ISAIAH 6:1-8 - PAGE 1

A FRESH LOOK, A.M.

 

    I love my wife, Dottie, very much.  For the almost thirty-five years which we have been married, she has been my best friend. She loves me, supports me, has been all of the help-mate that God intended me to have, and has been a tremendous mother for our 3 children, David, Mark, and Donna.

 

    Even when you love someone, it is very easy to take that person for granted.  One thing the Lord has done for me, so that I appreciate her more, is to give me a fresh look at what a great wife I have.  Occasionally Dottie has had to be away from me for a little while.  Most recently she is away when needing to play “grandma” for one of our kid’s families.

 

    It is then, when she is not around to talk to; when she is not there to understand; when she is not there to give me a hug or a kiss; when she is not there to cook or do laundry; when she is not there to keep the house organized (I can't even see how she keeps the kitchen table from getting cluttered); when she was not there to help with the children, although they are now grown. It was at these times when I got that fresh look of what a wonderful person God has given me.

 

     Men, if you want to appreciate your wife more, just let her be gone for a day or two, and you'll get a "fresh look" at how wonderful your wife is!

 

    Perhaps you have read a passage of Scripture several times.  And then, when reading it again, you have exclaimed, "WHY I NEVER SAW THAT BEFORE!" All of a sudden your eyes are opened to new truths in that passage. You have received a fresh look.

 

    A "fresh look" is usually something which helps, encourages, and refreshes our hearts.  It is a new way of looking at something which we have never seen before.

 

    There was prophet, a man of God in the Bible, who, one day, received a fresh look. He had been serving God, and was a saved man.  But God gave him a vision which gave this prophet that FRESH LOOK. The prophet's name is Isaiah. His story is found in Isaiah 6:1-8.

 

FOR ISAIAH IT WAS:

 

A FRESH LOOK IN THE FACE OF TRAGEDY

A FRESH LOOK AT THE GLORY OF GOD

A FRESH LOOK AT SELF

A FRESH LOOK AT FORGIVENESS

A FRESH LOOK AT RESPONSIBILITY

 

    Perhaps as we begin a New Year you need the same fresh look which Isaiah received. Perhaps you have been spinning your spiritual wheels lately, and need to get back on track.  If it is true of you, we trust God will help you this morning. It is our prayer that you will receive a fresh look.

 

    However, you can not get a fresh look unless you have had the first look.

 

The first look that realizes that you are a sinner.

 

Isaiah 64:6 - But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.

 

The first look that realizes that Jesus died for your sins, was buried, and rose again.

 

1 Corinthians 15:3-4 - For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; [4] And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:

 

The first look is the look which calls on the Lord Jesus as your Savior, in faith, believing on Him alone for forgiveness and eternal life.

 

Romans 10:13 - For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

 

If you are not saved this morning, please trust Christ today. Get the first look of joy through salvation. Now, let us who have had the first look of salvation consider getting a “fresh look”.

 

A FRESH LOOK IN THE FACE OF TRAGEDY Vs. 1

 

It was in the year King Uzziah died.

Uzziah was a great king of Judah, who reigned for 50 years. He was a giant in his day.

 

2 Chronicles 26:5 - shows his rise to power.

And he sought God in the days of Zechariah, who had understanding in the visions of God: and as long as he sought the Lord, God made him to prosper.

 

2 Chronicles 26:16&21 - show us his sin problem.

But when he was strong, his heart was lifted up to his destruction: for he transgressed against the Lord his God, and went into the temple of the Lord to burn incense upon the altar of incense.

 

And Uzziah the king was a leper unto the day of his death, and dwelt in a several house, being a leper; for he was cut off from the house of the Lord,,,

 

Uzziah, even with his leprosy, would have been loved and respected.  So the year he died, was a year of tragedy. In this tragic year Isaiah received a fresh look from the Lord. He saw the Lord on a throne, "high and lifted up".

 

My friend, sometimes your greatest vision of the Lord, your fresh look at God, will come when someone is removed from your life.

 

Why? All too often we get our eyes on people instead of on the Lord.  The Lord has to help us get our eyes off of people and back on Him.

Sometimes we see the Lord clearer when someone well beloved by us becomes sick and is laid aside.

