Latest / Marriage Life and More and Bible Study / Isaiah 6:1-6 - From I Got This to Woe is Me in 0.2 Seconds - 312

Transcript

Isaiah 6:1-6 - From I Got This to Woe is Me in 0.2 Seconds - 312 · Marriage Life and More and Bible Study

• 0:07
  Daniel Moore: So just so we get this straight, Judah's been casually strolling into the temple like it's their neighborhood coffee shop, and then Isaiah actually sees God's throne room and immediately thinks he's about to die.
• 0:17
  Daniel Moore: Do you think maybe they underestimated who they were dealing with just a little bit?
• 0:22
  Daniel Moore: And when the seraphim are flying around yelling, holy, holy, holy, and the door posts are shaking.
• 0:27
  Daniel Moore: Don't you think someone should have thought, hmm, maybe our casual half-hearted worship routine isn't exactly matching what's going on in heaven?
• 0:34
  Daniel Moore: Well this week we move into Isaiah chapter 6.
• 0:37
  Daniel Moore: We move from a nation that's become very comfortable with God to a prophet who suddenly realizes just how uncomfortable the presence of God really is.
• 0:46
  Daniel Moore: Isaiah walks into the temple during a time of national uncertainty, King Uzziah has died, the country is shaky, and the future feels unclear.
• 0:55
  Daniel Moore: But instead of getting a political update or a reassuring pep talk, Isaiah gets something far more terrifying and awe-inspiring.
• 1:02
  Daniel Moore: A front-row seat to the throne room of heaven.
• 1:05
  Daniel Moore: And let's just say, it's nothing like the casual religious routine Israel has grown used to.
• 1:11
  Daniel Moore: Seraphim are flying, the temple is shaking, smoke is filling the room, and the angels are shouting, holy, holy, holy, so loudly the door frames start rattling.
• 1:20
  Daniel Moore: Isaiah's reaction is immediate and relatable.
• 1:23
  Daniel Moore: Woe is me! In other words, I've made a terrible mistake walking into this room.
• 1:29
  Daniel Moore: Well in this week's episode, we're going to explore what happens when a man who thought he understood God suddenly sees him as he truly is, and why that moment of holy terror becomes the very thing that prepares Isaiah for his calling.
• 1:41
  Daniel Moore: Because sometimes the most life-changing moment in your spiritual life starts with the realization I might have underestimated God.
• 1:49
  Daniel Moore: Let's get to it.
• 1:51
  Daniel Moore: Welcome to Connecting the Gap.
• 2:02
  Daniel Moore: This is a podcast about marriage, Bible, and book studies.
• 2:05
  Daniel Moore: We interview people that have a story.
• 2:06
  Daniel Moore: I'm Daniel Moore, your host.
• 2:08
  Daniel Moore: Thank you guys for joining us this week.
• 2:09
  Daniel Moore: If you're not familiar with our show, check out our website at connectingthegap.net.
• 2:13
  Daniel Moore: Our platforms are there, YouTube and Rumble Link.
• 2:15
  Daniel Moore: We're also on the Creation Podcasting app at Edifi.
• 2:18
  Daniel Moore: We're also on your Alexa and Google Smart Devices.
• 2:21
  Daniel Moore: You can also visit us on social on Facebook, Instagram, and X at CTGapOnline.
• 2:26
  Daniel Moore: If you're a fan of our show, please subscribe.
• 2:28
  Daniel Moore: Feel free to leave a comment on our platforms, give us a thumbs up or five-star review on Apple Podcasts.
• 2:33
  Daniel Moore: And we'd be thankful to you for doing that.
• 2:36
  Daniel Moore: Well, while you're at our website, check out our books that we have available.
• 2:39
  Daniel Moore: We have several marriage books that are available now on Amazon.
• 2:44
  Daniel Moore: And you can also get those in most of the places you can get books: Barnes and Noble, Walmart, Books a Million, wherever you buy your books at, go check those out.
• 2:53
  Daniel Moore: And anything that you purchase there, hopefully and prayerfully, will not only just help your marriage, but it also does help us here keep our ministry rolling here at Connecting the Gap in Marriage Life and More.
• 3:04
  Daniel Moore: So we thank you guys in advance for checking that out.
• 3:07
  Daniel Moore: Well, as I said, this week we're going to be moving on into a new chapter in Isaiah.
• 3:12
  Daniel Moore: We're going to go ahead and get into Isaiah chapter 6.
• 3:16
  Daniel Moore: And this week we're going to go ahead and uh see if we can make it through verses 1 through 6 here in our study of Isaiah verse by verse.
