In this magnificent worship vision, Isaiah comes to see his own sinfulness
(v. 5), is cleansed from the sin that he knows so well (v. 7), and responds
positively to the prophetic call to go and speak for the Lord (v. 8). However,
the vision does not begin with a focus upon the worshiper but upon the One
who is worshiped. In Isaiah's worship of God, the prophet's identity is shaped.
As Isaiah sees God, he comes more clearly to see himself, the people among
whom he lives, and the situations in which he will find himself. The opening
verses, which depict the prophet's encounter with the Lord, provide the key
to understanding both what follows in this passage and Isaiah's dominant theme
throughout his ministry: "Do not be afraid. Trust the Lord."
The context for the prophet's worship vision is "in the year that King
Uzziah died" (v. 1). More than simply a historical notation, this brief
mention of King Uzziah establishes a contrast with Isaiah's encounter with
God. So highly loved and praised by the people of Judah, King Uzziah was not
even removed from the throne when he came down with leprosy. The people's
hope and future was bound up with this king, whom they had come to trust so
deeply. One can only imagine the great mourning and sense of utter loss when
this king died. Hope gave way to despair; security gave way to fear.
In this season of utter loss, when the trustworthy and reliable ruler had
died, Isaiah says, "I saw the ruler [adonai--the master or lord]."
He proceeds to describe in very royal terms the active rule of the real King.
Using verbs of ongoing action (participles), Isaiah speaks of the Lord's ongoing
sitting on a throne, His robe's continual filling of the Temple (v. 1), and
the perpetual calling of the seraphim from one to the other (v. 3). This King
was so exalted, so holy, that even the seraphim who attended to Him could
not look upon His holiness, nor could they have Him look upon their uncleanness.
Seeing this One seated on the throne, Isaiah comes now to see himself and
the community in which he lives. While others in the nation continue to grieve
the loss of the trustworthy and reliable king, Isaiah concludes, "My
eyes have seen the King--He is the LORD of Hosts!" (see v. 5). In this
encounter, a great contrast is established: Who is the king--Uzziah or the
Lord? At an even deeper level is the contrast: Where is our trust--Uzziah
or the Lord? The prophet's very identity is grounded in and shaped by worship.
Only in a face-to-face encounter with the One who is continually seated upon
the throne and whose robe continually is filling the Temple does the prophet
come to understand himself, his people, and his prophetic task.
All one must do is listen to the radio for a moment, drive past a few billboards
on a highway, or walk past the newspaper stand and give a passing glance,
and there will be no doubt that we live in a consumer-driven society. The
question for the marketplace, the government, and oftentimes even the church
is "What will sell?" Our society is often driven by public opinion
polls and perceived needs. The focus of our lives can easily become what we
want, what we need, what we like, and what suits our tastes.
However, the identity of God's people is not based on wants, needs, likes,
and tastes. The identity of God's people is grounded in God himself. Ultimately,
we come to celebrate who we are as we celebrate who God is. Perhaps one of
the deepest needs of the people of God is to see God for who He is once again
and to worship Him simply for who He is. Because the people of God are not
consumers seeking a product but worshipers of the living God, our worship
of God is the force that moves us, shapes us, and identifies us.
If the heart of our need is to worship God, how is it that we worship Him?
How is it that we see Him in all of His holiness, in all of His glory, and
in all of His grace? We do not simply create God through songs we sing, prayers
we pray, or sermons we preach. God, in His grace and mercy, appears.
In the presence of God, the people of God acknowledge that the Lord is King!
Having seen the King, we, too, are invited to join the seraphim in crying
out, "Holy, holy, holy is the LORD God Almighty!" We most appropriately
celebrate our identity as the people of God in worship of the One who is King
of this kingdom to which we belong.
(For a full manuscript of this sermon, go to www.preachersmagazine.org.)
The sermon might begin with a brief story or example that exemplifies the
consumer-oriented nature of our society. As the sermon proceeds, the affect
of this consumerism upon the people of God would then be described. We often
seek that which is comfortable and "fits" us the best. However,
we are not alone. Our ancestors, too, were consumed with finding a "good
fit."
As the sermon continues, the text enters into this dilemma. King Uzziah was
a "good fit" for the people. Under his rule, life was comfortable
and profitable. However, with his death, discomfort and fear arose.
In the time of loss, what might even be described as "consumer failure,"
the prophet Isaiah looks beyond the loss. While his dominant culture has seen
Uzziah as "the king," Isaiah sees the King. The contrast can be
vividly made: Uzziahs are mortal; the Lord is holy! The king dies, but the
King continues to reign. This vision of the never-ending reign of God (sitting
on a throne, robe filling the Temple, seraphim continually calling out) gives
birth to worship. We have seen who the King is, and it is God!
Recognizing whom the King is, the response of the people of God should be
one of worship. Perhaps the most appropriate physical response to this sermon
would be joining the seraphim's voices in "Holy, Holy, Holy." This
may take place through song or/and through the corporate reading of Scripture
(e.g., the very similar songs of Revelation 4; 5; 7; 15; 19).
