light. May each who reads these lines know what it is to have his iniquity taken away, his sin purged, and then embark on tire Lord’s blessed service, as sent by Him, and serve Him faithfully till He come.
E. H. C.