 

Sometimes we see the Lord clearer when someone well beloved by us passes away.

 

Sometimes we see the Lord clearer after being hurt, or disappointed by one of his saints, seeing them withdraw from us, or us having to withdraw from them.

 

Several years ago friends of ours from Pennsylvania came up to visit us when we were in upstate New York.  We went for a ride in the beautiful Adirondack Mountains. As we climbed in the car, we came to a sign that said "scenic overlook," so we decided to stop and take a look.  There was a glorious view of mountains.  But it was hindered, because of fog or haze, and by trees that had grown up, getting in the way.

 

    For us to see that scenic view at its best, we would have to go on  a clear day, and someone would have to cut down some of the trees.

 

Sometimes, the Lord will remove a "tree" in our lives, so we can get a fresh view of God, a fresh look at Him.

 

My friend, if someone dear to you is sick.

If someone you love has recently passed on.

If someone in the body of Christ has hurt or disappointed you, Ask God to give you a fresh look at Him in the face of tragedy.

 

A FRESH LOOK IN THE FACE OF TRAGEDY

A FRESH LOOK AT THE GLORY OF GOD Vss. 1

 

Isaiah says, ‑"I SAW THE LORD" - It is our natural                                habit to see people.

 

We get our eyes on great men and women of God like the Billy Grahams, Charles Stanleys, and Chuck Swindolls

 

We get our eyes on the leaders in the church like the deacons and pastor.

 

But Isaiah got his fresh look by seeing the Lord.

 

WHO IS THE LORD HERE?

 

The apostle John in John 12:37-41 tells us that the Lord is the Lord Jesus Christ.  Check it out some time.

 

"SITTING UPON A THRONE" - a truth to remember.

Jesus is King. The word "throne" is synonymous with kingship.

 

My friend, Jesus Christ is still on the throne.

He is still in charge.

He still hears and answers prayer.

 

If you are going to have a fresh look at the glory of God, you must see Jesus as king. Therefore, He has every right to tell you what to do, and when to do it, and how to do it.

 

"HIGH AND LIFTED UP" - Where is the Lord Jesus?

He is high above everything and everybody.

Where is the Lord Jesus? Lifted up! More important, more prominent, more worthy than anything or anybody!

 

"AND HIS TRAIN FILLED THE TEMPLE" - Isaiah may have been in the earthly temple.  But, I believe that his vision was of the heavenly temple. I believe Isaiah was receiving a vision of heaven!

 

The "train" here has nothing to do with railroad tracks.  It refers to the hem or fringe of his garment.

 

Psalm 104:1-2 tell us his garment is light.

Bless the Lord, O my soul. O Lord my God, thou art very great; thou art clothed with honour and majesty. [2] Who coverest thyself with light as with a garment: who stretchest out the heavens like a curtain:

 

Read Vs. 2 - Seraphim means "burning ones".

Seraphim are angelic beings which seem to be guarding the holiness of God.

 

There is a definite lesson to learn from them, as they appear before the Lord.

 

Six wings - Two covered the face - reverence.

                Two covered the feet - humility.

                Two made them fly - service.

Twice as much effort is given to submission and humility than is given to service.

Twice as much effort is given to worship than to service.

 

We tend to take service more seriously than worship.

But as you study the Scriptures, you will discover that God is wanting our adoration, and praise, our worship, as well as our works.

 

Hebrews 13:15 - By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.

 

Psalm 29:2 - Give unto the Lord the glory due unto his name; worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness.

 

Let us make sure that we take worship seriously.

 

Vs. 3 - The seraphim remind us that God is holy.

          He is separated from sin.

          He is separated unto righteousness.

 

Yes, right now, the whole earth is full of His glory. How much more so, when he reigns here on earth for a thousand years!

 

Vs. 4 - The room's foundations shook at the worship of the Lord.  This suggested the awesome presence and power of God.

The temple began to fill with smoke.

In Israel's history, smoke was a symbol of the presence of God.

Isaiah was struck with the fact that he was literally before the Lord in all his glory!

 

We need to spend time in the word and in prayer, meditating on God's glory. We'll get a fresh look too!

