Isaiah 6:1-8

Intro “Me”

Will you come and follow me if I but call your name, will you go where you don’t know and never be the same.

Like many songs this song translates me back to a particularly holy moment

The Summons sometimes called “will you come and follow me”

John Bell wrote the hymn from the context of the Iona community in Scotland

It asks a series of 13 questions about discernment and our calling

Sharing the story

Making the decision to do online seminary

serving a church in Central Iowa

Serving as a Licensed Local Pastor throughout seminary

Having just a couple of days to decide

I wound up in the meditation room that was in the basement of the Chapel one night singing the lyrics of this song

And although I didn’t see any Serephs while I was down there I related to much of Isaiahs ways of responding

To confession, “I am a person of unclean lips, you’ve got the wrong guy God”

And corporate confession that it is not just me but that we are a people of unclean lips

To worship with and alongside the many saints of the church.

and to ultimately get to a point of acceptance to say honestly Here am I, Send me

Calling

We are people who think a lot about our calling

When adults meet each other for the first time in a social setting the almost autopilot first question seems to be what do you do?

oftentimes calling gets confused with a vocation or with a job, but really we can understand calling to be much broader of a word

Our calling is not just what our jobs are

It is the whole of the human experience

Our calling includes

where we choose to live

who we choose to love

who is in our family

what we choose to eat

how we choose to disperse our resources

and yes it does include our work as well, but it is not contained to just that

What often when we talk about this passage we think of it as Isaiah’s call story or the moment that launches Isaiah into his Prophetic call, which it certainly is, but I think there is a bit more going on here that a simple reminder to pick up the phone when God calls.

A. The context of Isaiah 6:1-8

Occurred in the year King Uzziah died

"In the year that King Uzziah died" – a time of political instability and uncertainty. Uzziah reigned for fifty-two prosperous and secure years, but his reign ended in disgrace due to his sin. We learn about in other passages in the Hebrew Bible that King Uzziah had led the people down and bad path, and was attempting to not just be the king but to also be the priest of the people. Despite the advisement of the priests, King Uzziah entered the temple to claim it for himself to make the holiest of holies something that was profane and it was in that moment that he contracted leprosy.

The death of Uzziah symbolized a turning point, reflecting the nation’s spiritual condition. Political instability and uncertainty. And in addition to that it was a moment of uncertainty of holiness.

Isaiah’s Call Story

The story here is a type of narrative called a prophetic call narrative that occurs several times throughout the Hebrew Bible

In a moment of instability Isaiah see’s a picture of the living God

Isaiah sees Seraphs - literally on-fire for God, unable to see God, and honoring the holiness of the moment

If there is one word that most fully embodies

God’s holiness

Isaiah 6:3 NRSV

3 And one called to another and said: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory.”

Holiness quite literally means to cut or to separate and is most commonly translated to set-apart

Meaning that God is set-apart from humanity.

Our call begins when we see ourselves in correct proportion to what God is doing in our midst.

Our call is to experience and proclaim the holiness of God

Isaiah saw the Lord seated on a high and exalted throne.

The hem of God’s robe filled the temple, indicating His overwhelming presence.The train of God’s robe filling the temple That God could not be contained within the temple.

Description of the seraphim: six wings – two covering their faces, two covering their feet, and two for flying. Their call: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty; the whole earth is full of His glory.”

Isaiah responds a couple of ways

By putting his eyes down - Isaiah’s fear and humility

“Woe to me! I am imperfect!”

Isaiah’s immediate reaction to God’s holiness was one of fear and self-awareness of his own sinfulness. Recognition of personal and communal sinfulness.

He recognized not only his own unclean lips but also those of his people.

Next came an act of ritual purification

Seraphim touching Isaiah’s lips with a live coal

One of the seraphim flew to Isaiah with a live coal taken from the altar.Touching his lips, the seraph declared his guilt taken away and his sin atoned for

Symbolism of forgiveness and readiness to serve. An outward sign of an inward grace.

This act symbolized purification and preparation for divine service.

God’s question

“Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?”

God’s call was a general invitation, seeking a willing servant.The use of "us" suggests the divine council or an early expression of the Trinity.

Isaiah’s response

“Here I am. Send me!”

Despite his initial fear, Isaiah responded with readiness and willingness to serve.Transition from fear to readiness

This highlights the transformative power of encountering God’s presence.

Not so fast

We love to point to this story in the church and there are some really beautiful hymns about this one we will even sing this morning in a moment.

In fact the lectionary text actually ends on verse 8, but what is referred to as the Pericope the sort of “section” that it is actually goes on to verse 13 which we read.

Isaiah is being called to a be a prophet to the people in that he is to remind them that their shortcomings have that their sins come with natural consequences.

IV. Application to Our Lives

A. Reflecting on our own encounters with God

How do we respond to God’s call?

Just as Isaiah was called, we too are called to holiness. We gather together in worship to experience the holiness of God.

It is out of a response to God’s Holiness that we are brought to proclaim that we have fallen short of the glory of God individually and as a community.

It is also out of a desire for holiness within ourselves and within our community that we are brought to a point of saying here I am send me.

Acknowledge our own feelings of inadequacy and recognize God’s power to equip us.

Our role as a community

Supporting each other in responding to God’s call

As a church community, we support and encourage each other in our callings.Sharing stories of those who have served faithfully can inspire us.Creating an environment of encouragement and empowerment

We can create a nurturing environment where everyone feels empowered to say, “Here I am. Send me!”

The direction of the world

There is a parallel passage to this one that occurs in the book of revelation were there are a gathered group of Serephs that are saying these exact same words

Revelation 4:8 NRSV

8 And the four living creatures, each of them with six wings, are full of eyes all around and inside. Day and night without ceasing they sing, “Holy, holy, holy, the Lord God the Almighty, who was and is and is to come.”

Though I don’t pretend to fully understand what is going on in the book of revelation, the hope that I get from this parallel is that perhaps the entire narrative of creation is bending towards holiness.

That the river that we are in is flowing towards holiness. That the work that God is doing in our midst is about God’s holiness being known and proclaimed here on earth.

The work of calling is not blind obedience it is an active desiring of holiness

Ask for the courage to say, “Here I am”

Pray for the courage to respond to God’s call with the same willingness as Isaiah.

B. Commitment to follow God’s lead

Seek strength to follow where God leads

Ask for strength and guidance to follow God’s will in our daily lives.

Pastoral Prayer at the End

Let us pray.

Gracious and loving God,

On this Memorial Day, we come before You with hearts full of gratitude and remembrance. We thank You for the countless people who have laid down their lives in service to others.

As we honor the sacrifices made, we re-commit ourselves to the pursuit of peace and justice in our world. We grieve how far it often seems that we are from peace within ourselves, within our community, and within our global community. Empower us to challenge systems of evil, injustice and oppression, in whatever forms they present themselves.

Inspired by the words of the prophet Isaiah, give us the courage to respond to Your call with willingness and conviction: “Here I am. Send me.” Strengthen us to follow Your lead, to serve others with compassion and humility, and to advocate for justice and peace in all that we do.

We also lift up to You those in our community who are in transitions. For retirements, graduations, for the end of a school year, transitions of grief, and transitions of welcoming in newness. Guide them through times of change with Your wisdom and grace. For those in hospitals and those recovering from illness, we ask for Your healing touch. Bring them comfort, strength, and restoration.

In the name of Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace, we pray.