Unworthy, Yet Cleansed

The vision of Jehovah's throne has a profound effect on Isaiah.  He records:  "I proceeded to say:  "Woe to me!  For I am as good as brought to silence, because a man unclean in lips I am, and in among a people unclean in lips I am dwelling; for my eyes have seen the King, Jehovah of armies, himself.' " (Isaiah 6:5)  What  a stark contrast there is between Isaiah and King Uzziah! Uzziah unsurped the position of the anointed priesthood and impiously invaded the Holy compartment  of the temple. Although Uzziah saw the golden lampstands, the golden altar of incense , and the tables of "the bread of Presence," he did not see Jehovah's face of approval or receive any special commission from him. (1 Kings 7:48-50) On the other hand, the prophet Isaiah does not brush aside the priesthood or trespass on the temple and is honored with a direct commission from God.  While the seraphs do not presume  to look upon the enthroned Lord of the temple, Isaiah is allowed, in vision, to look upon "the King, Jehovah of armies, himself!"

The contrast that Isaiah sees between God's holiness and his own sinfulness, makes him feel  most unclean.  Filled with fear, he reasons that he will die.  (Exodus 33:20)  He hears the seraphs praise God with clean lips, but his own lips are unclean and are further sullied by the uncleanness of the lips of the people among whom he dwells and whose speech he hears.  Jehovah is holy, and his servants must reflect that quality.  (1 Peter 1:15, 16)  Although Isaiah has already been chosen as a spokesman for God, he is struck with the realization of his sinful condition and lacks the clean lips befitting a spokesman of the glorious and holy King. What will the heavenly response be?

Instead of banishing lowly Isaiah from before Jehovah's presence, the seraphs act to help him. The record states:  "At that, one of the seraphs flew to me, and in his hand there was a glowing coal that he had taken with tongs off the altar. And he preceded to touch my mouth  and to say: 'Look! this has touched your lips, and your error has departed and your sin itself is atoned for.' " (Isaiah 6:6, 7) In a symbolic sense, fire has purifying power.  When applying the glowing coal from the holy fire  of the altar to Isaiah's lips, the seraph assures  Isaiah that his sins have been atoned fro to the extent necessary to enable him to receive God's favor and a commission.  How reassuring this is to us!  We too are sinful and unworthy to approach God. But we have been redeemed by the merit of Jesus' ransom sacrifice and can receive God's favor and approach him in prayer.- 2 Corinthians 5:18, 21; 1 John 4:10.

Next time: Conclusion of Unworthy, Yet Cleansed

From the Book Isaiah's Prophecy Light for all Mankind