• 3:26
  Daniel Moore: And this, of course, comes from the ESV version of the Bible.
• 3:51
  Daniel Moore: Isaiah chapter 6, verse 1.
• 3:54
  Daniel Moore: It says, In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and the train of his robe filled the temple.
• 4:03
  Daniel Moore: Above him stood the seraphim.
• 4:06
  Daniel Moore: Each had six wings, with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew.
• 4:13
  Daniel Moore: And one called to another and said, Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts, the whole earth is full of his glory.
• 4:21
  Daniel Moore: And the foundations of the threshold shook at the voice of him who called, and the house was filled with smoke.
• 4:28
  Daniel Moore: And I said, Woe is me, for I am lost, for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips, for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts.
• 4:40
  Daniel Moore: Then one of the seraphim flew to me, having in his hand a burning coal that he had taken with tongs from the altar.
• 4:48
  Daniel Moore: So this passage of Scripture is very popular.
• 4:53
  Daniel Moore: There's actually songs written quite often as worship songs that use some of these scripture references here in Isaiah chapter 6.
• 5:02
  Daniel Moore: And I can remember even back as a young child, a young teenager, when I was going through school, I went to a Christian school.
• 5:10
  Daniel Moore: And I know a lot of our Bible studies that we had, I remember vividly going over some of this even back then.
• 5:16
  Daniel Moore: And so this is going to be a fun chapter to go through, and I'm looking forward to doing it, and hopefully you guys are as well.
• 5:23
  Daniel Moore: So we're going to go ahead and get started here.
• 5:26
  Daniel Moore: Isaiah chapter 6 marks a pivotable moment in the prophet Isaiah's life and ministry.
• 5:31
  Daniel Moore: It recounts his powerful vision of the Lord seated on a high and exalted throne surrounded by Seraphim in the year that King Uzziah died.
• 5:39
  Daniel Moore: This chapter captures both the majesty and holiness of God and the deep sense of unworthiness that Isaiah experiences in his presence.
• 5:47
  Daniel Moore: It serves as Isaiah's calling and commissioning as a prophet, highlighting themes of God's holiness, human sinfulness, and divine grace.
• 5:55
  Daniel Moore: Through a dramatic and awe-inspiring encounter, Isaiah is cleansed and given a specific mission, though one filled with difficulty and rejection.
• 6:04
  Daniel Moore: This chapter sets the tone for the rest of the book, emphasizing the seriousness of Israel's spiritual state and God's unwavering purpose to bring both judgment and hope.
• 6:15
  Daniel Moore: King Uzziah was a king of Judah, the southern kingdom of Israel, and the father of King Jotham.
• 6:20
  Daniel Moore: He began his reign at the young age of sixteen and ruled for fifty two years.
• 6:26
  Daniel Moore: Uzziah was generally considered a good king who sought the Lord in his early years and brought prosperity, military strength, and stability to the nation.
• 6:34
  Daniel Moore: However, later in life his pride led to his downfall when he unlawfully entered the temple to burn incense, a duty that's reserved for the priest.
• 6:44
  Daniel Moore: As a result, God struck him with leprosy, and he lived in isolation until his death.
• 6:50
  Daniel Moore: Here in Isaiah chapter six, Uzziah is deceased or has just died, as the vision begins with the words in the year that King Uzziah died.
• 6:58
  Daniel Moore: His death marks a shift in leadership and a significant moment in Judah's history, symbolizing the end of an era and the beginning of Isaiah's prophetic ministry.
• 7:08
  Daniel Moore: Here in verse 1 of chapter six, we start with Isaiah's call and his mission.
• 7:14
  Daniel Moore: It says, In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up.
• 7:20
  Daniel Moore: The train of his robe filled the temple.
• 7:23
  Daniel Moore: This verse here begins with a historical timestamp in the year that the King Uzziah died.
• 7:31
  Daniel Moore: That's approximately 740 BC.
• 7:34
  Daniel Moore: Uzziah had reigned for over fifty years in Judah, and his death marked a time of political uncertainty and transition.
• 7:41
  Daniel Moore: His death also symbolized the end of a period of relative stability and success for Judah.
• 7:48
  Daniel Moore: Notably, Uzziah was struck with leprosy by God for arrogantly entering the temple to burn incense, thus presenting a stark contrast between the unholy king and the holy one that Isaiah now sees.
• 8:00
  Daniel Moore: King Uzziah was not allowed to burn incense in the temple because although he was a king, this specific act was reserved for the priest, who were descendants of Aaron and consecrated for the sacred duty.
