Dear Worshipers,
Over the last several weeks we have been looking at different aspects of the vision statement of the Worship Ministry we share. I want to spend this week and next giving you a couple of Biblical examples of this summation of worship. Next week we will consider the way Jesus revealed Himself to the two disciples on the road to Emmaus and the way they responded. This week we look into the Old Testament as God revealed Himself to the prophet Isaiah and Isaiah’s response.
Isaiah 6:1-8 has always been one of my favorite passages of Scripture. The prophet receives and answers God’s call in this passage. He catches a glimpse of heavenly worship and then responds in worship himself. The way this transpires is instructive for us as we consider this pattern of revelation and response. I have preached an entire message on these verses and there is much material here, but I will focus this brief look into it here with these words-revelation and response.
The first several verses show us several things about the nature of God. He is high and lifted up. He is holy, holy, holy. He is the Lord God Almighty. His glory fills the whole earth. He is worthy of worship. It is interesting for us to note that the Lord reveals Himself to the prophet in the context of the Temple, THE place of corporate worship in the OT.
When Isaiah saw God, he immediately responded, “I am undone!” He realized that in comparison to the holy wholeness of God he was as good as disintegrated. Actually, he probably expected to die. This is a key for us, because too often we approach God too casually.
But the revelation continues. God shows that though He is the powerful One who reigns on high, He has a purification and purpose for Isaiah. God reveals that He has something for Isaiah to do. God is looking for someone to go on His behalf.
Isaiah responds again. Before he even knows what will be asked of him he replies, “Here am I. Send me!” I suppose after what he had seen, to respond with such sacrifice is not surprising, but it is note that this was a total commitment of self.
Do you see it here? God reveals Himself. Isaiah responds. God reveals His purposes and His ways. Isaiah responds again.
The Life Application Bible commentary offers these words: “Our daily frustrations, society’s pressures, and our shortcomings narrow our view of God. We need the Bible’s view of God as high and lifted up to empower us to deal with our problems and concerns. God’s moral perfection, properly seen, will purify us from sin, cleanse our mind of our problems, and enable us to worship and serve.” We God reveals Himself to us, we are ready to respond.
Let us give Him every opportunity to reveal Himself…especially when we gather together.
In Christ,
Pastor Scott
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