The Glowing Coal
Isaiah 6:1-8
Isaiah 6:1-10
1 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 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.
The Threefold Holy
• God is holy in heaven and on earth.
• God is holy over all the creatures of the universe.
• God is holy and without sin. God cannot tolerate the sin of mankind.
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.
When Isaiah comes face-to-face with God's holiness, confession is the natural outpouring.
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.
The Threefold Holy
• God is holy in heaven and on earth.
• God is holy over all the creatures of the universe.
• God is holy and without sin. God cannot tolerate the sin of mankind.
• God is holy and the savior of His people.
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 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.
Deuteronomy 6:4-9
4 “Listen, Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 5 Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. 6 These words that I am giving you today are to be in your heart. 7 Repeat them to your children. Talk about them when you sit in your house and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. 8 Bind them as a sign on your hand and let them be a symbol on your forehead. 9 Write them on the doorposts of your house and on your city gates.
Deuteronomy 6:12-14
12 be careful not to forget the Lord who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the place of slavery. 13 Fear the Lord your God, worship him, and take your oaths in his name. 14 Do not follow other gods, the gods of the peoples around you,
Isaiah 6:10 Make the minds 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.
John 3:19-21
19 This is the judgment: The light has come into the world, and people loved darkness rather than the light because their deeds were evil. 20 For everyone who does evil hates the light and avoids it, so that his deeds may not be exposed. 21 But anyone who lives by the truth comes to the light, so that his works may be shown to be accomplished by God.”
• Salvation is God's work, not ours. No one can earn salvation through self-effort or by "turning over a new leaf." It’s a gift only God can give.
• Only God’s burning, transforming love can reach us. His holy, consuming love is the only power strong enough to transform the depths of our self-centered hearts.
• Radical sin requires radical love. Humanity's deep brokenness can only be healed by the relentless, life-changing love of a holy and living God.
