Their refusal to receive Truth!) In about 745BC, five years prior to Uzziah's death, Assyria began to emerge as a new international power under Tiglath-Pileser (745-727BC) while Jotham was king (2Ki 15:19). He is so unlike us, so exalted over His creation, that we can't control Him or make Him simply a reflection of ourselves. In panic, Ahaz sent to the Assyrian king for help (2 Kin. Early in the morning our song shall rise to Thee; According to Scripture the sacrifice of the law only covered the offerer's sin and secured the divine forgiveness. He then could say, "But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ" (Php 3:7-note). What the Master commands of His bond-servants, He always enables. In the majority of cases chatta'ah denotes sins against man, e.g. Beloved, is there not a powerful principle here? so that they might believe what is false, in order that they all may be judged who did not believe the truth (He reiterates that this is not God's desire but is their choice), but took pleasure in wickedness (How they behave shows what they really believe). Even with our best intentions and desires, our worship of God is imperfect. 4:1-7+; Rev 11:19+; Rev 15:5-8+). The prophet lived until at least 681 B.C. How to Go from Fearful to Forgiven John MacArthur. 1:13). It is absolutely essential that He be lifted up, because He came down to this earth and became one of us that He might become " the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world" (Jn 1:29). It may signify 1) the presence of God (cf. (SeeIsaiah 1-39: An Exegetical and Theological Exposition), John Fish offers a sobering summation of the last section of Isaiah 6, The preaching of Isaiah in Isaiah 6 calls us to remember a solemn and important message of Scripture. All Thy works shall praise Thy Name, in earth, and sky, and sea; 1. Page183. (Vine, W. Collected writings of W. E. Vine. (Names Of God Nathan Stone Books. The voice of the Lord - Isaiah opens this chapter by seeing Adonai from a distance but after confession and cleansing he is now able to hear Adonai. The usual title found in Scriptures for the Shechinah Glory is the glory of Jehovah, or the glory of the Lord. How much more profound should be the humility and self-abasement of man! Holy posture! They were in the presence of Jesus. So even as Moses' ministry to Pharaoh resulted in hardening of his heart rather than repentance, in a similar fashion Isaiah's prophetic ministry to Judah would (sadly) result in increased hardening of his hearer's hearts. But one man there was who did respond and that in a very definite way (Ed: Referring of course to the prophet Isaiah, who had ears to hear and eyes to see the supernatural! The Astonishing Servant of Jehovah (Isaiah 53) John MacArthur Published on Apr 16, 2012 by JohnMacArthurGTY Now for this morning, I finally want you to open your Bible to the fifty-third chapter of 40 "Comfort, comfort My people," says your God. As when the sun appears, all the lesser lights vanish into darkness, so when Jesus rises in noontide glory upon the soul, all other glory retires, and He alone fixes the eye and fills the mind. Why? 1 Thessalonians 2 Peter Within this sarcastic framework, Isaiah 6:10a must also be seen as ironic. For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, And deep darkness the people; But the Lord will arise over you, 15:5; 2 Chr 26:20, 21). Minor Prophets The Whole Bible In other words - heart ears eyes see with their eyes hear with their ears understand with their hearts. As Adam and Eve hid themselves when they heard the voice of the Lord God walking in the garden; (Ge 3:8, 9, 10) so do we shrink from the felt presence of the Lord in view of our own unworthiness and guilt. The servant of GOD is responsible to the Lord Himself. This coal came from the altar before Gods throne--the real altar of which the earthly ones were only copies or shadows. GenesisExodusLeviticusNumbersDeuteronomyJoshuaJudgesRuth1 Samuel2 Samuel1 Kings2 Kings1 Chronicles2 ChroniclesEzraNehemiahEstherJobPsalmsProverbsEcclesiastesSong of SongsIsaiahJeremiahLamentationsEzekielDanielHoseaJoelAmosObadiahJonahMicahNahumHabakkukZephaniahHaggaiZechariahMalachiMatthewMarkLukeJohnActsRomans1 Corinthians2 CorinthiansGalatiansEphesiansPhilippiansColossians1 Thessalonians2 Thessalonians1 Timothy2 TimothyTitusPhilemonHebrewsJames1 Peter2 Peter1 John2 John3 JohnJudeRevelation, Use semicolons to separate groups: 'Gen;Jdg;Psa-Mal' or 'Rom 3-12;Mat 1:15;Mat 5:12-22', There are options set in 'Advanced Options', The