• 8:12
  Daniel Moore: When Uzziah enters the temple to burn incense, he overstepped the boundaries of his royal authority and violated God's command regarding the separation of priestly and kingly duties.
• 8:24
  Daniel Moore: As a result, God struck him with leprosy, which remained with him until his death.
• 8:30
  Daniel Moore: This incident demonstrates the seriousness with which God regarded the sanctity of his commandments and roles within worship.
• 8:37
  Daniel Moore: The account of this story is recorded in 2 Chronicles 26, verses 16 through 21, where the details of how Uzziah's pride led to his downfall and how his punishment served as a warning against disobedience to God's ordained order.
• 8:53
  Daniel Moore: So we want to go ahead and let's jump over to 2 Chronicles and let's look at that story real quick as we get started here in Isaiah chapter 6.
• 9:01
  Daniel Moore: In 2 Chronicles 26, 16 through 21, we see that when he was strong, he grew proud to his destruction.
• 9:11
  Daniel Moore: This is talking about King Uzziah, for he was unfaithful to the Lord his God and entered the temple of the Lord to burn incense on the altar of incense.
• 9:20
  Daniel Moore: But Azariah the priest went in after him with eighty valiant men of the priest of the Lord, and they withstood King Uzziah and said to him, It is not for you, Uzziah, to burn incense to the Lord, but for the priest, the sons of Aaron, who are consecrated to burn incense.
• 9:37
  Daniel Moore: Go out of the sanctuaries for you have done wrong, and it will bring you no honor from the Lord God.
• 9:43
  Daniel Moore: Well then Uzziah was angry.
• 9:47
  Daniel Moore: Now he had a censor in his hand to burn incense, and when he became angry with the priest, leprosy broke out on his forehead in the presence of all the priests in the house of the Lord by the altar of incense.
• 9:59
  Daniel Moore: And Azariah the chief priest and all the priests looked on him, and behold, he was leprous in his forehead.
• 10:05
  Daniel Moore: And they rushed him out quickly, and he himself hurried to go out because the Lord had struck him.
• 10:11
  Daniel Moore: King Uzziah was a leper to the day of his death, and being a leper lived in a separate house, for he was excluded from the house of the Lord.
• 10:20
  Daniel Moore: Jotham his son was over the king's household, governing the people of the land.
• 10:25
  Daniel Moore: So the narrative here in Second Chronicles twenty six centers on King Uzziah of Judah, also known as Azariah, who ascended the throne at a young age and experienced remarkable success under divine blessing.
• 10:38
  Daniel Moore: His reign spanning over five decades was marked by military victories, fortified cities, agricultural prosperity, and a formidable army, all attributed to his initial faithfulness in seeking the Lord.
• 10:51
  Daniel Moore: However, this passage highlights a tragic turning point, illustrating the peril of pride following prolonged blessing and power.
• 11:00
  Daniel Moore: Uzziah's story serves as a cautionary account within the chronicler's emphasis on covenant faithfulness, temple worship, and the consequences of royal overreach in sacred matters.
• 11:11
  Daniel Moore: So to look at the sequence of events that happened here with Uzziah, Uzziah's pride led him to transgress sacred boundaries by entering the temple to burn incense on the altar reserved exclusively for consecrated priest.
• 11:24
  Daniel Moore: Azariah the chief priest, accompanied by eighty courageous priests, confronted the king inside the sanctuary, rebuking him directly and commanding him to depart, as such priestly duties were not his prerogative.
• 11:36
  Daniel Moore: Enraged, Uzziah clutched a censor, intent on proceeding, but divine judgment manifested instantly.
• 11:42
  Daniel Moore: Leprosy erupted on his forehead in plain view of the priest.
• 11:46
  Daniel Moore: The priest hastily expelled him, and Uzziah himself fled, permanently barred from the temple.
• 11:53
  Daniel Moore: He lived out his days in isolation as a leper, with his son Jotham assuming administrative duties over the kingdom.
• 12:00
  Daniel Moore: So there was a reason for God's judgment.
• 12:04
  Daniel Moore: God struck Uzziah with leprosy to enforce the holiness of his sanctuary and the divinely ordained distinctions between kingly and priestly roles.
• 12:12
  Daniel Moore: Uzziah's act represented a presumptuous usurpation of priestly authority, rooted in prideful self-exaltation after seasons of blessing which constituted unfaithfulness to Yahweh.
• 12:25
  Daniel Moore: This immediate and visible affliction underscored God's unwavering commitment to ceremonial purity and hierarchical order in worship, serving as both punishment for the king's sin and a public testimony to the sanctity of the temple.
