Isaiah 6:1-8
1 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.”
In this chapter Isaiah recounts a vision where he had an encounter with God. Upon seeing the holiness of God, he repents and declares "Woe is me!
For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips" (verse 5). This is terrible yet beautiful, for it is when we truly realize our sinfulness that healing can begin. In response to Isaiah's repentance, the angel touches his lips with a coal from the altar (symbolizing the sacrifices that have been made) and declares the good news we all long to hear: "your guilt is taken away, and your sin atoned for" (verse 7). What a roller-coaster of emotion! First Isaiah is overwhelmed with sorrow as he realizes the depth of his sin, then he is like a man released from prison as he is forgiven his sins. In response, he declares his willingness to do whatever God asks: "Here I am! Send me" (verse 8). This is the proper response for us too as we receive forgiveness and healing: a willingness to go and serve as God leads. We need to prayerfully consider what God wants us to do.
Lord, here am I; send me.
1 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.”
In this chapter Isaiah recounts a vision where he had an encounter with God. Upon seeing the holiness of God, he repents and declares "Woe is me!
For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips" (verse 5). This is terrible yet beautiful, for it is when we truly realize our sinfulness that healing can begin. In response to Isaiah's repentance, the angel touches his lips with a coal from the altar (symbolizing the sacrifices that have been made) and declares the good news we all long to hear: "your guilt is taken away, and your sin atoned for" (verse 7). What a roller-coaster of emotion! First Isaiah is overwhelmed with sorrow as he realizes the depth of his sin, then he is like a man released from prison as he is forgiven his sins. In response, he declares his willingness to do whatever God asks: "Here I am! Send me" (verse 8). This is the proper response for us too as we receive forgiveness and healing: a willingness to go and serve as God leads. We need to prayerfully consider what God wants us to do.
Lord, here am I; send me.