“… I saw the Lord high and lifted up, and the train of His robe filled the temple. Above it stood seraphim; each one with six wings: with two they covered their face, with two they covered their feet, and with two they flew. And they cried to one another and said: “Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord of hosts; The whole earth is filled with His glory!” And the posts of the doors were shaken by the voice of him who cried out, and the house filled with smoke. So I said “Woe is me, for I am undone! Because I am a man of unclean lips, And I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; For my eyes have seen the King, The Lord of hosts.” 

Isaiah 6:1b-5 NKJV

OBSERVATION

This room is filled with smoke, angels, a stunning robe that filled the whole place, and God sitting on the throne. The angels cover their eyes in reverence and their feet in respect. As they circle the throne they declare the nature of God, Holiness. As they shout and the strongest parts of the temple shake. Overwhelmed, Isaiah recognizes his unworthiness and falls to the floor, shaken just like the doors of the temple. Isaiah saw the uncreated God and couldn’t even stand. In that moment he recognizes his weaknesses and identifies that God’s holiness is pure and uncorrupted.

APPLICATION

This is part one of two in the devotional “Here I am, Send Me” because there’s two main parts of Isaiah’s interaction with God on the Throne. How often are we overwhelmed by God like Isaiah was? The scene is a powerful moment in Isaiah’s life that becomes the motivational energy that gives him strength for his mission. Isaiah’s mission was to be a prophet to Israel who was walking away from God. Isaiah also provides one the of the clearest pictures of the coming of Jesus. We need moments like this, moments where we look deeply at who God is, in all His power, in His holiness, to motivate us to pursue our mission. It was this moment that Isaiah not only caught a vision, but recognized how he missed the mark next to the holiness of God. It would help to take time with this passage and imagine yourself in Isaiah’s place. God is calling us to a mission in our own lives, but we need vision like Isaiah had to run hard after our calling.

PrayER

God, give me vision like Isaiah to run after what You are asking from me. Help me have sight to go after your mission in my life. Give me vision to serve you in my life, to recognize my own weakness, and to press past them to accomplish the mission you’ve set me on. Amen