Imagine…
As Isaiah walked the cobbled streets toward home, his thoughts raced over each other, and his heart accused him. He was so sure God told him to speak to the people. He had gone to the Temple, where he knew they would gather to hear the Word of God. What had gone wrong? How could he have spoken better, or gentler? How could he have shown more tolerance? Had he missed the opening for peace? Were his words too sharp? Did he draw too deep a separation between obedience and disobedience? Was he truly judgmental and critical as they accused?
Maybe he had elevated his own importance. Perhaps he had assumed of the Lord Almighty, or maybe he misunderstood the calling of the mission. Maybe he was not really to have spoken aloud what God had shown him in secret, or maybe it would have been better to choose a less public place, not assuming the role of a leader. He just didn’t know.
Isaiah’s Questions
His thoughts continued the self-incriminating accusations piercing his heart until he finally cried out…
“Lord, I love your people! You know that, don’t you? You know I meant no harm and for sure, I didn’t mean to cause such divisiveness among even the leaders. Why didn’t they see You in me? Why didn’t they hear Your words? Why didn’t they grasp that I was only Your messenger?”
The house was silent; the darkness descending quickly. Isaiah sank hard into the cushions of his worn chair and covered his tear-streaked face.
Suddenly the heavens opened and Isaiah…
“…saw the Lord, the Lord Almighty. seated on a throne, high and exalted, and the train of his robe filled the temple.” (Isaiah 6:1)
The Scriptures describe this vision in more details, but just stop and consider how this would impact Isaiah’s tormented soul! His wounded heart had undoubtedly questioned God and silently asked for more tolerance for the people.
“‘Woe to me!’ I cried. ‘I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips… ‘” (Isaiah 6:5)
Isaiah’s accusations pointed at himself first, his own misunderstanding. Who was he? He was nobody living among a rebellious people.
Warnings of Woe
A cry of woe gushed from his soul as he fell to his knees! But this woe was different than the other six he had spoken to the people. This woe declared his own heart’s condition. The heart that accused him all evening was justified. He wasn’t worthy to be God’s spokesman! He was no better than those to whom he had preached. What had given him the right to speak God’s Word to leaders of nations?
This seventh woe was deeply internal, personal, individually claimed by one man’s heart, but it also misjudged, based on experience. Comfort and cleansing came when a messenger of God touched the lips of the ‘undone man’ with a live coal and a strong declaration.
“See, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for.” (Isaiah 6:7)
This reminds me of the verse in 1 John 3 (19-20).
“This is how we know that we belong to the truth, and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence whenever our hearts condemn us. For God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything.”
Firm In the Faith
How often we ourselves begin to question our speaking out against the sins of God’s people. We’re alarmed at the paths of compromise and false teaching. Accusations and arguments teach us to trust sight, experience, and feelings. Society emphasizes agreement at all costs and condemns any unyielding truth. We search our hearts and question our motives when divisions arise to threaten relationships. What if there are easier paths, softer words, better examples we could use to sound more gracious. We want less conflict, seek more peace, and desire closer friendships. All this inner struggle can cause us to compromise the truth, to avoid God’s call, which leaves us feeling guilty and unworthy.
When these failures accuse our hearts, and grief with conviction invades every thought, we need a word from the King. The Lord Himself comes to comfort through His Word. He appears to us as we seek His pleasure, knowing that He alone has given us a platform to proclaim the Day of the Lord without compromise or fear. His love touches our hearts. Our faith becomes solidified. We find our true standing, guilt free and atoned, in His Presence. We have experienced what Isaiah proclaimed, “If you do not stand firm in your faith, you will not stand at all.”
Here I Am
With hearts assured through God’s Word, our ears attuned to His voice, we once again hear his call. “Who will go for us?” We jump solidly to our feet, prepared with the Gospel and respond wholeheartedly “Here I am. Send me!”
We receive His blessing and are told once again, “Go and Tell this people”.
Will we go in boldness until God’s purpose is complete? We have God’s sure promise:
For I am the Lord, your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you. Do not fear I will help you. I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. (Isa 41:13)