Whole Bible But not many continue in the chapter to dwell on the specific message Isaiah is told to preach (Isa 6:9,10) because this message shocks us. Then after the prophet's confession and cleansing in preparation for his service, he hears a voice saying: "Whom shall I send and who will go for us?". "YOU SIN IS FORGIVEN" I went back to fishing for fishI thought I knew that kind of fishing better, but I find that I dont! Jesus is the Sun which reveals the pollutions and defilements which are within. Haggai Holy, Holy, Holy Is the Lord of Hosts. As he touched Isaiahs mouth with it, the seraph said, Behold, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away, and your sin atoned for (verse 7). He has served as pastor-teacher of Grace Community Church in Sun Valley, California, since 1969. Dr. Evans goes on to say, Only one thing happens [in heaven]: people get to know God. When I listened to John MacArthur's monumental and devastating sermon in September which was a response to the Democratic Party platform, I thought the culture could not get any lower. Or to my knees will I fall? (1 Jn 1:9-note). Clear distinction in the use of the divine names is illustrated in Ex. Isaiah 6:1. So in 701 B.C. Is there not a principle here for believers today? Sennacherib, the Assyrian king, invaded the coastal areas of Israel, marching toward Egypt on Israels southern flank. But God's redeeming grace hastened to meet his need, applying to his lips a coal from the incense altar (originally from the altar of blood sacrifice; cf. These would, in turn, be subject again to chastisement (burning) but not eradication. Nothing could be more opposed to this mentality than the awe-inspiring heavenly scene before us today. Mark the profound humility of the seraphim-they veiled with their wings their faces and their feet. Long before Cyrus, king of Persia appeared on the scene, Isaiah named him as Judahs deliverer from the Babylonian captivity (44:28; 45:1). Ask Pastor John. Luke-Acts Double for all her sins.". "Mommy!" she said, "My teacher says I drew the most unusual Christmas picture she has ever seen!" The mother studied the picture for a moment and concluded it was indeed a very peculiar Christmas pic-ture. Isaiah's confession and contrition was met with God's gracious provision of mercy as He promised in Isaiah 57, For thus says the high and exalted One Who lives forever, whose name is Holy, I dwell on a high and holy place, and also with the contrite and lowly of spirit (descriptive of Isaiah) in order to revive the spirit of the lowly and to revive the heart of the contrite. Isa 6:7) and observes that the earlier generations stubbornly hardened their hearts, but Ps 81:11-12, recalling this same period, states that the Lord "gave them over to their stubborn hearts." I just came across your list of 100 Christian leaders that you notified about the dangers of Jesus Calling. Nehemiah And there will be a time of distress(Heb = tsarah; Lxx =thlipsisthe same word used by Jesus in His phrase "The Great Tribulation" [thlipsis megale]) such as never occurred since there was a nation until that time; and at that time your people, everyone who is found written in the book, will be rescued.7 I heard the man dressed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, as he raised his right hand and his left toward heaven, and swore by Him who lives forever that it would be for a time, times, and half a time (synonymous time phrases= 1260 days, 42 months, "middle of the week"); and as soon as they finish shattering the power of the holy people (ISRAEL), all these events will be completed. Helplessness is one such attitude. Johannine Writings Strange that inanimate pillars should thus be moved while the hearts of men remained obdurate and motionless! After Paul met the Lord, he no longer saw himself as a self-righteous Pharisee, but as a lost sinner in need of salvation. The call of God is not for the special few, it is for everyone. Joel (Lk 6:45+), James wrote that "we all stumble in many ways. In the process he overran many Judean towns, looting and carrying many people back to Assyria. It is the majestic presence or manifestation of God in which He descends to dwell among men. The repetition of the word 'holy' speaks of God's perfect holiness His complete purity and separation from anything evil. (Isaiah 6 Net Bible Comments) (Paragraph indentations, bolding and italics added), Robert Murray McCheyne who himself died at a young age gave this advice to a young ministerial student. Ezra Simon Peter, James and John learn that God will take the faith of humble fishermen and ask them to join him in catching other people for God. Spurgeon comments that: the light about Him as a monarch puts on his robe. If you can, use a fall barbecue or bonfire as an opportunity to meditate on the reality of Isaiahs coal. IVP Commentary - The size of the catch tells Simon and his companions that this event has been no accident. 