Thought for the Week

Much preaching/teaching today is focused on the New Testament. I am certainly not opposed to that. I am glad for those who preach and teach truth and utilize the New Testament to do it. But I'd like to take some time to look at the nuggets of truth found in the Old Testament. I want to use these next "Thoughts" to examine tiny segments of the Old Testament. I plan to start with Isaiah and perhaps spend five weeks or so there before moving on. Most certainly no one can exhaust such a magnificent book in such a short space but we'll start. Isaiah lived and prophesied during the reigns of Uzziah, his work began in the year Uzziah died. 738 B.C. Uzziah was co-regent with his son until his death, then Jotham reigned for an additional three years. Ahaz was the next king (735-719 B.C.). He was followed by Hezekiah (719-705 B .C.). Manasseh, an extremely wicked king, followed and it appears his wickedness led him to execute Isaiah by having him sawed apart. Hebrews 11 speaks of this martyrdom. Isaiah chapter 6 is a spectacular start to Isaiah's work as a prophet. He is considered to be a Major Prophet. He entered the Temple and there before him he saw the Lord God exalted upon a throne. The train of His robe filled the Temple. God was surrounded by seraphim (angelic creatures) with six wings. Each used two to cover his face, two covered his feet and the remaining two were used to fly. And they cried to one another "Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord of hosts: the whole earth is filled with His glory." Their cries caused the Temple to shudder and the door posts moved. The Temple was filled with smoke. We know little about Isaiah's early life but we do know this experience stunned him enough to bring terror to him and he cried "Woe is me, I am mortified, I am a man of unclean lips and I live among others with unclean lips. Terror must have gripped him and he most certainly believed his life will bring about severe judgment and perhaps death. I take his words to be a plea for God's mercy. Immediately a seraphim flies to the blazing fire on the altar. He takes a coal from the fire and places it on Isaiah's lips and says, ""This fire has touched your lips", your iniquity is taken away and your sin is purged." What an experience that must have been. Certainly we too have a promise that "If we confess our sin God is faithful and just to forgive us of our sin and cleanse us from all unrighteousness." (see I John 1:9) At this point the voice of God sounds and asks, "Whom shall I send and who will go for us?" We presume this implies God is seeking someone to serve as His Prophet and the messenger of His word to the people. Immediately Isaiah volunteers and says, "Here am I, send me." But just that quickly Isaiah realizes he has volunteered for a mission without knowing any of the expectations attached. So, he then asks, "How long?" As we read the surrounding words, we can realize the work will be long, hard, unappreciated, even resented, and will result in few positive responses. Scripture is clear to tell us that God's spokesmen are frequently abused, hated, rejected and even killed. It would seem Isaiah met with many of the same results. Today, we can read his words with admiration and appreciation but to the people to whom he spoke, there was hostility.

Scriptures to Read

Isaiah 6:1-4

Isaiah 6:5-7

Isaiah 6:8

Isaiah 6:9-12

Isaiah 6:13

Romans 6:21-24

St. Matthew 23:27-31