We Have Seen the King
Text: Isaiah 6
Title: We Have Seen the King
Introduction: There are times in our lives when God gives us a brief glimpse of his glory, whether it is in our children or in nature, etc. This glimpse reminds us of the holiness and goodness of God. It should also strengthen our boldness to share the King’s majesty and promises to all the nations. God shares a similar story with us through Isaiah.
Big Idea: The presence of God reveals our insufficiency to live up to his holy standard, and in his grace he has revealed a promise that gives us eternal life. We are then commissioned to spread this glorious news.
1. Presence (v 1-4) – Isaiah has been brought into the presence of the Lord in a vision. He is cast before the throne of the eternal King, the King who does not pass away (such as Uzziah). It is the King that even the angels hide their faces and their bodies from. In His presence, we are left with nothing but to cry out “holy, holy, holy” to the triune God who is perfect and three-times holy. We will see this presence theme again (in the last point).
2. Profession (v 5)– In response to being in God’s presence, Isaiah makes a profession to the King. He exclaims the glory of God and the sinfulness of himself and all people before God. As you sit here this morning, do you realize the presence of your heavenly father and king? Does it cause you to confess your sins before his throne? We should challenge ourselves as we sit here and meditate being in God’s presence and coming to him in worship. He acknowledges that he is sinful before a righteous and holy king. We will see this profession theme again (in the last point).
3. Propitiation (v 6-7)– After Isaiah’s profession and confession, the seraphim bring coal from the altar. This represents the atoning sacrifice that was made to atone for his sin. Isaiah has confessed the sin of his lips and so those sins have been atoned for. Christ makes this same plea to us to repent of our sins. Although this atonement was temporal in nature, we will see a final atonement will be made (in the last point).
4. Pursuit (v 8-13)– After the atonement of sin is made, the charge for spreading the Word of God is made? In verse 8, we see the Father is calling someone to go out to the people to represent the Trinitarian Godhead (…I… we). Isaiah’s response to this grace is none other than desiring to be used by God. [Illustration: It is like the eager student in a class who is desperate to be favored by the teacher. His excitement to impress her causes him to raise his hand to volunteer for an assignment before he know what it is.] The task given him may not have seemed like the “most glorious” task to get charged with. He is told to go out and pronounce continued judgment on Israel. We will see we are charged with this same pronouncement though (in the last point). But Isaiah is also to reveal the promise of God to Israel. So, what is this promise?
5. Promise (v 13)– The final line of verse 13 gives us the promise of Christ—the “holy seed” that is to come from the remnant of Israel. Jesus will be the one to finalize the Presence, Proclamation, Propitiation, Pursuit and Promise. Christ’s Presence reveals God dwelling with his people. Christ’s Proclamation is the announcement of the conviction of sin and the gift of free grace through faith. Christ’s Propitiation is his work on the cross as our final and perfect atonement for sin. Christ’s Pursuit is the charge for believers to pursue all nations for his sake. Christ’s Promise is the gift of the Holy Spirit as the down payment for eternal communion with God at Christ’s return. All of Isaiah 6 comes to an apex with the promise of this Holy Seed—Jesus Christ. We are charged with a similar task to Isaiah. We must share the gospel with others. Despite living in a fallen and painful world, we are to express the hope we have in Christ to them. In the midst of the pain and suffering we experience, we must continually point to Christ. We point out sin, but we must immediately point to the cross.
Conclusion: We have seen how Isaiah’s encounter before the throne room of God brought him a heart of confession and worship. In response to this unmerited gift of grace, he is eager to spread the message of God with all of Israel. This message is saturated with the promise of the hope of Christ. Our response and message to God’s grace should be the same.