7:6). One purpose of Isaiah's vision was to commission him for service (Isa 6:8-13). The early church father Jerome likened him to Demosthenes, the legendary Greek orator. (See The Commission Of The Call), Isaiah 6:9 HE SAID, " GO, AND TELL THIS PEOPLE: 'KEEP ON LISTENING, BUT DO NOT PERCEIVE; KEEP ON LOOKING, BUT DO NOT UNDERSTAND. And at times the prophet may have been tempted to look to Judahs king, rather than to Yahweh, for the continued prosperity of the nation. (See context inThe Prophecy of Isaiah), Wiersbe -It would be like the stump of a fallen tree from which the shoots (the holy seed) would come, and they would continue the true faith in the land. (See context in The Wiersbe Bible Commentary: Old Testament), It is interesting to see the meaning of this same fraction of a "tenth" in Leviticus where Moses records that, every tenth part of herd or flock, whatever passes under the rod, the tenth one shall be holy to Jehovah. Wisdom Literature 39). (2 Kin. Unclean lips - The words of one's lips reflect the state of one's heart, for as Jesus said "The mouth speaks out of that which fills the heart." Isaiah 9:6-7, which was proclaimed 700 years before the birth of Jesus Christ, is one of the most-often quoted prophecies of the Savior's first coming, but the prophecy longs to be completely satisfied when Jesus returns a second time to establish His perfect reign on the earth. His son Jotham (ca. Isaiah 6. in the resource materials are not necessarily affirmed, in total, by this ministry. One to the other called and praised the Lord: Holy is God, the Lord of Sabaoth! 11:37). (Listen free online - Isaiah 6:6-8.mp3)(See context in Thru the Bible), Paul reminded his young disciple Timothy of the importance of the principle of Biblically based "separation" (not exclusiveness or becoming part of an "elite") from potentially corrupting influences, if we would be used by God, Therefore (based on the preceding truth), if a man cleanses himself from these things, (Ed: Some interpret this as "these people") he will be a vessel for honor (precious, valuable), sanctified (set apart from the common and profane uses and readied for holy, consecrated uses), useful to the Master, prepared for every good (God - Jn 15:5 type) work. Their main objective was to fulfill the wishes of their master. For the first time his mouth speaks with "the highest sort of simplicity, of naivet, the intuition of a soul which has seen itself in the light of the divine holiness." At the same time his holiness encompasses His moral authority, which derives from His royal position. Woe is me, for I am ruined! Matthew TODAY ALONG THE WAY -Is your worship being offered to God on His terms and timetable, or has it become a "drive-through experience"? With Isaiahs encouragement, Hezekiah refused to surrender, and when Sennacheribs army fell prey to a sudden disaster, he returned to Nineveh and never threatened Judah again. In that year (740BC), Isaiah had a vision of the Lord [Adonai] sitting on His throne, lofty and exalted (Isa. (Rev 15:8-note). We should only be offended if we are offended by the fact that God is a God who judges sin. David prayed for this end (and so should we considering that it is a prayer for the Lord's return and the real peace of Jerusalem! TODAY ALONG THE WAY - Self-sufficiency can be a serious barrier to prayer. The New Testament (John 8:56 is a little different; Abraham had a vision of the day of Jesus in the future, i.e., in the time of the coming kingdom of God, see Comment). During Uzziahs prosperous 52 year reign (ca. Hebrew sometimes uses repetition for emphasis By repeating the word "holy," the seraphs emphasize the degree of the Lord's holiness. On the latter issue, numerous portions of Isaiah support the position that God has not replaced ethnic Israel with an alleged new Israel. Isaiah has too much to say about Gods faithfulness to Israel, that He would not reject the people whom He has created and chosen (43:1). Constable -It is in seeing God for who He is that we can see ourselves for who we are and can, therefore, accurately