In the Year that King Uzziah Died
In the Year that King Uzziah Died
ðWho ever met? Me – no one. Dad saw Lakers in airport one time. Not too impressed w/ Magic. Standing in front of trash can Dad needed to get to - Magic couldn’t stop him! Guess mine is Barry Sanders - maybe Les Miles – LSU’s coach. If saying, “Who?” - making my point!
ð Approx 750 yr b4 Christ, people of Judah were in need of a king. Years earlier, people chose a 16 yr old young man named Uzziah to take former King Amaziah’s place – king who was once good, but went bad. Risky? Well, turned out to be great success – Uzziah reigned for 52 years.
o But, in year that King Uzziah died, prophet Isaiah may have had some concerns…and in concern, got to meet with God. Asked you who you’ve met – who have you ever met that, in an instant, changed your life?
o When we see God, as Isaiah did, it should require change! When we come to realization and understanding of who this God is that we worship – our lives should never be the same!
ð We need to know God! Plain & simple. Realize that God is NOT what we make of Him – He is the I AM – the Almighty! Need also to see that this great Jehovah God has expectations for His people.
ð In Is. 6, Isaiah got to see this. He came to see a glimpse of who God is…and Isaiah responded! You and I can learn from this. We’d be remiss NOT to learn from this. Isaiah learned who God is and exactly who he is in relation to God; and he learned what to do as a result. When? <PP> In the year that King Uzziah died.
o T - 1st lesson we can learn from Isaiah’s experience is that no matter what the circumstances…
I. God is King <PP>
A) We find out, looking back in history in 2 Chron 26:4-5, Uzziah was good king (RD). Under reign military grew, economy good, dealt w/ Philistines! Uzziah achieved power/prosperity unknown since Solomon.
1) BUT – was human. <PP>Uzziah died of leprosy. In his success he became prideful – entered the temple to make sacrifice (good thing to do, but not authorized) and was cursed by God. Look at 2 Chron 26:21 (RD).
2) So – at this good king’s death, Isa is apparently, and rightly so, concerned!
B) Good king dies of terrible disease inflicted because of mistake he made. People knew this good king suffered in isolation for over a decade as his son served as co-regent on his behalf.
1) Now, Isa knows history of kings of Judah – knows good kings are pretty hard to come by. Jotham’s doing OK, but what will happen now that Uzziah is dead and he’s full-time king? <PP> What now!?
2) Seems almost like people of Judah, and maybe Isa, have been trusting in their king to keep them on the right track. Isa learns where his trust ought to be.
C) Look Isa 6:1 (RD).Rather than looking all down – Isa taught to look up! King dead, but Isa reminded, “Our God <PP> He is Alive!” To accomplish tasks, challenges b4 us – we too need to see God as Isa did: Alive, exalted, high, lifted up!
1) Isa learns what the Psamlist knows in Ps 121:1-2 (RD). God is OUR king. God is OUR strength! Christ is OUR Lord. Doesn’t matter who’s in charge here or anywhere else in the world. <PP>GOD is OUR king!
2) Just like Isa is learning…in order to be what we’re to be, to do what we’re to do – we have GOT to live like we believe that!
ð We need to see God as Ruler of ALL–& we also need to live like we understand Isa 2nd lesson, when he sees in vs 2-5…
II. God’s Holiness<PP> Compared to My Sin
A) Who IS God? I mean, what would YOU say God’s #1 characteristic is? <PP> “Love?” Yes. “Wrath?” Yes, too. Bible also light, eternal, gracious. But – here we find ONLY description in triplicate! Look @ vs 2-3 (RD). In Hebrew, if said 2x=“Most Holy.” <PP> But, 3x is highest level of holiness!
1) What that mean? A description of God’s “none-other-ness”! Echoes what Hannah prays in 1 Sam 2:2 (RD).
2) But still – question remains: how do YOU see God? Unfortunately, usually is one of two extremes: <PP> 1) God waiting for dish out wrath and judgment! Or, 2) a kind, old, never-hurt-a-fly grandpa sort that really doesn’t care what you do – just loves you to death! Don’t mean that disrespectful in ANY way – believe it’s reality! <PP>
B) Well – take this how will - opinion, but - convinced this “nice” caricature of God done more harm than good! At least, if you see God as a God to fear – at least it inspires something in us! This picture of a good ole boy, almost impotent God will never drive us to our knees! That false image never inspires awe or motivates us to sacrifice! Read thru Ps 103 – see great promises of God to His people – but always stipulation, “those who fear God!”
1) Now – what we’ll see is that, to a degree, Isa will see BOTH! <PP> But, his vision begins by seeing God as HOLY!
2) We must first understand God’s holiness to appreciate the depths of His love and His grace. Isa sees whole picture! Look at vs 4 (RD).
C) Isa sees seraphim announcing, “Holy, holy, holy” – very ground shaken by their praise of God the Almighty! And here we see the contrast between God and man. What’s Isa’s reaction? “Oh great! I get to see God!” 1st part of vs 5 says (5a-RD). NAS/NIV=“ruined!” NLT says, “It’s all over! I’m doomed!”
