Isaiah 6:1-8, “In the year that King Uzziah died I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up; and the train of his robe filled the temple. 2 Above him stood the seraphim. Each had six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. 3 And one called to another and said: “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory!” 4 And the foundations of the thresholds shook at the voice of him who called, and the house was filled with smoke. 5 And I said: “Woe is me! For I am lost; for 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!” 6 Then one of the seraphim flew to me, having in his hand a burning coal that he had taken with tongs from the altar. 7 And he touched my mouth and said: “Behold, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away, and your sin atoned for.” 8 And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” Then I said, “Here I am! Send me.” (ESV)
There are times when it seems better not to say anything. When you witness a magnificent display of music or theater, if you see something truly awe-inspiring, all encompassing like standing at the edge of a sunset sea or gaze upon the mighty mountains. Isaiah’s vision is far more awe-inspiring than them all. He saw the eternal God, high and lifted up in majesty. He who created the sea, and the mountains and is far more majestic than them all. He saw Him whom even the seraphim hid their faces from crying “Holy! Holy! Holy!”
Isaiah was struck deeply by just how awesome this was. He cried out, “Woe is me!” He knew he was a sinner. And he knew God was not. He knew there were no words, no words to atone for His sins, no words to describe what he was seeing.
So God spoke. His Word, a Word of grace. For this was the God of grace. It was Jesus whom Isaiah saw as John 12:41 says. And there are no words for His grace. No Words for how He came down to bring us Himself on the altar of the cross, to atone for our sins and to take away our guilt. No words to adequately praise and thank Him. But there are words which we can now speak. Words which our tongues have been set loose to proclaim. The same Words given to Isaiah. Words of Grace. The Word of God.
In Christ
Pastor Ude