evaluate our condition (Isaiah - Expository Notes), John Fish explains that Isaiah "does not merely say that he is doomed because of the belief that no man can see God and live (Ex 33:20), but because the vision has revealed the infinite moral contrast between the One on the throne and Isaiah himself. Freely righteous! John records in his vision of the heavenly temple that, the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God and from His power; and no one was able to enter the temple until the seven plagues of the seven angels were finished. As a result "their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened" (Ro 1:21-note). Grogan notes that Kabod "is used of God in his manifestation to his creatures. McGee -Isaiah heard God's call for the first time and responded to it, as a cleansed individual will do. Though the eye of sinful man Thy glory may not see; Historical Books (Listen free online - Isaiah 6:1.mp3 Isaiah 6:2.mp3 Isaiah 6:3-5.mp3 Isaiah 6:6-8.mp3 Isaiah 6:9-13.mp3) (See context in Thru the Bible). (Vine, W. Collected writings of W. E. Vine. The Old Testament Man can only see God as He has revealed Himself. ', 16 "But blessed are your eyes, because they see; and your ears, because they hear. Robed in righteousness, and holy: Hear the Voice of Judgment ring! What overwhelmed him with this keen sense of his vileness? As far as we know, Isaiah did not literally proclaim these exact words. (1-3) The glorious light of God's Kingdom. Downers Grove, Ill.: InterVarsity Press). Lofty (07311) (ruwm) is a primary root which conveys three ideas (1) literal height, (2) height symbolic of notions (glory, exaltation - Ps 34:3 exalt His name), and (3) height symbolic of negative notions (arrogance & pride). In the OT the terms for smoke appear chiefly in three contexts: theophanic portrayals (Ex 4:5, 19:18, 40:38, Ps 104:32, Ps 144:5), descriptions of mundane events whether actual or prophesied, and comparisons or figurative descriptions (eg, anger of God, Ps 74:1, 80:4). Stated another way, God is telling Isaiah that he would be the instrument of Judah's divinely appointed judicial hardening and spiritual blindness! Also, he does not provide as clear a distinction between the future temporal kingdom and the eternal kingdom as John does in Revelation 20:110; 21:122:5. The vision Isaiah saw would bring the busiest "drive-through worshiper" screeching to a halt. Healed (07495)(rapha/rophe) primarily describes the process of healing as when one is restored to health (eg, fertility Ge 20:17, of wounds Lev 13:18, Jer 15:18). Widely known for his thorough, candid approach to teaching God's Word, John MacArthur is a popular author and conference speaker. . 2 Kings Evidently Isaiah was in the temple in Jerusalem when he had this awe-inspiring vision of God's throne (Isa 6:1). 23:10; Lk 6:46); (b) the servants right to direction in service (Isa 6:8, 9, 10, 11). Over the past few days, we may have given you the idea that forgiveness is only pleasure. (Preaching the Word Isaiah: God Saves Sinners), McGee on the burning coal from the altar, This "live coal" has come from the burnt altar where sin had been dealt with. While this may have been a literal coal, it is used symbolically (otherwise it would have literally burned Isaiah) and in the context was God's vehicle for purifying His prophet of his uncleanness. We teach that there is but one living and true God (Deuteronomy 6:4; Isaiah 45:5-7; 1 Corinthians 8:4), an infinite, all-knowing Spirit (John 4:24), perfect in all His attributes, one in essence, eternally existing in three PersonsFather, Son, and Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19; 2 Corinthians 13:14)each equally deserving worship and obedience. Pauline Epistles Smoke is sometimes the mere sign of the presence of God, as in Isa 4:5; but more often it indicates his presence in anger or judgment (see Ex 19:18; 20:18; Rev 15:8). Thus hardening comes at the end of God's dealing with rebellious sinners and just before their judgment. 