Conversation from God to Isaiah
Adult Sunday School Lesson August 5
Isaiah was given a vision in the year that King Uzziah died, 742 B.C.
Due to the temporary weakness of the two world powers, Egypt and Assyria, the nation of Judah had enjoyed 50 years of relative peace, gradual expansion and prosperity. This had been accompanied by corruption. The king died when Assyria was again becoming more threatening, therefore this vision is seen during a time of national apprehension. It did not alleviate the fear. The vision announces that the cities of Israel would be made into waste lands and the inhabitants sent far away. 145 years after this vision the inhabitants were indeed marched into exile and the temple where God was worshiped beaome a ruin with goats wondering over the ruins.
Isaiah was in the temple when he received the vision. He says, “I saw the Lord.” He was on a high and lofty throne. Seraphs, covered to show reverence, flew around him crying, ‘Holy, holy, holy’. The hem of his garment filled the temple.
Isaiah becomes aware of his own sinfulness and fears that he will die in the presence of such holiness (Holy means totally other – separate from sin) Isaiah understands that because God is holy he cannot ignore the sins of his people. even though he loves the people, or even because he loves the people, he cannot ignore sin. This is one reason why people wish to deny God's existence, they themselves do not want to address the issue of sin.
The angel touches his lips with fire from the sacrificial alter and cleanses him.
God in conference with the heavenly servants, asks, “Who will go? Who shall I send? And Isaiah volunteers, “Here am I, send me.”
God commissions Isaiah to go and harden the people’s hearts! Because God has already decreed that the nation must be punished. This is the refining fire of God and the dreadful commission to Isaiah and other prophets of the time. God says’ the nation he loves has become like a vineyard of sour grapes, and he has decided to destroy it. The sins of God’s people were, among other things; religious ritual without spiritual sincerity, greed and lies, callousness, oppression of the poor and perversion of the law. God is just and patient; he forgives and transforms, but where right living is constantly resisted he acts in what we call redemptive punishment. The people would die, but the nation would endure in a changed form.
In the midst of his holy anger God remembers his promise that all nations shall be blessed. He declares that even though he is cutting down the tree (The nation of Judah) a seed will remain, and one day spring up again.
To whom does this apply in our time? It applies to all Christians, Jews and Muslims. The true, living and only God desires that we do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with the Lord our God. Anything less angers him, and brings God’s redemptive punishment upon his people. Whoever we are, wherever we live it is important that we ask if our own nation is guilty of cruelty, callousness, oppression of the poor, lying and injustice. If such is indeed what is happening then no amount of attendance at churches, temples, and mosques will be sufficient to please God.
The vision: Isaiah chapter 6.
The terror of the Lord: Genesis 35.5. and 2 Corinthians 5. 11
Isaiah was given a vision in the year that King Uzziah died, 742 B.C.
Due to the temporary weakness of the two world powers, Egypt and Assyria, the nation of Judah had enjoyed 50 years of relative peace, gradual expansion and prosperity. This had been accompanied by corruption. The king died when Assyria was again becoming more threatening, therefore this vision is seen during a time of national apprehension. It did not alleviate the fear. The vision announces that the cities of Israel would be made into waste lands and the inhabitants sent far away. 145 years after this vision the inhabitants were indeed marched into exile and the temple where God was worshiped beaome a ruin with goats wondering over the ruins.
Isaiah was in the temple when he received the vision. He says, “I saw the Lord.” He was on a high and lofty throne. Seraphs, covered to show reverence, flew around him crying, ‘Holy, holy, holy’. The hem of his garment filled the temple.
Isaiah becomes aware of his own sinfulness and fears that he will die in the presence of such holiness (Holy means totally other – separate from sin) Isaiah understands that because God is holy he cannot ignore the sins of his people. even though he loves the people, or even because he loves the people, he cannot ignore sin. This is one reason why people wish to deny God's existence, they themselves do not want to address the issue of sin.
The angel touches his lips with fire from the sacrificial alter and cleanses him.
God in conference with the heavenly servants, asks, “Who will go? Who shall I send? And Isaiah volunteers, “Here am I, send me.”
God commissions Isaiah to go and harden the people’s hearts! Because God has already decreed that the nation must be punished. This is the refining fire of God and the dreadful commission to Isaiah and other prophets of the time. God says’ the nation he loves has become like a vineyard of sour grapes, and he has decided to destroy it. The sins of God’s people were, among other things; religious ritual without spiritual sincerity, greed and lies, callousness, oppression of the poor and perversion of the law. God is just and patient; he forgives and transforms, but where right living is constantly resisted he acts in what we call redemptive punishment. The people would die, but the nation would endure in a changed form.
In the midst of his holy anger God remembers his promise that all nations shall be blessed. He declares that even though he is cutting down the tree (The nation of Judah) a seed will remain, and one day spring up again.
To whom does this apply in our time? It applies to all Christians, Jews and Muslims. The true, living and only God desires that we do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with the Lord our God. Anything less angers him, and brings God’s redemptive punishment upon his people. Whoever we are, wherever we live it is important that we ask if our own nation is guilty of cruelty, callousness, oppression of the poor, lying and injustice. If such is indeed what is happening then no amount of attendance at churches, temples, and mosques will be sufficient to please God.
The vision: Isaiah chapter 6.
The terror of the Lord: Genesis 35.5. and 2 Corinthians 5. 11
posted by Jessie Coates at 12:02 PM
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