• 12:39
  Daniel Moore: The permanence of Uzziah's condition until death emphasized the severity of defiling the holy place through unauthorized intrusion, reinforcing that no earthly power, however prosperous, supersedes divine prescription.
• 12:54
  Daniel Moore: So Isaiah's vision of the Lord here, high and lifted up, seated on a throne, signifies divine sovereignty and majesty.
• 13:03
  Daniel Moore: The phrase the train of his robe filled the temple evokes the image of royal dignity and overwhelming glory.
• 13:11
  Daniel Moore: Just the hymn of God's robe fills the entire temple, underscoring his grandeur and holiness.
• 13:18
  Daniel Moore: This calls to mind in Exodus forty, verses thirty-four and thirty-five, when the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle.
• 13:25
  Daniel Moore: So as we move on to verse two here in chapter six, it says above him stood the seraphim.
• 13:30
  Daniel Moore: Each had six wings, with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew.
• 13:38
  Daniel Moore: So the seraphim here, they are a specific and high ranking class of angelic beings mentions explicitly only in Isaiah six.
• 13:48
  Daniel Moore: They are not commonly mentioned in Scripture, they appear only here by name.
• 13:54
  Daniel Moore: Their name, derived from the Hebrew word seraph, or the plural seraphim, means burning ones, indicating their radiant, fiery nature.
• 14:04
  Daniel Moore: The imagery of fire often symbolizes purity, holiness, and the consuming presence of God, which aligns with their role in Isaiah's vision of divine majesty.
• 14:13
  Daniel Moore: The seraphim appear in Isaiah's vision, here in Isaiah chapter two, and they also continue to show up here through verse six, where they attend the throne of God.
• 14:23
  Daniel Moore: Unlike other angelic beings mentioned in Scripture, the Seraphim are not described elsewhere by the specific name, but their presence in Isaiah six is so striking that it suggests they have a unique role in God's heavenly court.
• 14:36
  Daniel Moore: They are shown hovering above the throne of God, each having six wings, two covering their faces in humility before God's glory, two covering their feet, possibly symbolizing reverence or modesty.
• 14:49
  Daniel Moore: Some suggest feet could be a euphemism, as it is elsewhere in the Old Testament.
• 14:54
  Daniel Moore: And with two wings they fly, signifying active service and readiness to carry out God's commands swiftly.
• 15:01
  Daniel Moore: This triple pair of wings reflects their readiness to worship and serve, as well as their deep reverence for divine holiness.
• 15:08
  Daniel Moore: So what is the seraphim's purpose in heaven?
• 15:12
  Daniel Moore: Well the seraphim are primarily associated with worship, adoration, and the proclamation of God's holiness.
• 15:18
  Daniel Moore: In Isaiah six, verse three, which we'll get to here shortly, they call out to one another, proclaiming, Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts.
• 15:26
  Daniel Moore: The whole earth is full of his glory.
• 15:28
  Daniel Moore: This antiphonal praise, which is a call and response type form, not only emphasizes God's supreme holiness, but sets the atmosphere of heaven as one of continual worship.
• 15:41
  Daniel Moore: In verse six, as we get to it, we're going to see that a seraph takes a live coal from the altar and touches Isaiah's lips, symbolizing purification and atonement.
• 15:51
  Daniel Moore: This action shows that they are not only worshipers, but also serve as intermediaries in God's sanctifying work.
• 15:58
  Daniel Moore: Some scholars note that their role reflects both priestly and celestial functions, honoring God in worship and ministering purification.
• 16:07
  Daniel Moore: They may be seen as divine agents of purification, carrying out God's will directly with reverent obedience.
• 16:14
  Daniel Moore: This further distinguishes them from angels who more commonly serve as messengers.
• 16:19
  Daniel Moore: So that brings up another point.
• 16:21
  Daniel Moore: How do they compare to other angelic beings?
• 16:24
  Daniel Moore: Well, there's three different kinds of angelic beings here that I'm going to give you here as we discuss this here in chapter six.
• 16:34
  Daniel Moore: The first one is cherubim.
• 16:35
  Daniel Moore: Cherubim are often depicted differently from Seraphim.
• 16:39
  Daniel Moore: They are associated with guarding the way to the presence of God, and you can read about that in Genesis chapter three, verse twenty four.
• 16:46
  Daniel Moore: Also the Ark of the Covenant, as expressed in Exodus twenty five, eighteen through twenty two, and the throne of God, as expressed in Ezekiel ten.
• 16:55
  Daniel Moore: In Ezekiel, the cherubim are described as complex, multi-winged and multi-faced beings, highlighting their mysterious and powerful nature.