37:9ff.). (a) worship God and praise him with the heavenly hosts; (b) repent of daily sins in order to enter the presence of a holy God; (d) speak the message God gives regardless of its popularity or severity; (e) cause some to harden themselves for destruction; or. The text is silent. Isaiah 5-6 "The Man for a National Crisis" - Dr. John MacArthur 157,598 views Mar 15, 2021 3.9K Dislike Share Save Trinity Bible 6.8K subscribers Show more The Kingdom of God - John. All rights reserved. ), Judah developed into a strong commercial and military state with a port for commerce on the Red Sea and the construction of walls, towers, and fortifications (2 Chr. 4:8). Holy, holy, holy! You have never really seen the Lord, my friend, if you feel that you are worthy or merit something or have some claim upon God. This was true in the nations around Israel, as well. The primary function of pen at the beginning of a clause is to express precaution. At the Cross, His wounds acquit me! The prophets attention was immediately drawn to the throne where God rules in awe-inspiring majesty and holiness. All this describes, in a twofold application, the circumstances of the remnant both after the return from captivity and hereafter in the great tribulation. I can only imagine what my eyes will see From heavy derives the idea of a "weighty" person in society, one who is honorable, impressive, worthy of respect, the meaning in >50% of uses. Isaiah written by John A Martin. What the hardening is. Paul uses this as an example of the inscrutable will of God and of His mercy toward men (Ro 9:14, 15, 16, 17, 18-note). Historical Books HOLY, HOLY, HOLY Pentateuch He was married and had two sons who bore symbolic names: Shear-jashub (a remnant shall return, 7:3) and Maher-shalalhash-baz (hasting to the spoil, hurrying to the prey, 8:3). You will spend eternity in heaven getting to know God.. Yet the Lord would preserve a remnant, like the tenth, holy to him. That live coal was witness of the fire, ever burning, which was never to go out (Leviticus 6:13). (just as "the cloud the glory of Jehovah filled the Tabernacle" in Ex 40:35), His robe - In Psalm 104 God's "robe" is described as light, Covering Yourself with light as with a cloak (Ps 104:2). There would be conviction of sin, but no cleansing. (Ps 72:19), but indeed, as I live, all the earth will be filled with the glory of the Lord. Consider the following insights from Ole Hallesby in his excellent book, Prayer: Listen, my friend! GenesisExodusLeviticusNumbersDeuteronomyJoshuaJudgesRuth1 Samuel2 Samuel1 Kings2 Kings1 Chronicles2 ChroniclesEzraNehemiahEstherJobPsalmsProverbsEcclesiastesSong of SongsIsaiahJeremiahLamentationsEzekielDanielHoseaJoelAmosObadiahJonahMicahNahumHabakkukZephaniahHaggaiZechariahMalachiMatthewMarkLukeJohnActsRomans1 Corinthians2 CorinthiansGalatiansEphesiansPhilippiansColossians1 Thessalonians2 Thessalonians1 Timothy2 TimothyTitusPhilemonHebrewsJames1 Peter2 Peter1 John2 John3 JohnJudeRevelation, (Hebrew/Greek Search by English Definition), * 'Number Delimiters' only apply to 'Paragraph Order', Search verses, phrases, and topics (e.g. It calls from your heart to the heart of God with greater effect than all your uttered pleas. Reginald Heber, 1826 (About 100 pages of commentary) James Rosscup - Martin briefly defends unity by Isaiah, then provides a succinct, carefully-studied and clear commentary following a good outline. had to take over the duties of king before his fathers death. Through a literary device called prophetic foreshortening, Isaiah predicted future events without delineating exact sequences of the events or time intervals separating them. But in God's presence, even the seraphs covered themselves in humility (Isa 6:2). The NET note however feels that "The plural pronoun ("us") refers to the Lord, the seraphs, and the rest of the heavenly assembly. It is true that God does bless His Word even when it is given out by those who are playing around with sin, but in time God judges them severely. Isaiahs attitude was brokenness in the blinding light of Gods holiness (Isa 6:5). Fatal wounds proclaim His praise! All the stars in the sky will be dissolved and the heavens rolled up like a scroll; On the former issue, literal fulfillment of many of Isaiahs prophecies has already occurred, as illustrated in Introduction: Historical and Theological Themes. Grand Rapids, Mich.: Baker Books) (Bolding added), In Isaiah 6 the prophet was described as seeing the glory of God. He cried out in distress, suddenly very aware of his sinfulness. They need to confess the sins in their lives, because their service will be sterile and frustrating until that takes place. We suggest that you use a physical object to help yourself grasp spiritual truth more vividly. 