Scripture
By Brittenne Boykin
Scripture Lesson Text: Isaiah 6:1-8, Exodus 33:12-20, Psalm 89:1-8, Matthew 17:1-7, Revelation 1:12-20.The text tells us that in the year that King Uzziah dies, Isaiah saw the Lord as He really is high and lifted up. Isaiah saw even the seraphim proclaiming God’s holiness and splendor. Once Isaiah had been made clean the Lord asked Isaiah who He might send to declare His word to the people, Isaiah said without hesitation, “Here am I, send me.”
Our related scriptures further echo God’s love, His splendor, and His power. In Exodus 33: 12-20, Moses dialogues with God as he prepares to bring the people out of Egyptian bondage. God assures him that he has found favor in his sight and that His presence would go with him. Psalm 89: 1-8 reminds us that God loves us and even the heavens praise His wonders.
Matthew 17:1-7 give us a front row seat during the transfiguration of Christ. God declares that He is well pleased with Jesus and His closest disciples get to see Christ in His glorified splendor. In Revelation 1:12-20, John sees Christ in his heavenly glory and falls as a dead man. He is so struck by the sheer power and fierceness of Christ, who announces to John, that He is the ultimate authority who conquered death.
Synopsis
By Deborah Hillman
Our lesson story begins with the Prophet Isaiah having a vision of the Lord’s holiness, where he sat high upon a throne lifted up and his train filled the temple. Above where the LORD sat stood seraphim who had six wings that they used four for the covering of their faces and feet in reverence to God, while the other two wings were use to fly (Isaiah 6:1,2). We are not told how many of these angels were present but they did cry one to another” Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts”, and the posts of the door moved at the voice of them that cried and smoke filled the house (Isaiah 6:3,4).
As the seraphim were crying, “ Holy,holy, holy, Isaiah’s attention was visioning a glimpse of the holiness of God. The word “holy” means completely set apart. God is separate from and superior over all his creation both in his essence and his moral purity. These verses reveal the need and motivation to be more aware of the love and worship we have for God, to create a better way to serve Him.
In response to this vision Isaiah realized that he was a sinner and cried “Woe is me for I am undone”. He was a man of unclean lips who lived amongst people of the same nature (Isaiah 6:5). The Lord responded by sending one of the seraphim to cleanse him, by carrying a burning coal picked up from the altar with a pair of tongs and placed it on Isaiah lips (Isaiah 6:6,7). Since this was the part of his body that he confessed was unclean, then the angel declared “Lo, this hath touched thy lips and thine iniquity is taken away and thy sin purged”.
Practical Application
By Lecha Price
In our lesson today, we witness Isaiah’s commission after his heavenly vision of God’s holiness. The practical application encourages us to respond to God’s holiness by submitting our hearts to Him and growing in our desire to serve Him. During his heavenly vision, Isaiah received a revelation of God’s holiness which caused him to become acutely aware of his sinful human condition. In this encounter, Isaiah recognized that God was not only holy, but also merciful, gracious, loving, and forgiving. This eye-opening recognition moved Isaiah to a posture of repentance and yearning to become a better servant.
Isaiah’s transparent experience and testimony are a challenge and encouragement to seek an understanding of God’s holiness and wholeheartedly commit our hearts to serve Him. Like Isaiah, we must confess our sinful human condition and admit our desperate need for God’s mercy, grace, and forgiveness. Found in God’s sovereignty, omnipotence, omniscience, omnipresence, holiness, and glory is a loving Father who made provision for us to be called His sons and daughters. It is a privilege to be called His servant and to serve Him with all our hearts.
