Daily Thought

Prayerful communion with God brings fresh vision of the Lord. Each vision will give us the aspects of the divine that most fit our circumstance and need. So it is, when Isaiah sees ‘the Lord’, v. 1.

The vision conveys certain attributes of God that His servant will need to be in the good of to fulfil his ministry. There’s His absolute sovereignty - He is the Adonai seated upon the exalted throne - in Him alone is vested all power. He is purity and perfection - His train which is light, Ps. 104. 1, 2, fills the sanctuary in harmony with the glory of His presence, v. 1. He is unapproachable holiness, for seraphim with fiery vigilance guard His Person, v. 2.

The seraphim declare one to another recognition of His holiness and give testimony to His glory throughout the earth. There will be a day when men will know the Lord and His glory will fill the earth to universal recognition, Hab. 2. 14.

There are immediate results from this vision. The first is monumental; foundations are shaken, established orders are disturbed and men can do nothing but tremble, v. 4. The second is environmental; the sanctuary is filled with smoke as the sweet-smelling offering of appreciation issues from the altar of incense. The third is personal; the prophet agonizes at the exposure of his condition and that of the people, v. 5.

The fact is that he has been a spectator of something that will affect the rest of his life. He will be turned upside down, remotivated and redirected. He has ‘seen the King, the Lord of hosts’, v. 5. When did we last see Him? We need a fresh vision every day.

The prophet’s responses follow swiftly, and we see the Lord dealing with him in order to fit him for service to the nation. He is convicted and this leads to confession, v. 5. Application of the effect of the sacrifice removes and expiates his defilement.

Then he is open to hear what the Lord is saying. He will respond submissively and unhindered to fulfil the divine will. Can we today use Isaiah’s response as our response to God?