28:3). All high and lofty views of its own false glory annihilated by clear and close views of the true glory of Jesus. Isaiah 6:9, which ostensibly records the content of Isaiah's message, is clearly ironic. They talk about Him as if He were a buddy and as if they could speak to Him in any way they please. Drive-through service, cell phones, beepers and other time-saving devices say a lot about a culture that always seems to be in a hurry. Second Chronicles 32:32 records that he wrote a biography of King Hezekiah also. ", Isaiah might as well command them to be spiritually insensitive, because, as the preceding (Isaiah 1-5) and following chapters (Isaiah 7-12) make clear, the people are bent on that anyway. of Scripture. Life Application Commentary - Simon (Peter) had seen people cured and had heard Jesus teachings, but this miracle reached directly into his life and grabbed him. Antiochus IV of Syria almost consumed even this remnant during the inter-testamental period. Write by: . 17:6, 24). in the light of the Lord's infinite holiness. For details about this sermon and for related resources, click here: https://www.gty.org/library/sermons-library/80-324 To receive John MacArthurs monthly letter, as well as free resources by mail, click here: https://www.gty.org/home/newtogty/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gracetoyou Twitter: https://twitter.com/gracetoyou Google +: https://plus.google.com/+gracetoyou Copyright 2007, Grace to You. Dallas: Word, Incorporated), John Calvin commenting on John 12:41 writes, Lest readers should think that this prediction was inappropriately quoted, John expressly states, that the prophet was not sent as a teacher to a single age, but, on the contrary, that the glory of Christ was exhibited to him, that he might be a witness of those things which should take place under his reign. On the one hand this is the fruit of their own depravity. Pentateuch His name was Paul, and he cried out, "O wretched man that I am! Major Prophets Yet Ro 1:18-32 (notes) speaks of a similar situation in which people knew the truth of God's revelation but refused to follow it. Now the Evangelist takes for granted, that Isaiah saw the glory of Christ. Lets also remember that God made us holy in Jesus Christ not just to prepare us for heaven in the sweet by-and-by, but so we can live above the pull of sin in the mixed-up here-and-now. Judges When he saw what Jesus did in supplying such a huge haul of fish, he recognized Jesus as the Messiah. 4:8). Go and tell - Beloved, these two commands should greatly encourage us because they show that although we, like Isaiah, are men and women of unclean lips, the thrice Holy God is ever willing to use vessels who are willing to be used for His holy purposes (cp 2Ti 2:21-note, Jer 15:19). The commission of Isaiah gives us another illustration of the right of Adonai, the Lord, to expect absolute obedience from His servants (Isa. Isaiah 6:5 THEN I SAID, "WOE IS ME, FOR I AM RUINED! You can never come into the presence of the Father because of who you are. We see this strikingly illustrated by Peters words when the miraculous catch of fish convinced him that One greater than man was in his boat In weighing these words of Peter, we must, of course, remember when they were spoken. The throne of God is in the heavenly temple (Rev. Prophets Ezekiel 1944 Moody Publishers), These things (Jn 12:37-40) Isaiah said (Is 53:1, Isa 6:10, cp Ro 10:16), because he saw His glory (Isa 6:1), and he spoke of Him. What an august revelation of the glory of Christ's Godhead was this which broke upon the view of the lowly prophet! This was Isaiah's response to a vision of the Thrice Holy God! Isaiah would convey God's offer of the opportunity of faith, but the very offer would make the recipients even more obstinate! (Da 12:1, 7-10-note). Just as Pharaoh's rejection of Yahweh's ultimatum ignited judgment and foreclosed, at least temporarily, any opportunity for repentance, so the LORD may have come to the point where He has decreed to bring judgment before opening the door for repentance once more. How did God show mercy to Isaiah? In the present context while elevation in regard to rank is certainly intended, it also suggests a more literal meaning, implying Isaiah had to look upwards to see the lofty Lord. 712). For the past few days, weve considered aspects of Gods nature that need to be understood to foster prayer. God is under no obligation to forgive all sinners. Presented here is a verse by verse exposition of the New . When all is said and done, Isaiah might as well preface and conclude every message with these ironic words, which, though imperatival in form, might be paraphrased as follows: "You continually hear, but don't understand; you continually see, but don't perceive.