Dr. Mark Scott wrote this treatment of the International Sunday School Lesson. Scott teaches preaching and New Testament at Ozark Christian College, Joplin, Missouri. This lesson treatment is published in issue no. 12 (weeks 45-48; November 10—December 1, 2019) of The Lookout magazine, and is also available online at www.lookoutmag.com.
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Lesson Aim: Say “Yes” to the Lord.
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By Mark Scott
John
Piper tells an engaging ministry story in The Supremacy of God in Preaching. He preached
a sermon on Isaiah 6 without one word of application. He wondered if the
majesty, power, and glory of God was enough to retain the congregation’s
interest without cute little homespun life points. Later he found out that one
of the families in the church had experienced a huge trauma. He felt
embarrassed that he had virtually no pastoral word for them in that Isaiah 6
sermon. The message almost seemed to him, at that point, totally other-worldly.
But when he later ran into the father of that family, the man said that Piper’s
sermon on Isaiah 6 about the wonder of God was the only thing that had
sustained them in their dark hour. Maybe people interested in representing God
should remember that the glory of God in itself is a healing balm.
People Caught by God’s Majesty | Isaiah 6:1-4
Who
can represent God in the world? People caught by his majesty. At least that was
true for Isaiah. The story of his calling as a prophet was delayed until
chapter 6. Maybe the intensity of Israel’s situation (i.e., idolatry) demanded
a call for repentance right out of the gate (Isaiah 1:2-17; 5:1, 2). But in the context of King Uzziah’s death
Isaiah recorded his call to prophetic ministry. No matter how bad things were
on earth, God was still on his throne. The majesty of God’s glory would
be what God would use to hold Isaiah in a tough ministry.
Isaiah
had a majestic vision of God in his throne room of Heaven. The Lord (Adonai)
was high and exalted. He was pictured as seated on a throne (i.e., in total control and sovereign). The train of his
robe filled the temple (i.e., it was impressive and it indicated God’s royal nature). God
was worshiped by angelic beings called seraphim (flaming
ones). These angelic beings had six wings (four which symbolized
their humility before God covering faces and feet and two symbolizing service
for God by flying). Their chant indicated holiness to the third power. The Lord Almighty (Yahweh of Hosts—used twice in this text) was totally other and
set apart from the rest of the universe. No matter how life looked to Isaiah in
his day, the whole earth was full of God’s glory. When the angels chanted, the temple shook. Smoke was just one more indication that Isaiah was having a
genuine encounter with the living God.
People Cleansed by God’s Mercy | Isaiah 6:5-7
As
soon as Isaiah had a proper view of God it made him conscious of his own sin. This
is the only approach of an honest person. We are not ready to go for God until
we have been cleansed from sin by God. “Woe is me” is a cry
of despair. Isaiah owned his sin. He said that he was ruined
(lost or destroyed). He did more than acknowledge his own sin; he emotionally
owned the sins of his people. They too had unclean lips.
But
the Lord specializes in the impossible. He could meet Isaiah at the point of
his need. One of the seraphim stepped up and became the means of God’s mercy to
Isaiah. In this heavenly vision was an altar. It contained heated coals. The
seraph used tongs to grasp one of the coals but then put it in his hand and
proceeded to touch it to Isaiah’s lips as a symbol of the cleansing. Isaiah’s guilt (punishment or iniquity) was taken away
and his sin atoned (covered or purged). God’s majesty
is impressive, but it is God’s mercy that makes service possible.
People Committed to God’s Ministry | Isaiah 6:8-12
Christian
living is just gratitude for grace. Once Isaiah was cleansed of his sin he was ready
to be commissioned. God himself issued the challenge, “Whom shall I send?
And who will go for us?” Isaiah reported for duty. But perhaps his response (“Here am I. Send me.”) should be understood as, “God, I am
here. Will I do?” (D.A. Carson, “Preaching
in the Hands of a Holy God,” Preaching
Today). Maybe the response was not pompous but humble.
God sent Isaiah out on his mission, but he also promised Isaiah that his ministry would not be a walk in the park. People would listen and see but not respond well. Their hearts would be as hard as Pharaoh of Egypt. Isaiah was taken back. He asked how long he had to do this. God answered, “Until judgment comes and captivity takes place.” If the message is still judgment (our theme for these lessons) who will be willing to still go?
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Lesson study ©2019, Christian Standard Media. Print and digital subscribers are permitted to make one print copy per week of lesson material for personal use. Lesson based on the scope and sequence, ©2019 by Christian Standard Media. Scripture quotations are from the New International Version, ©2011, unless otherwise indicated.
Image: Detail of Isaiah’s lips being anointed, from a painting by Benjamin West, 1738–1820 (courtesy of Wikimedia Commons).
Dr. Mark Scott wrote this treatment of the International Sunday School Lesson. Scott teaches preaching and New Testament at Ozark Christian College, Joplin, Missouri. He also serves as minister with Park Plaza Christian Church in Joplin.
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