• 17:04
  Daniel Moore: While cherubim are mighty protectors and guards, the seraphim of Isaiah seem more focused on ceaseless worship and sanctification.
• 17:12
  Daniel Moore: Then you have the archangels.
• 17:14
  Daniel Moore: The Archangel Michael, which is mentioned in Jude 1 9 and Revelation 12 7, represents a warrior or leader type angel, especially in spiritual battles.
• 17:24
  Daniel Moore: Gabriel, while not called an archangel in the Bible, functions as a messenger in Daniel and Luke.
• 17:30
  Daniel Moore: In contrast, the Seraphim are not messengers or warriors, again, they are worshipers and purifiers positioned around God's throne.
• 17:39
  Daniel Moore: And then you have the living creatures, which is in Revelation four.
• 17:43
  Daniel Moore: In Revelation, John sees four living creatures around the throne of God, each with multiple eyes and wings who continuously say, Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty.
• 17:54
  Daniel Moore: Well, if that sounds familiar, many theologians see these as parallel to the seraphim, although they are not given the same name.
• 18:02
  Daniel Moore: The similarities in function, the constant worship, the proximity to God's throne, the declaration of his holiness, it does suggest a shared celestial purpose, possibly different representations of the same class of beings and different prophetic visions.
• 18:18
  Daniel Moore: I will say that once we get to chapter 14, I told you I think it was last week we was talking about Sheol.
• 18:25
  Daniel Moore: We're going to have that deep dive into chapter 14, and we're going to go over a lot to do with the Seraphim, the cherubim, all the archangels.
• 18:34
  Daniel Moore: We're going to get to the book of Enoch a little bit.
• 18:36
  Daniel Moore: So that's an episode to look forward to as we get on down the road here.
• 18:40
  Daniel Moore: Uh, once we get to chapter 14, it's going to be an add-on section for chapter 14 that'll probably take a couple of weeks.
• 18:47
  Daniel Moore: So that's going to give you something to look forward to there.
• 18:49
  Daniel Moore: We're not going to go into that really a whole lot deeper here in chapter 6.
• 18:53
  Daniel Moore: We'll save that for later as we get into chapter 14.
• 18:57
  Daniel Moore: Now, as we finish up with this verse here in chapter 6, verse 2, uh early Christian theologians such as Augustine and later Thomas Achenus placed Seraphim at the highest level of the angelic hierarchy.
• 19:10
  Daniel Moore: Achenus and his Summa Theologica, in part one, Question 108, taught that the Seraphim were closest to God among the nine choirs of angels and thus burned with the most intense love for God, which is symbolized by their fiery appearance.
• 19:25
  Daniel Moore: Seraphim embody a model of our response to God, overwhelming reverence, worship, and commitment to purity.
• 19:33
  Daniel Moore: Their posture, such as when they were covering their face and feet, teaches humility even among the holy.
• 19:39
  Daniel Moore: Their chant of holy, holy, holy forms the basis for many Christian worship liturgies, notably the sanctus in both Eastern and Western church traditions.
• 19:49
  Daniel Moore: This image of Seraphim emphasizes God's holiness and the reverence He commands from even the most exalted created beings.
• 19:58
  Daniel Moore: John Calvin notes, even the angels veil their faces in a token of humility.
• 20:03
  Daniel Moore: Therefore, what presumption is it for us poor worms of the dust to rush with our eyes open into the blazing glory of God?
• 20:12
  Daniel Moore: Verse three, here in chapter six, it says, And one called to another and said, Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts, the whole earth is full of his glory.
• 20:23
  Daniel Moore: This is one of the most defining declarations about God in the Bible.
• 20:28
  Daniel Moore: The threefold repetition of holy is a literary device in Hebrew used for emphasis, expressing the superlative degree.
• 20:36
  Daniel Moore: Holiness is the only attribute of God repeated thrice in Scripture like this.
• 20:42
  Daniel Moore: While God is love or God is just or profoundly true, only holy, holy, holy is repeated emphatically like this, showing that holiness is a foundation and distinguishing attribute of God.
• 20:54
  Daniel Moore: The title Lord of hosts or Yahweh Sabaoth refers to God's command over the heavenly armies and all created powers.
• 21:03
  Daniel Moore: While God's throne is seen in the heavenly temple, his glory fills the entire earth.
• 21:08
  Daniel Moore: The actual vision Isaiah sees involves God's transcendence, which means he is above and beyond creation, and also his eminence, which means his glory fills the earth.
• 21:19
  Daniel Moore: As RC Sprohl remarked in his classic work The Holiness of God, the Bible says that God is holy, holy, holy, not that he is merely holy or even holy holy, but he is holy, holy, holy.