 

ISAIAH HAD A FRESH LOOK IN THE FACE OF TRAGEDY

ISAIAH HAD A FRESH LOOK AT THE GLORY OF GOD

 

ISAIAH HAD A FRESH LOOK AT SELF Vs. 5

 

He saw the Lord. And, to the Old Testament mind, that would have meant automatic death! Instead, it meant a new perspective.

 

Isaiah compared his righteousness and holiness to that of God. The response of this saved man was, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I

dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts.

 

The words of Isaiah remind me of what Peter said, after Jesus had worked a miracle by providing a miraculous catch of fish.

 

Luke 5:8 - When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord.

 

In both cases, Isaiah and Peter were comparing themselves with the Lord Jesus Christ.

 

If you look at Christians around you, Christian, you will not be too greatly impressed with your own sin.

 

We can easily say, "I'm not as bad as this guy.", or I don't go where she goes." Or, compared to so and so I am not so bad.

 

These types of comparisons give us a false sense of security.

Instead, compare your life to God's standard for holiness, the Lord Jesus Christ. Compare yourself to Him who never sinned, and see how you do! You might discover that you don’t like yourself as much as you thought you did.

 

You will find that,

·       Your love for violence on television and movies does not match with His holiness.

·       That your love for the sexy and sensual does not match up with His holiness.

·       That your love for money and the materialistic does not match up with His holiness.

·       That your language and attitude of voice does not match up with his holiness.

·       That your love for food to a point of gluttony does not match up with His holiness.

 

Get into the Word of God. Study the Son of God.

Study the holiness of God. Study God's standards for holiness.

 

You will probably come away with a fresh look at yourself, saying, "WOE IS ME!"

 

A FRESH LOOK AT SELF

A FRESH LOOK AT FORGIVENESS Vss. 6-7

 

Now, here's the good news!

In the Old Testament temple there was an altar of sacrifice where atonement was made for sin.

 

One of the "burning ones", the serpahs, goes to the altar and removes a coal and places it on Isaiah's tongue.

 

My friend the price for your cleansing was paid for at Calvary.

 

If you have already accepted Christ as Savior, the blood of Christ has been applied to your account.

 

When we sin anew, we do not need to be saved again, but for the sake of maintaining fellowship with God, we need to be cleansed.

 

The Lord cleanses us as we confess our sins.

1 John 1:9 - If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

 

No sin is too great!

 

There is no sin which cannot be forgiven.

There is no sin for which guild can not be removed.

 

Psalm 32:5 - I acknowledged my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the Lord; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Sela"

 

A FRESH LOOK AT FORGIVENESS

A FRESH LOOK AT RESPONSIBILITY Vs. 8

 

Notice that when God asks, "WHO SHALL I SEND?" that no seraph, no cherub, no angel responds.

 

Why?

 

Because God has ordained, that it is the cleansed, forgiven, child of God, who is to take the message of salvation!

 

The one who has experienced forgiveness and cleansing is to take the message of cleansing and forgiveness to others.

 

As you are cleansed by God, and "right" with Him, Christian, you might just hear Him saying, "WHO WILL GO FOR US?"

 

Who is "us?" - The Trinity, of course!

 

"Who will go for us?"

To your relatives and friends.

To your town.

To your neighbor.

 

To a Sunday School class?

To the mission field?

To the pulpit?

To the world?!

 

Isaiah's answer to God's question, was, "Here Am I, Send me!"

Isaiah was given a commission to go to Israel with bad news. He was also told that Israel would not respond.

 

God gives you and I a different commission.

 

Matthew 28:19-20 - Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: [20] Teaching them to

observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

 

Matthew 5:14-16 - Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. [15] Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. [16] Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

 

"In old England, lanterns were hung from church steeples and in front of homes. When a lantern was missing, the night watchman would cry, "LIGHT YOUR LANTERN!" Thus lighted lanterns guided those walking the fog enshrouded streets of the cities. In the darkness of this sinful age, men and women walk the road of time on to eternity. How they need to see the radiance of a clean testimony, light the way for our Savior."

 

Christian friend, "LIGHT YOUR LANTERN"

Get a fresh look:

IN THE FACE OF TRAGEDY

OF THE GLORY OF GOD

AT SELF

AT FORGIVENESS

AT RESPONSIBILITY