Seeing God - Himalayan Heights – July 30 Readings: Isaiah 6:1-3 – Holy, Holy, Holy

Isaiah 6: A Vision of God

All Scripture is God-breathed and useful, but there are some Scriptures that we can consider the Himalayan mountaintops of the Bible. In the next few months, we will be looking at a series of great texts that inspire and move us - the "Himalayan Heights" of God's Word.

Today's Reading:  Isaiah 6:1-3

Isaiah had a magnificent vision of God in which God called him to a task. Over the next 4 days, we will examine his vision, his call, and some surprising aspects of what God did in Isaish and through him.

In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord seated on a high and lofty throne, and the hem of his robe filled the temple. 2 Seraphim[a] were standing above him; they each had six wings: with two they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they flew. 3 And one called to another:

Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of Armies;
his glory fills the whole earth.

4 The foundations of the doorways shook at the sound of their voices, and the temple was filled with smoke.

5 Then I said:

Woe is me for I am ruined
because I am a man of unclean lips
and live among a people of unclean lips,
and because my eyes have seen the King,
the Lord of Armies.

6 Then one of the seraphim flew to me, and in his hand was a glowing coal that he had taken from the altar with tongs. 7 He touched my mouth with it and said:

Now that this has touched your lips,

your iniquity is removed
and your sin is atoned for.

8 Then I heard the voice of the Lord asking:

Who will I send?
Who will go for us?

I said:

Here I am. Send me.

9 And he replied:

Go! Say to these people:
Keep listening, but do not understand;
keep looking, but do not perceive.
10 Make the minds[c] of these people dull;
deafen their ears and blind their eyes;
otherwise they might see with their eyes
and hear with their ears,
understand with their minds,
turn back, and be healed.

11 Then I said, “Until when, Lord?” And he replied:

Until cities lie in ruins without inhabitants,
houses are without people,
the land is ruined and desolate,
12 and the Lord drives the people far away,
leaving great emptiness in the land.
13 Though a tenth will remain in the land,
it will be burned again.
Like the terebinth or the oak
that leaves a stump when felled,
the holy seed is the stump.

Through the Bible Readings: Job 9-10, Acts 22:22–23:11, Psalm 89:14–20, Proverbs19:3–4

 

If you wish to read through the Bible in a year, follow these readings. 

Devotional:  Seeing God

Isaiah saw the Lord, "high and exalted, and the train of his robe filled the temple."  He saw the seraphim, "burning ones" swirling around the throne and crying out "Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord God Almighty.  The whole earth is full of His glory."  He felt the doorposts and thresholds shake and saw the temple fill with smoke from the glory of God. Isaiah had a vision of the real God, in all His holiness, majesty, and splendor.  He saw a God so holy that the angels had to say it three times.  "Holy, Holy, Holy."

The purpose of this vision was specific. God had a job for Isaiah to do and he was revealing himself to prepare Isaiah to be ready for the job. As we examine this great passage over the next 4 days, we will see 4 steps in the call of God.

A Vision of God

Isaiah, Ezekiel, Paul - they had visions of God that were literal, visions that changed them to the depths of their souls. While God can do as he pleases, that does not seem to be his normal course of business these days. The kinds of visions reported in the Bible do not seem to happen much at all today. That does not mean that we cannot have a vision of God.

As we study God's word, as we meditate on him, his character, his ways, on his goodness to us, we can gain a new sense of who God is and how he works in our lives. That changes everything. Why are people today so lackadaisical about serving God, so carnal in their lives? It is because they have such a low view of God that they care little about the things of God.

There are three key things to note about what Isaiah saw in his vision of heaven's throne.

1. Heaven's throne is occupied.

God was seated on the throne. He is not fighting to gain his place or running for office. He is seated. His is in control.

2. Heaven's throne is glorious.

God's throne is high and exalted and angelic creatures swirl around it shouting "Holy, holy, holy." God is awesome and glorious.

3. Heaven's throne is powerful.

When we do things God's way, he works in us and through us in powerful ways. When we exalt him and glorify him, it changes us and we become useful in his kingdom's work.

Father, grant me a vision of your glory, that I may be changed, that I may be useful.

Think and Pray:

Do you have a powerful vision of God, or is he weak and faraway in your mind?