• 21:32
  Daniel Moore: The Bible never says that God is love, love, love, or mercy, mercy, mercy, or wrath, wrath, wrath, but it does say that he is holy, holy, holy.
• 21:43
  Daniel Moore: As we move on to verse four here in chapter six, it says, And the foundations of the threshold shook at the voice of him who called, and the house was filled with smoke.
• 21:53
  Daniel Moore: The foundations of the threshold shaking captures the alarming effect of the seraph's voice.
• 21:59
  Daniel Moore: Indicating cosmic awe and the response of creation to divine holiness.
• 22:04
  Daniel Moore: The scene mirrors instances where in Scripture where God's presence causes physical trembling, such as Exodus 19, verse 18 at Mount Sinai.
• 22:14
  Daniel Moore: Smoke often symbolizes the presence of God in the Old Testament.
• 22:19
  Daniel Moore: It is reminiscent of the cloud and smoke that filled the tabernacle in Exodus 40 34, and later the temple in 1 Kings 8 10 through 11.
• 22:28
  Daniel Moore: In this context, it represents the overwhelming holiness and glory of God, a presence so powerful that it conceals his full manifestation, protecting the prophet from being overwhelmed.
• 22:40
  Daniel Moore: In this verse, the smoke that fills the temple is often associated with the Shekinah glory of God, which refers to the visible manifestation of God's divine presence.
• 22:49
  Daniel Moore: The term Shekina itself does not appear in the Bible but is derived from a Hebrew root meaning to dwell or to settle, used by later Jewish scholars to describe God's indwelling glory.
• 23:02
  Daniel Moore: The smoke in Isaiah's vision represents God's holiness, majesty, and awe-inspiring presence, emphasizing that Isaiah is in the presence of the Almighty.
• 23:12
  Daniel Moore: It signifies that God's glory fills the temple completely, underscoring his unapproachable holiness and the overwhelming weight of his presence.
• 23:20
  Daniel Moore: This imagery also serves to both inspire reverence and underscore the separation between the holy God and sinful humanity, as Isaiah confesses in the next verses.
• 23:30
  Daniel Moore: The Shekinah glory expressed through smoke reveals a God who is both near and untouchably holy, making Isaiah's call and cleansing all the more significant.
• 23:40
  Daniel Moore: Adam Clark notes, this smoke was a symbol of the divine presence as it filled the house, showing that God was there in glory, though not in his absolute essence, which no mortal can behold and live.
• 23:54
  Daniel Moore: As we move on here to verse 5 in chapter 6, it says, And I said, Woe is me, for I am lost, for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips, for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts.
• 24:13
  Daniel Moore: In this verse, Isaiah responds with despair and deep conviction of sin upon seeing the Lord.
• 24:20
  Daniel Moore: The phrase, Woe is me, shows a prophetic expression of doom, often used against others, but here Isaiah directs it at himself.
• 24:28
  Daniel Moore: The word lost or undone indicates being ruined or destroyed, suggesting that Isaiah acknowledges his unworthiness to stand before a holy God.
• 24:39
  Daniel Moore: His reference to unclean lips reflects a deeper spiritual impurity, according to the Jewish understanding that speech reflects the state of the heart.
• 24:48
  Daniel Moore: And we can see that in Matthew 12, verse 34.
• 24:51
  Daniel Moore: In the historical context, the holiness of God was utterly overwhelming, and those who saw God expected death.
• 25:00
  Daniel Moore: And we can read about that in Exodus 33, verse 20.
• 25:03
  Daniel Moore: Isaiah's recognition that he is part of a sinful nation, which was in Isaiah chapter 1, verse 4, reveals his intercessory heart and awareness of Judah's moral and spiritual failure.
• 25:16
  Daniel Moore: And as we wrap up this week with our text that we're going to be covering, we're going to read Isaiah 6, verse 6.
• 25:24
  Daniel Moore: Then one of Seraphim flew to me, having in his hand a burning coal that had taken from the tongs from the altar.
• 25:32
  Daniel Moore: So here, the burning coal from the altar signifies a divine act of purification.
• 25:38
  Daniel Moore: The altar referred to is likely the altar of incense or burnt offering symbolizing sacrificial atonement.
• 25:45
  Daniel Moore: That the seraph uses tongs emphasizes the holiness of the coal itself.
• 25:52
  Daniel Moore: This verse shows that God initiates cleansing.
• 25:55
  Daniel Moore: Isaiah cannot cleanse himself.
