Pastor T. J. de Ruiter
"See, this has touched your lips, your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for." Isaiah 6:7
Introduction
The little kingdom of Judea - I say "little" with a reason, as only two families were true to the house of David, after the departure of Jeroboam - went again through a very difficult period, when we pause by the sixth chapter in Isaiah. The event described in verse 1, the death of King Uzziah, took place around 740 B.C. To understand the tension behind the events in this chapter it is important to be aware of the history leading up to it. The tragic death of this king was more or less the anticlimax of a very prosperous period for the kingdom of Judah.
Historic background of the sixth chapter of Isaiah
It sounds unbelievable, but Uzziah, we read his story in 2 Chronicles 26 - in 2 Kings 15:1 he is called Azariah - was only 16 years old when he became king; he ruled 23 years in Jerusalem. He was a godly young man, who was righteous in the eyes of the Lord. His faith and character were probably formed by the priest Zechariah, as he had given him patient and authoritative teaching about the Lord, His will for mankind and the way to show respect to him as God. The godly people, including of course the prophet Isaiah, were very relieved when this young King Uzziah turned out to be godly. Uzziah became a prosperous ruler and as always was the case in the Old Testament, this prosperity and his successes in battle against the surrounding nations, such as the Philistines, were contributed to his godliness. He became so famous, that he was known even in Egypt and that's something! He became, as described in the 2nd book of Chronicles 26:8, "Exceedingly powerful." Uzziah built towers in Jerusalem and fortified them with great vigour and made sure his army was well trained (2 Chronicles 26:11-15). He and his kingdom were doing exceptionally well. One can sense in 2 Chron. 26:15 the excitement of the author as he shouts for joy: "His fame spread far and wide, for he was greatly helped until he became powerful."
Now, please, pay attention to the word "until." It brings a certain tension to the story. A turning-point had been reached in this success story. A dramatic and tragic change was about to take place and it was the king himself who was responsible! At the peak of his power, as described by the historian, his heart became proud - he had begun to think very highly of himself: "I am the king, I want to bring my own sacrifice at the altar, why should this only be the right of the priests?" So he went to the temple and demanded the priests to bring him the sacrificial dishes. However, he had not taken into account that the priests might dare to withstand him. "Your Highness, you have no right to do this, this is a task for the priests, the descendants of Aaron" Uzziah was furious. While he was raging in the presence of the priests, leprosy broke out on his forehead and he fled from the temple. Consequently he lived the rest of his life as a leper, eventually dying of this terrible, humiliating and disfiguring disease, that even now is still feared in tropical countries. These events, understandably, dampened the joy of the godly Israelites. Even Isaiah must have mourned for the death of this godfearing king. It was in this same period that he had this vision. The stupid, haughty king was dead, but the LORD was sitting alive and well on his throne! The Lord came to his young and trusting servant in a very special way...
The vision of the Glorious Holiness of God
This vision is of unbelievable importance to the further life and ministry of Isaiah! This vision truly changed him! Up until this moment he had prayed: "God, change these immoral inhabitants of Jerusalem, that pay no heed to you." It is only a short time later, that we hear him praying: "Lord, change me!" When he saw the holy, exalted God sitting on his throne and a cloud of smoke rising up to hide the holy God from his creatures, felt everything trembling and when he sensed the atmosphere laden with the glorious, holy presence of God, the KABOD, the weighty presence of his magnificence - then he experienced something, that he was - most probably - not expecting...
Woe me...!
Isaiah was overwhelmed by a deep and painful realisation of his own uncleanness! He then screamed out, "Woooooe meeeee!!!!" We don't read about such a conviction in the previous chapters, but now we hear an utterance of introspection. It shows that he had a deep perception of own uncleanness and sinfulness. In the chapters leading up to the sixth one, he hadn't held back whilst condemning the sins of the inhabitants of Jerusalem. He had denounced in plain language, the sinfulness, immorality and crimes of these people. He had continually denounced them with a "woe you", when confronting them with their evildoings. But now, he was calling out: "Woe me, I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips.."
An unclean unclean heart...
Let me be very clear about this: Unclean lips are caused by an unclean heart. This is amazing: How could this young prophet of God be so conscious of uncleanness? Isaiah was a young godly and righteous servant of God. He would have nothing to do with the sins of others, that he so strongly critised in chapter 1-5. He was certainly no religious hypocrite; had nothing to do with any form of lewdness; he did not cheated anyone; he did not prophesy for financial rewards; he was not in pursuit of gain in his ministry, he was not found in the company of those who drank wine early in the morning and he surely avoided any excessive drinking habits; neither did he sell alcoholic drinks; he was not unjust in his judgment of others. But now, in God's holy presence, he was aware of his uncleanness!
One lesson that can be learned from this overwhelming, bewildering and revealing experience of Isaiah is this: Compared to others we, as believers, may appear to be upright and honest christians, but when we are confronted wyth the almighty and holy God, our hidden, deeprooted uncleanness becomes evident. It is only when we are overpowered by Gods Holy Presence that we realise that we are clothed in the filthy garments of our selfrighteousness! Ou outer lifestyle may be clean, but nevertheless we do have an unclean heart! I refer to what Jesus said in Mark 7:21, "For from within, out of men's hearts, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly.."(NIV). What a list!!!!!
