Isaiah 6:1-81NIV New International Version Translations
1In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord, high and exalted, seated on a throne; and the train of his robe filled the temple. 2 Above him were seraphim, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. 3And they were calling to one another: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory.” 4At the sound of their voices the doorposts and thresholds shook and the temple was filled with smoke. 5“Woe to me!” I cried. “I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the Lord Almighty.” 6Then one of the seraphim flew to me with a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with tongs from the altar. 7With it he touched my mouth and said, “See, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for.” 8 Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?” And I said, “Here am I. Send me!”
Background
Chapter 6 of Isaiah is about how he gained his commission from God.
Biblical Truth2http://www.easyenglish.info/bible-commentary/isaiah1-9-lbw-nh.htm
Verse 1: Uzziah was king of Judah for over 50 years. But his last years were unhappy (see 2 Chronicles 26:16-21). Human kings must die. But the Lord is King of Heaven. He will never die. In a vision, Isaiah sees something of the Lord’s great glory (magnificent appearance).
Verse 2: Wings cover the faces of the fiery angels, but not their ears, which are ready to hear God’s instructions. Wings also cover the angels’ feet. That seems to mean that the angels will obey God. They will go only where the Lord sends them.
Verse 3: ‘Holy’ stated three times emphasizes God’s absolutely pure nature.
Verse 5: To know now what holiness truly means, causes Isaiah to realize his own wicked nature.
Verses 6-7: But God has work for Isaiah to do. The action of a fiery angel convinces Isaiah that God has forgiven him. So Isaiah is now able to do what God asks.
Verse 8: Isaiah is now fit to answer the call of our God, who is so holy.
Items for Discussion
- Isaiah was in the presence of God. What can you tell about that experience for Isaiah and maybe for us someday?
- Isaiah shows that forgiveness is not without fear and pain. How would you use this story if you had a friend that did not believe they could ever be forgiven for something they did in their life?
- There are beings in heaven so Isaiah’s dream goes. What can you learn about our God through the seraphim?
- Why would “wishing to serve God,” “being sent,” be a logical response to just having been forgiven for all of your sins?
John 12:27
“Now my soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour.
Background
In chapter 11, we read about the dishonor done to our Lord Jesus, when the scribes and Pharisees proclaimed him a traitor to their church, and put upon him all the marks of personal humiliation and disgrace they could. It is chapter 12, however, that balances that by giving us an account of the honor done to Christ in spite of what was stated in Chapter 11.
Here are Christ’s honors in Chapter 12:
- Mary honored him, by anointing his feet at the supper in Bethany (v. 1-11).
- The common people honored him with their acclamations of joy, when he rode in triumph into Jerusalem (v. 12-19).
- The Greeks honored him by seeking after him with a longing desire to see him (v. 20-26).
- God the Father honored him by a voice from heaven, bearing testimony to him (v. 27-36).
- He had honor done to him by the Old Testament prophets, who foretold the infidelity of those that heard the report of him (v. 37-41).
- He had honor done to him by some of the chief rulers, whose consciences witnessed for him, though they had not courage to own it (v. 42, v. 43.)
- He claimed honor to himself, by asserting his divine mission, and the account he gave of his purpose for coming into the world (v. 44-50).
Biblical Truth
The sin of our souls was the consternation within Christ, when he undertook to redeem and save us, and to make Himself an offering for our sin. Christ was willing to suffer for us, yet prayed to be saved from suffering. We can take from this that prayer against trouble may well a good and honorable human response. But like Christ, we are also to be willing to submit to the will of God. Our Lord Jesus undertook to satisfy God’s injured honor, and He did it by humbling himself.
Items for Discussion
- What does this verse tell you about Jesus? Name all of the things you can think of?
- Why do our actions, how we treat and honor those around us, help them with their faith walk?
- Do you think we have an “honor” problem in society today? Where?
- What is the risk to society if we are no longer honorable to each other?
- How do we keep/create honor in ourselves, in others?
Discussion Challenge
- How does the Church today remain honorable?
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