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“A Vision of God” Isaiah 6: 1-8 06/09/2006 Dr. Dane Boyles. “A Vision of God”. Isaiah came from a prominent family in Jerusalem. He was an 8 th century prophet who appeared at a critical time in Judah’s history. He proclaimed a message of judgment and demanded repentance!
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“A Vision of God” • Isaiah came from a prominent family in Jerusalem. • He was an 8th century prophet who appeared at a critical time in Judah’s history. • He proclaimed a message of judgment and demanded repentance! • As Isaiah was beginning his ministry, the Assyrians were in the process of building an empire that threatened to swallow up Israel unless God intervened.
“A Vision of God” • He had to choose between placing his trust in human wisdom and power or in God to deliver the nation from war. • The outcome was the Syro-Ephraimite War from 734 to 732 B.C and Judah’s loss of political independence. • Isaiah was called to a huge mission!
“A Vision of God” • They were lethargic and idolatrous. • They were spiritually insensitive (1:3-6). 3 The ox knows his master, the donkey his owner’s manger, but Israel does not know, my people do not understand. (Isaiah 1:3)
“A Vision of God” 4 Ah, sinful nation, a people loaded with guilt, a brood of evildoers, children given to corruption! They have forsaken the LORD; they have spurned the Holy One of Israel and turned their backs on him. (Isaiah 1:4) 5 Why should you be beaten anymore? Why do you persist in rebellion? Your whole head is injured, your whole heart afflicted. (Isaiah 1:5)
“A Vision of God” 6 From the sole of your foot to the top of your head there is no soundness— only wounds and welts and open sores, not cleansed or bandaged or soothed with oil. (Isaiah 1:6)
“A Vision of God” • They suffered malnutrition of the spirit (1:12-17). 12When you come to appear before me, who has asked this of you, this trampling of my courts? (Isaiah 1:12) 13 Stop bringing meaningless offerings! Your incense is detestable to me. New Moons, Sabbaths and convocations—I cannot bear your evil assemblies. (Isaiah 1:13)
“A Vision of God” 14Your New Moon festivals and your appointed feasts my soul hates. They have become a burden to me; I am weary of bearing them. (Isaiah 1:14) 15 When you spread out your hands in prayer, I will hide my eyes from you; even if you offer many prayers, I will not listen. Your hands are full of blood; (Isaiah 1:15)
“A Vision of God” 16 wash and make yourselves clean. Take your evil deeds out of my sight! Stop doing wrong, 17 learn to do right! Seek justice, encourage the oppressed. Defend the cause of the fatherless, plead the case of the widow. (Isaiah 1:16-17)
“A Vision of God” • They had lost perspective (1:21-23). 21See how the faithful city has become a harlot! She once was full of justice; righteousness used to dwell in her— but now murderers! 22 Your silver has become dross, your choice wine is diluted with water. (Isaiah 1:21-22)
“A Vision of God” 23Your rulers are rebels, companions of thieves; they all love bribes and chase after gifts. They do not defend the cause of the fatherless; the widow's case does not come before them. (Isaiah 1:23)
“A Vision of God” • But before Isaiah walks into this mess, God appears to him in chapter 6 to prepare him for the confrontation. 1 In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord seated on a throne, high and exalted, and the train of his robe filled the temple. 2 Above him were seraphs, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. (Isaiah 6:1-2)
“A Vision of God” 3 And they were calling to one another: “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory.” 4 At the sound of their voices the doorposts and thresholds shook and the temple was filled with smoke. (Isaiah 6:3-4)
“A Vision of God” 5“Woe to me!” I cried. “I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the LORD Almighty.” 6 Then one of the seraphs flew to me with a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with tongs from the altar. (Isaiah 6:5-6)
“A Vision of God” 7 With it he touched my mouth and said, “See, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for.”8 Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?” And I said, “Here am I. Send me!” (Isaiah 6:5-8)
“A Vision of God” • I want us to see God as He really is. • And I want us to have a theology that contains reality and not a reality that contains God.
“A Vision of God” • God Is Sovereign Judge • The problem is that they had attributed too much humanity to God. • God was trivialized, secularized and rationalized. 1 In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord seated on a throne, high and exalted, and the train of his robe filled the temple. (Isaiah 6:1)
“A Vision of God” • He contradicts their perceptions of God. • To them God was either synonymous with the universe (i.e. Pantheism), or God was like man (i.e. an Anthropomorphic God). • The God that Isaiah sees isn’t human!
“A Vision of God” God Dwells in Another Dimension. 2 Above him were seraphs, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. (Isaiah 6:2)
“A Vision of God” • He has retinue – “Seraphim” (burning ones). • No earthly reality could cope with the reality of God. • Here we find the key to man’s success! • To see God as He really is! • To have a theology that contains reality, not a reality that contains God!
“A Vision of God” • The reality of our human experience absorbs our view of God: • It shrinks God... • It neutralizes God… • It puts God in a box and limits Him… • And in the case of some it kills God (Nietzsche).
“A Vision of God” • God Is Holy. 3And they were calling to one another: “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty; (Isaiah 6:3) • “Holy” means complete perfection. • “Holy” is a sphere belonging specifically to God. • Judah is no longer “holy.” • She has prostituted herself.
“A Vision of God” • God Is to Be the Human Reference Point. 3 the whole earth is full of his glory.”(Isaiah 6:3c) • The Lord has never left himself without witness.
“A Vision of God” 20 For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse. (Romans 1:18)
“A Vision of God” • The earth is more than a theater for human operations. • Earth is a reference point for finding God, for serving God, for proclaiming God. • Every life is to be a reference point to God.
“A Vision of God” • God Is a Presence. 4 At the sound of their voices the doorposts and thresholds shook and the temple was filled with smoke.(Isaiah 6:4) • Everything testifies that God is alive and present! • He’s not to be ignored nor reclassified.
“A Vision of God” Conclusion • When we see God as He really is, we see ourselves as we really are. • It shows us that God is willing to forgive us and live with us. • The Creator of the universe has come to us in Jesus.
“A Vision of God” 19O people of Zion, who live in Jerusalem, you will weep no more. How gracious he will be when you cry for help! As soon as he hears, he will answer you. (Isaiah 30:19) 21Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.” (Isaiah 30:21)