I am a sinner, I am unclean!
Yes, up till now you were not conscious of the enormity of our uncleanness, the impurity of our motives and thoughts. But as you stand now in God's holy presence, you know it, you feel it! Yes, you only know and feel your sinfulness when God's holy presence becomes the overwhelming reality upon your consciousness! So long as we think of ourselves as being not all that bad, we have not yet experienced the deeprooted uncleanness of your own heart and life. Know this for sure: Only when you come to stand in he presence of God, in the atmosphere of his glory and holiness, do you feel how sinful and unclean you are. Then you shout it out with contempt for yourself: "WOE ME, I AM RUINED, FOR I AM A MAN OF UNCLEAN LIPS..."
Many desire revival, a return to God and the respect for His holy will and standards. Many are aware that a Holy Spirit revival is the only hope for a civilisation, that is slowly, but surely, sinking into the swamp of moral and spiritual death. However, revival will not come before there is repentance in God's people. Repentance, bringing with it feelings of shame and disgust for all uncleanness and sin can only be generated through the Holy Ghost. We need the powerful presence of the Holy Spirit in our churches for He convinces us of our sins! Read John 16:8. Please, listen very closely: I say to myself, to you and to everyone, that reads or hears this: True revival starts when the people of God realise their worldly uncleannes and have their hearts and conscience cleansed through the burning coal that is taken from the sacrifice on Calvary!!!
Touched and cleansed by fire!
The purification of Isaiah took place when he was touched by a burning coal from the altar. This requires an explanation. The Holy Ghost wants to make an important point from this unusual vision. Try to imagine, what actually took place. Isaiah is standing there with a deep conviction of his own uncleanness. There is the altar with the fiery glowing coals and next to it the seraphs, angelic beings, one has a pair of tongs in his hand. Fear grips Isaiah as he watches how a seraph takes a glowing coal in the tongs and approaches him. The seraph reaches out to Isaiah's mouth with the tongs and the glowing coal . A fast move, a sisszzz, the smell of burning flesh... and he feels being touched at his lips! Probably Isaiah felt a sensation of pain, for although it was a vision, visions like dreams can be a strange reality to our consciousness. Then the angel says: "See, this has touched your lips, your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for." Only recently I spoke on: "Everyone will be salted with fire.."; see Mark 9:49. This is a text that is very difficult to understand. Here in chapter 6 Isaiah is salted, becoming disinfected from his inborn, deeply embedded uncleanness! The fire from the altar, symbol of the Holy Ghost, who effectuates the cleansing and purifying power of the atonement made by Jesus Christ!
Brothers and sisters, as a preacher, I have given up trying to make you repent. I cannot inspire you to repent - I should have realised this much earlier. However, I know a mighty person, who has the power to convict of sin - The Holy Spirit! Jesus said in John 16:8, "When he comes... " Now I understand what this means. He needs to come to every human being to convict him about sinfulness. When He is come ... has not only to do with his coming on the first day of Pentecost, but with the necessity of his coming to each and everyone of us in this world. When He comes to a person, He shall give an overpowering consciousness and insight into the uncleanness of his own heart and lips. Then He will convince of Gods judgment on sin and show the way from unrighteousness to righteousness! Cleansing was necessary for Isaiah and is also necessary in you! When the Holy Spirit comes to you and confronts you with God's holiness - I guarantee you - then you will cry aloud: "Woooooe meeeee, wooooooe meeee, for I am unclean, my lips are soiled by uncleanness, I am lost!!!!" I plead with you: When He comes to you, react to Him and come to the purifying flow of the blood and the Spirit of Jesus Christ. Receive forgiveness. Allow your lips and heart to be touched by the burning coal from the altar, the refining fire, that began to burn on the cross of Calvary, where Jesus Christ brought that unique, universal, conclusive offer for purification and reconciliation! Allow yourself be touched, let your flesh be consumed by the fire of the Holy Spirit. He makes salvation a reality in you! Listen! It is better for you, far better, that you allow yourself to be touched by this cleansing, disinfecting, holy fire of God NOW, than to be doomed to burn for an eternity in the fire of hell!
In conclusion.....
I appeal to you to be critical of your own heart and being as you look in the mirror of God's Word. Perhaps you won't experience an impressive and overwhelming vision, but you do have God's Word as a mirror; read James1 :22-25. Look in it and let the Holy Spirit convict you and bring the hidden sinfulness to your consciousness. May I lead you in this prayer? "Lord, by your Holy Spirit search the depths of my heart. Bring to light my sinfulness, I know it must be there because I feel so unworthy in your glorious and holy presence. Lord, I accept the forgiveness, I accept the cleansing fire of the blood of Jesus Christ. Burn in me, Spirit of God, with the coal from your altar.......(just pause here for a minute.... and say now:) Lord, thank you for you purifying fire and your holy touch. Thank You, Lord, for saving my sinsick soul!" Hallelujah, I congratulate you with this wonderful experience. Amen.
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