1) This was a traumatic scene for Isa. Why? He answers that himself in rest of 5 (5b-RD). <PP> Just a glimpse of holiness of God made him realize how awful his own sin is. Even for you and me today, it is a jarring experience to confront the holiness of God, realizing who we are.
2) Should see there is no<PP> “little of this” or “some of that” that God accepts. He is HOLY! Set apart! Like none other! To finally see God like this is an experience that SHOULD change lives FOREVER!!
ð In fact, see in Isa’s next lesson. When really see God–course, not like Isa-but when come face-to-face w/ God…
III. We Must Look <PP> Inward
A) Look again what he says in vs 5 (RD). I am – not, “they won’t do their part” or “how can I do anything with these people!” Isa realizes that HE has a sin problem! Yes he sees their sin, too. <PP> But – it’s HIS OWN sin he deals with! Of course, it’s same thing Paul said in Ro 7:24 (RD).
B) Sometimes wonder if reason we don’t have Xians really realizing God in their lives or congs on fire for God is too often we think everyone needs to realize sin…but US!
1) How many times heard, “Great lesson preacher. Wish ___ would’ve been here to hear it.” I never have, but maybe you’ve overheard.
2) Thing is – when we see God as HOLY king that He is; see self as one with sin – no matter how good I am, and realize my need for God’s mercy…I can have, you can have same experience as Isa.
C) Look at vs 6-7 (RD). He is purified – he is cleansed! <PP> That’s repentance! When we come to know our condition, make same confession, we can experience same cleansing!
1) Wherever you are spiritually, must realize our need for forgiveness. Need to see like Daniel sees written on wall to King Belshazzar in Dan 5:27 – that I too have been weighed on scales and found WANTING! Must go to Holy God His way to attain that forgiveness.
2) God is very serious about sin. <PP> And He’s just as serious about forgiveness. He was serious enough about it to send His very best – His son! – as Paul concludes his thought in Rom 7:25 (RD).
ð When Isa sees God- Holy King, own sin–beauty of frgvns, learns 1 final lesson can certainly model…(RD vs 8) <PP>
IV. We Go Because We’re Forgiven!
A) SEND ME!! Isa had seen the seraphim, had heard ground-shaking voice of God! But – what’s SO important…<PP> is that he listens! When Lord says, “Who?” Isa says, “ME! Send me!” Notice – <PP> God hasn’t even said where yet – that’s coming! Here am I; send me – at all costs – I’ll go! Beautiful! <PP>
B) In vs 9-11 God tells Isa where He’s sending him. To people who won’t listen; to go until there’s just nothing left to go to…because <PP>God’s made a promise. He’s promised that the Seed will come through Judah – so Isa MUST go make the effort to keep them with God.
1) How many of those people do you know? 1st I think of is<PP> missionaries – often out in foreign fields, teaching and preaching against sometimes incredible odds – yet ever teaching. Maybe it’s elders –<PP>mighty men of God who prayerfully make decisions for their flocks – only to be complained against, battered about over lunch in members’ homes – yet ever pressing on to guide the Lord’s people.
2) But, you know, doesn’t have to be missionary, elder, or preacher – I could tell you all kinds of preacher stories. More often than not, the one who says, “Here am I, send me” is <PP>you – or one next to you. You who are raising kids in nurture and admonition, no matter what this world says. You that say, “I’m going to try and reach my neighbor, my co-worker, no matter how many times they say they’re not interested.”
3) You who say, “I’ll live Xian life no matter what world throws…but ALWAYS…<PP>Here am I – send me…out into this world…because God made ME a <PP>promise – that I can do this and that He will be with me.
C) Isa s/b commended for listening. Until we see the beauty of the forgiveness offered by a high, holy and lifted up King of ALL, we won’t listen. His word speaks to us every day – if we’ll listen. Lord still asking – Whom shall I send?
1) Who will stand for God – who will put God and His kingdom above all else?! Who will say – send me?!
2) Here am I, send me – to GO where you want, SAY what you want, LIVE like you want; send me to BE what YOU want me to be!
ð The few times in Scripture God reveals a glimpse or a picture of His holiness, His GLORY – it’s awesome! Sinai – Israel saw smoke, fire and thunder and lightning. John, on Patmos, saw glorified Christ with white hair, eyes of fire, and a sword protruding from His mouth! Moses asked to see God’s glory and had to be hidden in cleft of a rock! Why?! Because the power and holiness of God changes lives! And when you and I see it…it should change our lives as well.
ð How will you respond to God’s holiness? I mean, in a small way, you’ve seen it now – if you’ve heard anything I’ve said, you’ve heard that the Lord Jehovah God – the holy-like-none-other God<PP>…has offered YOU and me…cleansing. Even though I am a man of unclean lips.
ð Will you accept that offer by either being immersed in water for the forgiveness of your sins, or if you’ve taken that step, by placing God once again into His rightful place in your life – Lord God of all! Is your answer to God’s call – <PP> “Here am I send me”? OR – will you sit and think, “Nice lesson – I wish ___ would’ve been here to hear it. God calls you – to go for Him, to be HOLY like HIM, for Him. How will you respond?