• 25:57
  Daniel Moore: The use of fire or burning coal aligns with the consistent biblical symbolism of fire as a means of purification.
• 26:06
  Daniel Moore: As we can read about Malachi chapter 3, verses 2 through 3.
• 26:10
  Daniel Moore: So let's look at a quick intersect here between Isaiah 6 6 and Malachi 3, verses 2 through 3.
• 26:17
  Daniel Moore: These both passages underscore fire's dual role in scriptures, both consuming wrath against purity, such as in Exodus 24.17 and Hebrews 12 29, and merciful refinement for the repentant.
• 26:29
  Daniel Moore: In Isaiah, the coal's touch instantaneously purifies, prefiguring the altar's atoning fire fulfilled in Christ's substitutionary sacrifice, as mentioned in Hebrews 9 14.
• 26:41
  Daniel Moore: Malachi expands this to a corporate end time sifting where God's people endure fiery trial to emerge as vessels of honor, such as you can read in 1 Peter 1.7.
• 26:51
  Daniel Moore: Evangelical scholars such as E.J.
• 26:54
  Daniel Moore: Young in his Isaiah commentary and Joyce Baldwin, who done a commentary on Malachi, affirm this harmony.
• 27:01
  Daniel Moore: The Seraphim's call instantiates the refiner's process, demonstrating that divine holiness demands purity, achieved not by human effort, but by God's sovereign application of atoning fire.
• 27:13
  Daniel Moore: Thus fire consistently symbolizes God's holy jealousy that burns away sin, restoring worshipers to blameless communion with Him.
• 27:23
  Daniel Moore: As we wrap up verse 6, John Calvin observed that the coal represented the efficacy of Christ's atonement prefigured in the Old Testament sacrifices, which atoned for sin through fire and blood.
• 27:37
  Daniel Moore: So as we finish up this week's episode, let's look at how we can apply this to ourselves today and let's do a quick wrap-up here of these first six verses here in Isaiah chapter 6.
• 28:05
  Daniel Moore: As far as wrapping up this passage of Scripture, verses 1 through 6 here gives us one of the most powerful glimpses of God's holiness in all of Scripture.
• 28:14
  Daniel Moore: The passage begins by grounding the moment in history, such as in the year that King Uzziah died.
• 28:20
  Daniel Moore: This detail matters because Uzziah had been a strong and stabilizing king in Judah for decades.
• 28:26
  Daniel Moore: His death likely left the nation uncertain and uneasy.
• 28:30
  Daniel Moore: Political stability was gone, leadership was shaken, and the people were facing an unknown future.
• 28:36
  Daniel Moore: Yet right in the middle of that uncertainty, Isaiah is given a vision that reminds him and us that while earthly thrones may be empty, God's throne never is.
• 28:47
  Daniel Moore: Isaiah sees the Lord high and lifted up, seated on his throne with the train of his robe filling the temple.
• 28:53
  Daniel Moore: This imagery communicates overwhelming majesty and authority.
• 28:57
  Daniel Moore: The train of a king's robe symbolized honor and glory, and here it fills the entire temple, suggesting that God's glory cannot be contained.
• 29:07
  Daniel Moore: Surrounding him are seraphim, powerful angelic beings whose very names mean burning ones.
• 29:13
  Daniel Moore: Even these sinless creatures cover their faces and feet in reverence, unable to fully gaze upon the holiness of God.
• 29:20
  Daniel Moore: They call out to one another, Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts, the whole earth is full of his glory.
• 29:27
  Daniel Moore: The repetition emphasizes absolute holiness.
• 29:30
  Daniel Moore: God is not merely holy, he is perfectly, infinitely holy.
• 29:35
  Daniel Moore: The scene is so overwhelming that the very foundations of the temple shake and smoke fills the space.
• 29:41
  Daniel Moore: Isaiah's response is immediate and deeply personal.
• 29:45
  Daniel Moore: Instead of feeling inspired or proud to be in God's presence, he is undone.
• 29:49
  Daniel Moore: He cries out, Woe is me, for I am lost, for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips.
• 29:58
  Daniel Moore: When Isaiah sees God clearly, he suddenly sees himself clearly.
• 30:03
  Daniel Moore: The prophet who had already been speaking God's word to others, realizes just how sinful and unworthy he truly is.
• 30:10
  Daniel Moore: But the passage does not end with condemnation.
• 30:14
  Daniel Moore: One of the seraphim takes a burning coal from the altar and touches Isaiah's lips, declaring that his guilt is removed and his sin is atoned for.
• 30:23
  Daniel Moore: This moment symbolizes cleansing and forgiveness coming from God himself.
