A Servant's Gaze
1) 3-30-08…AM…SBC 2) 1-2-11…AM…SBC
“A Servant’s Gaze”
Introduction: Isaiah 6:1-8
1- When we lose sight of God’s majesty we, many times, lose a sense of wonder and amazement at God’s divine presence in the Bible
Illustration: Reading the Bible through in a year
· Great goal to accomplish
· Many times the focus turns into accomplishing the goal instead of a recognition of God’s glory displayed in Scripture
2- Even among the great prosperity of many churches today, we must never forget that the churches programs and ministries will never replace a personal and ecclesiastical discovery of the majesty of God
· “It is impossible to keep our moral practices sound and inward attitudes right while our idea of God is erroneous or inadequate.”[1]
3- What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us
· “Whether our personal and ecclesiastical worship is pure or corrupted is contingent on high or low thoughts of God”[2]
4- There is rarely a doctrinal and application error that cannot be traced back to imperfect thoughts about God
5- “The first step down for any believer or church is taken when it surrenders its high opinion of God”[3]
6- The heaviest obligation lying upon our local church today is to purify and elevate our concept of God until it is worthy of Him.
· this is what we set out to do in the next few minutes of our time together
Ø this is what our passage this morning helps us accomplish – we encounter God through the gaze of His servant
Background and Setting
- The opening prophecies (Ch1-6) show the moral corruption of God’s people and continued hardness of heart
- In the first unit of the book (1:2-20) God issues a sort of covenant lawsuit on His people for their rebellion
- The Lord rejects their religious rituals and pointed out that their hypocrisy was obvious (1:11-17)
Universal Principle: Religious busyness is meaningless apart from loving God and loving others
- Isaiah reminds his listeners that victory does not come through soldiers and horses provided by Egypt but through the power of God (31:3)
- Even in God’s indictment against His own people He would not bring Israel’s history to a screeching hault, but “even through the smoke of judgment one could see a ray of hope.”[4]
Ø It is in this context that Isaiah encounters the Glory of God in Heaven, and like Him…
Proposition: God’s people must respond appropriately when they see the glory of God the Father.
Transition: We begin this morning with…
1) What Isaiah Saw v1
Ø If Uzziah’s death has significance apart from its date, it is that he died a leper, for flouting God’s holiness when ‘his heart was lifted up’ (2 Ch. 26:16, Is. 2:17)[5] (Pride)
A- Isaiah saw first of all the Lord – אֲדֹנָי
Ø What the prophet saw is revealed to us, that we, with faith in that God’s revelation, we may behold the glory of the Lord with humble reverence.[6]
1- this name “Lord” is a different name for God then what is used in v3 & v5 - יְהוָ֣ה
a- the name used in v3 and v5 is the covenant name for God – the one Israel knew Him by and did not pronounce in case they use it in vain
b- the name used for “Lord” in v1 can also be translated “Master”
1. when used of men it is used in the sense of a master over his slaves
2. when used of God is refers to God’s Absolute sovereign authority over all things
c- Isaiah did not see Jehovah—the essence of God (no man has seen that, or can see it), but Adonai—his dominion.[7]
2- on an exalted throne (the imagery is taken from the elaborate thrones of earthly kings)
a- God upon his throne, and that throne high and lifted up, not only above other thrones, as it transcends them, but over other thrones, as it rules and commands them. [8]
b- the one that Isaiah sees here is the absolute Master of Men
Application: What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us
- He does not have to go to someone to get an approval for doing something.
- He doesn’t call a cabinet meeting a take a democratic vote in heaven
3- the train of His robe fill the Temple
a- The image of His robe filling the temple suggests His utter dominance of the room.[9]
b- It is the heavenly palace of the King of kings into which the prophet’s gaze is allowed to penetrate.[10]
Application: What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us
- Some Christians have marvelous lives and accomplish great deeds.
- But our eyes must be so fixed on God that He, not His wonders, claims our full attention.[11]
- Observance of His actions must lead us to say, “this is a God that is worthy to be my Master”
Transition: Next we have record of…
2) What Isaiah heard v2-4
A- Now the prophets gaze took him to a sight of extreme beauty
1- The classification of spirit beings known as The Seraphim
a- The word is used for a literal burning. [12]
b- Above the throne, as it were hovering about the throne, bowing before it, , the seraphim stood,[13]
c- Isaiah heard their praise and proclaimation of the perfect holiness of God. [14] (“Holy, Holy, Holy”)
d- The seraphim also express the holiness of God in that they proclaim that man must be cleansed of sin’s moral defilement before he can stand before God and serve Him.”[15]
e- this is seen in v6-7
Application: What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us
- As marvelous as the seraphim must have been, the Lord Himself is the focus of His servant’s gaze[16]
- If angels be thus reverent in their attendance on God, with what godly fear should we approach his throne![17]
Transition: Lastly we encounter…
3) What Isaiah did v5-8
A- This vision of God’s majesty, holiness, and glory made Isaiah realize that he was a sinner.[18]
1- Isaiah had pronounced threats of judgment on Israel (Isa. 5:8-23), but now by saying Woe to me! (24:16)
2- he realized he was subject to judgment. This was because he was sinful.[19]
3- Isaiah addressed himself appropriately in light of God’s holiness
B- The prophet’s “unclean lips” probably symbolized his attitudes and actions as well as his words, for a person’s words reflect his thinking and relate to his actions.[20]
1- This vision of God’s holiness vividly reminded the prophet of his own unworthiness which deserved judgment.[21]
2- God met the prophet’s need: He sent a seraph to cleanse him with a coal from the altar. [22]
3- as with our salvation, it was God action that led us to righteous and holy standing before Him
C- Now God can call Isaiah and use him to preach His Word. [23] v8
1- Everything to this point was a preparation.
