Evening Republican, Volume 20, Number 183, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 1 August 1916 — HE SAW THE LORD [ARTICLE]

HE SAW THE LORD

Christian May Learn Much by Study of the Vision of Isaiah. The sixth chapter of Isaiah Is an intensely interesting story. The first verse deals with a dead king and a live prophet. The story of the live prophet will give us inspiration. The story of the dead king gives us n warning. The preparation of Isaiah for service presents to our consideration this fact: If. God would call him to a great work, he must have preparation commensurate to the greatness of the work to which he was called. Success in any great undertaking is to a degree dependent upon preparation. If a man is to speak Owl’s message he must have a vision of the Lord. God would have us see him today. “Look unto me nnd be ye saved; for I am Jehovah, and there is none else.” Again he says, “Ye shall seek me and find me when ye shall search for me with your whole heart.” Vision of Isaiah. It is very interesting to notice that in the vision of Isaiah, “the Lord was sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple.” Jehovah’s throne appeared first to the prophet Isaiah saw that he must place the Lord first within his heart above all earthly thrones. What he saw and heard and said forms an interesting story*. Above the throne stood the seraphim; each one had six wings; witli twain he covered his face, with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly. What a glorious picture of reverence in performing holy service about the throne of the Lord! The seraphim are the burning ones who minister in the things of fire around the heavenly altars. The cherubim are those who are said to know the secrets of God. Listen to the words of the seraphim, those fiery messengers of heaven. They cried one to the other, saying, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts. Suppose the one who knows you best should be compelled to speak his knowledge of yodr moral character, as the seraphim reveal the holiness of the Lord in their burning words. The glory of God was so powerful In the temple that day that the posts of the door moved at the voice of him that cried, and the house was filled with snioke. Isaiah was face to face with the holiness, the majesty, the power of God. The effect of the vision is recorded in the fifth verse. He saw himself, after having seen the Lord. The contrast was Irresistible. He said, “Woe is me! 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 world is Yuli of people of unclean lips. Isaiah’s complaint against himsels was the midst of a people of unclean lips.” He was not any better than those he dwelt with. His confession preceded his cleansing. If you are Interested to know why he branded himself and his companions as unclean, I will ask him, Isaiah answers : “Because mine eyed have seen the king, the Lord of hosts.” If you would see him in his cleansing power, you must confess and forsake your sins. Isaiah received the baptism of fire. He says, “Then flew one of the seraphim unto me, having a live coal In his hand, which he had taken with the tongs from off the altar; and he laid it upon my month.” This fire-cleans-ing immediately followed the honest confession of his uncleanness. Prophet's Commission. When Isaiah was clean, he heard the voice of the Lord saying,: “Whom shall I send, and who will go for ns?” Isaiah said, "Here am I; send me.” Then he received his commission: "Go and tell this people.” God wants you to go and tell his message of love and salvation to perishing sinners. Isaiah, asked, “Lord, how long?” God answered Isaiah, “Until the cities bo wasted without inhabitant, and the houses without man, and the land be utterly desolate, and the Lord have removed men far away, and there be agreat forsaking In the midst of the land.” In other words when there la no one left to be warned, your work is at an end. God expects your faithful service, for your influence is to be either a blight or a blessing.—Rev. F. E. Oliver.