Out of this World
Opening Prayer
“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory” (Isa. 6:3). Praise God for this.
Read Isaiah 6:1-13
[1] In 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. [3] And they were calling to one another: “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory.” [4] At 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.” [6] Then one of the seraphim flew to me with a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with tongs from the altar. [7] With 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!” [9] He said, “Go and tell this people: “‘Be ever hearing, but never understanding; be ever seeing, but never perceiving.’ [10] Make the heart of this people calloused; make their ears dull and close their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts, and turn and be healed.” [11] Then I said, “For how long, Lord?” And he answered: “Until the cities lie ruined and without inhabitant, until the houses are left deserted and the fields ruined and ravaged, [12] until the LORD has sent everyone far away and the land is utterly forsaken. [13] And though a tenth remains in the land, it will again be laid waste. But as the terebinth and oak leave stumps when they are cut down, so the holy seed will be the stump in the land.” Scripture taken from the THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, NIV Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
How did Isaiah react to this picture of God's holiness?Yesterday’s reading ended with a picture of human strength. That picture now pales into insignificance against the awesome power and mystery of God as revealed to Isaiah. Isaiah is in the temple, probably just going about his usual business, but at the same time ready to be open to whatever God says to him. Previously, God has given him hard words to say but, here, it’s as if all his birthdays have come at once and he actually sees the Lord. He’s not left with much time to reflect, though. He immediately recognizes his sin (5), receives God’s forgiveness (7), says yes to God (8). Then he asks the questions afterwards (11)! Isaiah was given a big vision for a big task. Our task may be much smaller, but it will still need us to be in a right relationship with God. We’re not all as quick as Isaiah at getting to that position. Can you imagine a live coal on your lips? A painful symbolic cleansing process was necessary before God could use Isaiah (6); but, once forgiven, Isaiah was ready to spread God’s words. Through Jesus we have been forgiven. Are we ready, too?
Apply
Ask God if there is anything you need to confess before you are in the right position to serve him.
Closing prayer
Pray with Isaiah the words of v. 8 to God: “Here am I. Send me.” Ask where he might send you.
Click here to sign up to receive the EXTRAs via email each quarter.
© 2024 Scripture Union U.S.A. All rights reserved. Reproduction of the whole or any part of the contents without written permission is prohibited.
Discovery is published in the USA under license from Scripture Union England and Wales, Trinity House, Opal Court, Opal Drive, Fox Milne, Milton Keynes, MK15 0DF.