2- The prophet is no longer wrapped up in his own needs; he wants to do the will of God.[24]
3- He is no longer burdened by sin; he has been cleansed. He is no longer discouraged; he knows that God is on the throne.[25]
4- Now he is ready to go to work.
Conclusion: Psalm 14:1 The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” [26]
Ø Isaiah was no fool for he recognized God and submitted to his authority and sacrificed for His ministry
Ø The wise response to all of this is to respond like Isaiah did
- recognize your unclean sinful heart in comparison to God’s standard for right living
- repent of your sinful ways
- faithfully accept God’s free gift of salvation
- submit to serving Him for the remainder of your time here on earth
1- True worship ought to lead to humble witness and service. [27]
2- What Master are you serving? Self or the Savior
a- The master of Self is a very cruel and demanding master that keep us from serving others
b- The master of Self detains you from obeying Scripture – Phil 2:3 “esteem other better than yourself”
Ø A Proper view of self comes from understanding your standing before and after salvation
Ø Proverbs 11:2 says, “When Pride comes, then comes dishonor.”
Ø Are you dishonoring God by honoring yourself way to much?
Prayer:
Oh Father, We are prideful people whose hearts are always screaming “I want.” Lord is there is one here that is serving self as their Lord and Master show then their sin as Isaiah saw His sin before a holy God. Give their empty heart the faith to believe. Assist us through Your Spirit to not succumb to the unbiblical views of self-image and self-esteemthat are in our world today. Help us to see your glory through the gaze of your servant. Condemn our pride and reveal it to us. Help us to put off pride and to put on service to you first and then to other around us. In Jesus’ name and for His glory I pray, Amen.
Holy, Holy, Holy
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[1] Tozer – Knowledge of the Holy; viii.
[2] Ibid., p1.
[3] Ibid., p4.
[4] Zuck – A Biblical Theology of the Old Testament: p311.
[5]D. A. Carson, New Bible Commentary : 21st Century Edition, Rev. Ed. of: The New Bible Commentary. 3rd Ed. / Edited by D. Guthrie, J.A. Motyer. 1970., 4th ed. (Leicester, England; Downers Grove, Ill., USA: Inter-Varsity Press, 1994), Is 6:1.
[6]Matthew Henry, Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole Bible : Complete and Unabridged in One Volume (Peabody: Hendrickson, 1996, c1991), Is 6:1.
[7]Matthew Henry, Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole Bible : Complete and Unabridged in One Volume (Peabody: Hendrickson, 1996, c1991), Is 6:1.
[8]Matthew Henry, Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole Bible : Complete and Unabridged in One Volume (Peabody: Hendrickson, 1996, c1991), Is 6:1.
[9]Lawrence O. Richards, The Bible Readers Companion, electronic ed. (Wheaton: Victor Books, 1991; Published in electronic form by Logos Research Systems, 1996), 415.
[10]The Pulpit Commentary: Isaiah Vol. I, ed. H. D. M. Spence-Jones (Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc., 2004), 106.
[11]Lawrence O. Richards, The Bible Readers Companion, electronic ed. (Wheaton: Victor Books, 1991; Published in electronic form by Logos Research Systems, 1996), 415.
[12]R. Laird Harris, Robert Laird Harris, Gleason Leonard Archer and Bruce K. Waltke, Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament, electronic ed. (Chicago: Moody Press, 1999, c1980), 884.
[13]Matthew Henry, Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole Bible : Complete and Unabridged in One Volume (Peabody: Hendrickson, 1996, c1991), Is 6:1.
[14]Paul P. Enns, The Moody Handbook of Theology (Chicago, Ill.: Moody Press, 1997, c1989), 290.
[15]Paul P. Enns, The Moody Handbook of Theology (Chicago, Ill.: Moody Press, 1997, c1989), 290.
[16]Lawrence O. Richards, The Bible Readers Companion, electronic ed. (Wheaton: Victor Books, 1991; Published in electronic form by Logos Research Systems, 1996), 415.
[17]Matthew Henry, Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole Bible : Complete and Unabridged in One Volume (Peabody: Hendrickson, 1996, c1991), Is 6:1.
[18]John F. Walvoord, Roy B. Zuck and Dallas Theological Seminary, The Bible Knowledge Commentary : An Exposition of the Scriptures (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1983-c1985), 1:1045.
[19]John F. Walvoord, Roy B. Zuck and Dallas Theological Seminary, The Bible Knowledge Commentary : An Exposition of the Scriptures (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1983-c1985), 1:1045.
[20]John F. Walvoord, Roy B. Zuck and Dallas Theological Seminary, The Bible Knowledge Commentary : An Exposition of the Scriptures (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1983-c1985), 1:1045.
[21]John Jr MacArthur, The MacArthur Study Bible, electronic ed. (Nashville: Word Pub., 1997, c1997), Is 6:5.
[22]Warren W. Wiersbe, Wiersbe's Expository Outlines on the Old Testament (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1993), Is 6:1.
[23]Warren W. Wiersbe, Wiersbe's Expository Outlines on the Old Testament (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1993), Is 6:1.
[24]Warren W. Wiersbe, Wiersbe's Expository Outlines on the Old Testament (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1993), Is 6:1.
[25]Warren W. Wiersbe, Wiersbe's Expository Outlines on the Old Testament (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1993), Is 6:1.
[26]The Holy Bible : English Standard Version. (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001), Ps 14:1.
[27]Warren W. Wiersbe, Wiersbe's Expository Outlines on the Old Testament (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1993), Is 6:1.