Before the Throne

BEFORE THE THRONE

Isaiah 6:1-8

Isaiah has an amazing vision of the throne of God. What is his reaction to this? There's much that we can learn from this moment, because WE are, in reality, in the same position; we will be before the judgment seat of Christ (Rom. 14:10; 2 Cor. 5:10). What should OUR reaction be? Will we have the right reaction before it's too late?

Let's learn that we MUST be humble, confess sin in a genuine way, and be cleansed by God, ready to go forward and tell others of His love, mercy, and grace.

I. The Awesome Vision before Isaiah (1-4)

A. Awesome because of who he sees – the Lord!

1. Hebrew – “ad-o-noy'” - the Lord (used as a proper name of God only): - (my) Lord. (STRONG'S conc.)

2. How incredible would this vision be? He is on a “high and lifted up” throne. Emphasis on God's place, righteous and just, above all.

3. “...his train filled the temple.” - Could be seen as the presence of God being all-encompassing. This vision is overwhelming.

4. Since “no man has seen God at any time” (John 1:18), this could be a representation of God in the form of the Messiah.

5. John 12:41 Isaiah said these things when he saw His glory and spoke of Him.

B. The praise of the Seraphims (Psalm 72:19)

1. “Holy, Holy, Holy” - a repetitive praise, giving emphasis to God's holiness and sacredness. Three repetitions is a great emphasis on His glory.

2. “The whole earth is full of his glory” - The earth proves the greatness of God to us. Everything in nature, everything created evidences the glory of God.

3. Do we recognize the awesomeness of our God? Is that thought present within our daily lives, or do we just focus on it here and there?

II. Isaiah's reaction – Humble and Genuine (5)

A. “Woe is me!” - a recognition of reality

1. We do our best to try to escape from reality.

2. While escaping from secular reality is a needed thing, we should never be absent from our spiritual reality!

3. Matthew 5:3 Blessed are the poor in spirit! For theirs is the kingdom of Heaven.

4. We must admit our poverty.

B. Why? “my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts”

1. This is similar to us in reading and studying our Bibles.

2. Bible study is important – it is a mirror, to show us where we are lacking, and the direction we can go to be more like God.

3. Exodus 34:6-7; James 1:22-25

4. We do not literally see God, but we see His attributes, and His character, and we aim to be more like Him.

III. Isaiah's sin is purged. (6-7)

A. The significance of the live coal

1. The altar it is brought from within the vision is presumably the altar of incense, since it was next to the throne (Exodus 30:1-10; Revelation 8:3).

B. Cleaning an unclean mouth

1. “This has touched your lips” - Contact with the source of forgiveness

2. Matthew 13:40-43, 1 Corinthians 3:13-15 - God provides a fire whereby we are to be cleansed.

C. Iniquity and sin taken away and purged.

1. Again, emphasis in different ways accomplishes the importance of this statement.

2. This concept within itself is a Messianic prophecy. Complete absolution and atonement for sin is yet to come, but in this vision, Isaiah is purified and cleansed.

3. Why? So that Isaiah can send the message of God!

4. Malachi 3:2-3

5. Any obstacle to Isaiah bringing God's message to His people is brought down in this action.

6. The same is so for us! Forgiveness is ALL the qualification we need to tell the world of God's glory!

IV. Isaiah's willingness to go (8)

A. “Whom shall I send, and who will go for US?”

1. Would we be willing and able to answer this calling?

2. God is seeking people to tell the world of Him – He seeks them still!

3. Isaiah 6:9-13 - The message to be communicated will not always seem pleasant to the world, but it is needed.

B. Our salvation MUST drive us to spread the message of it!

1. Will we say, as Isaiah, “Here am I! Send me!”?

2. Are we eager to perform the LORD's work?

2 Corinthians 5:10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, in accordance with the things which he did, whether good or bad.

-THINK EVERY DAY ABOUT THE PRESENCE OF GOD.

-CONSIDER OUR CONDITION BEFORE GOD, AND ALLOW HIM TO CHANGE US.

-BE READY AND WILLING TO DO WHATEVER HE TELLS US TO DO.