November 21: FIERY REVELATION

And one [of the seraphim] cried to another and said: “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts; The whole earth is full of His glory!” And the posts of the door were shaken by the voice of him who cried out, and the house was filled with smoke. Isaiah 6:3-4

IN A SWIRLING confusion of world events, it was 740/739 BC when Uzziah died of his leprosy. Five years before, the mighty Assyrian king, Tiglath-pileser III had ascended to the Assyrian throne, carrying out one military campaign after another in western Asia. His written records refer to Uzziah of Judah as the leading power of resistance among the countries in the Mediterranean region of Asia. But now Judah’s king who had taken such a stand against Assyria was dead. What would be the fate of Judah? Would the rest of the world fall prey to Assyria’s aggressions? The current climate made it seem that Assyria, a seemingly invincible superpower, would soon control the world.

Isaiah was in the temple when he saw this vision. It was by God’s design that Isaiah’s view should be broadened beyond and above the unsettling earthly events around him. Isaiah needed to know that God was still reigning supreme upon His throne, regardless of Assyrian power or anything else. Such faithfulness and encouragement on God’s part were manifested to Moses (Exodus 24:10), Micaiah (1 Kings 22:19), Ezekiel (Ezekiel 1:1; 10:1-5), Daniel (Daniel 7:9), Amos (Amos 9:1), and John (Revelation 4:1-6).

“As Isaiah beheld this revelation of the glory and majesty of his Lord, he was overwhelmed with a sense of the purity and holiness of God. How sharp the contrast between the matchless perfection of his Creator, and the sinful course of those who, with himself, had long been numbered among the chosen people of Israel and Judah!” PROPHETS AND KINGS by EGW (p.307)

Seraphim in Hebrew means burning ones or shining ones. Their unearthly splendor can hardly be described. The voice of one was powerful enough to shake this temple built by Solomon (Isaiah 6:4), yet these beautifully magnificent, sinless creatures, in reverence, covered their faces and feet in the presence of the holy Lord of hosts. Oh, beloved, what reverence should we express whenever we approach Him, whether in a house of worship, any group setting, or alone in times of private devotion? The great prophet Isaiah was struck with an overwhelming sense of unworthiness, counting himself among sinful people of Judah whose lips were unclean (v.5). Praise God that His character of love has a shining facet of mercy for faulty people whose lips are not worthy to praise Him, speak to Him, or tell others about Him (see vv. 6-7). The fiery response that Isaiah received following his confession of unclean lips carries our minds forward to the words of John the Baptist:

I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. Matthew 3:11 (see also Luke 3:16)

For further study: Jeremiah 1:9, 1 John 1:9