• 30:28
  Daniel Moore: Isaiah cannot purify himself, God provides the cleansing.
• 30:32
  Daniel Moore: The same lips Isaiah feared were unclean, are the very lips God cleanses so they can be used for his purposes.
• 30:39
  Daniel Moore: This passage beautifully removes through a spiritual progression.
• 30:43
  Daniel Moore: Revelation of God's holiness moves on to realization of human sinfulness, which moves on to reception of God's cleansing grace.
• 30:52
  Daniel Moore: And how can we apply these to our lives today?
• 30:55
  Daniel Moore: Well, first of all, we need a fresh vision of God's holiness.
• 30:59
  Daniel Moore: Much of our spiritual struggle today comes from having too small a view of God.
• 31:04
  Daniel Moore: Isaiah's transformation began when he saw the Lord for who he truly is, holy, sovereign, and glorious.
• 31:11
  Daniel Moore: When our focus shifts away from ourselves, our problems, and our preferences, and back onto God's greatness, it recalibrates everything.
• 31:20
  Daniel Moore: Worship is not about making God feel important, it is about reminding ourselves who is actually on the throne.
• 31:26
  Daniel Moore: Secondly, seeing God clearly helps us see ourselves honestly.
• 31:31
  Daniel Moore: Isaiah did not compare himself to other people, he compared himself to God.
• 31:36
  Daniel Moore: That comparison immediately revealed his sinfulness.
• 31:40
  Daniel Moore: In our culture, we often measure ourselves by others and conclude, hey, I'm doing pretty well.
• 31:46
  Daniel Moore: But when we measure ourselves against God's holiness, humility becomes the only appropriate response.
• 31:52
  Daniel Moore: Conviction is not meant to crush us, it is meant to lead us to grace.
• 31:57
  Daniel Moore: Thirdly, God cleanses the very areas we think disqualify us.
• 32:02
  Daniel Moore: Isaiah's concern was his lips, the instrument of his calling as a prophet.
• 32:07
  Daniel Moore: Yet that is exactly where God applied cleansing.
• 32:10
  Daniel Moore: Many people believe their past failures permanently disqualify them from being used by God, but God specializes in redeeming the broken places in our lives and turning them into instruments for his glory.
• 32:22
  Daniel Moore: And the fourth thing we can apply to us today from this verse here in these verses of Scripture, Grace always comes before calling.
• 32:31
  Daniel Moore: Right after this passage, God asks, Whom shall I send?
• 32:35
  Daniel Moore: And Isaiah famously responds, Here am I, send me.
• 32:40
  Daniel Moore: But notice the order.
• 32:41
  Daniel Moore: Isaiah is cleansed before he is commissioned.
• 32:45
  Daniel Moore: God does not send perfect people, he sends forgiven people.
• 32:49
  Daniel Moore: When we experience God's grace deeply, it naturally produces a willingness to serve him wholeheartedly.
• 32:56
  Daniel Moore: So in closing today, when we truly see God's holiness, we recognize our sinfulness.
• 33:02
  Daniel Moore: But when we receive his grace, we discover that the God who humbles us is also the God who cleanses and sends us.
• 33:11
  Daniel Moore: Well, that's going to be all for this week's episode on Connecting the Gap.
• 33:16
  Daniel Moore: If you'd like to reach out to us, you can go to our website, connectingthegap.net.
• 33:20
  Daniel Moore: We have a form there you can fill out.
• 33:21
  Daniel Moore: You can also email us at Daniel at connectingthegap.net.
• 33:25
  Daniel Moore: We'd love to hear from you, our listeners, just to see how you're enjoying the verse-by-verse study that we're doing right now.
• 33:31
  Daniel Moore: And even on our marriage site, if you're really enjoying our marriage episodes that I do with my wife Michelle, we'd love to hear from you on that as well.
• 33:39
  Daniel Moore: So visit our website today and reach out to us.
• 33:43
  Daniel Moore: And we'd love to hear from you guys as you listen.
• 33:46
  Daniel Moore: Well, that's all for this week.
• 33:48
  Daniel Moore: We're going to go ahead and head out here.
• 33:49
  Daniel Moore: We'll be back next week with another episode here as we continue our trudge through Isaiah in our verse-by-verse study.
• 33:55
  Daniel Moore: That's all for this week.
• 33:57
  Daniel Moore: And we believe that God's word never fails us.
• 33:59
  Daniel Moore: God's word has stood the test of time, and through Jesus' death on the cross, he has connected the gap.
• 34:05
  Daniel Moore: This is an extension of Connecting the Gap Ministries, and we pray that you have a blessed week.