When I read this Scripture, it convicts me of my sins even more.  It makes me think more about the work of Jesus Christ and how in my every day life, it is absolutely critical that I never take this for granted.  People in this world will spit on Jesus because they do not believe what He did for them.  “So then [God] has mercy on whomever he wills, and he hardens whomever he wills.” (Romans 9:18)  That doesn’t excuse me from being a light every single day.  My  typical week will consist of 40-50 hours of work, 5-10 hours of elder stuff, a busy Sunday in corporate worship and the rest either with my family or personal time.  When are the right people seeing Jesus in my life?  Is it during the 40-50 hours at work?  Is it during corporate worship?  There are lost people in this world who need to know what Jesus Christ did for  them.  This text makes it abundantly clear to me that God crushed Jesus Christ for His children.  He crushed Jesus Christ on the cross so that man’s sins will be washed away and accounted righteous.

What am I willing to do tomorrow in order to make sure that others know this truth?  Will I close in prayer and then forget this text until I talk to my other Christian friends or will I get in front of others who need to hear this truth and share with them the good news?  That is really the challenge to me from God today.  I wonder if He is saying the same to you…

What would Isaiah learn from his vision of the Lord and the seraphim (vv. 1-4)?

That the LORD, seated upon the throne, is to be exalted and revered; that the whole earth is filled with His glory. He learned about the physical appearance of the seraphim – each had six wings, two wings covering their faces, two covering their feet, and two used for flying. Their voices shake the very threshold of the temple and filled the temple with smoke. He learned that even the seraphim show God that same respect – fear of the LORD and singing of His praises.

How did his response in v. 5 show the impact of his vision? Notice what had to be dealt with before he was commissioned (vv. 6-7)

Isaiah knew that he, being a sinner, was completely unworthy to even look upon the LORD. That sin and guilt had to be cleansed and removed before he could be used by the LORD in the way He wanted.

In what terms did Isaiah describe the Israelites at the start of his prophecy (1:1-4)? What was their attitude to God?

Isaiah describes the Israelites as rebellious, not knowing God, not understanding, sinful, burdened with guilt, a brood of evildoers, corrupt. They have forsaken the Lord, spurned and turned their backs upon Him.

But the Holy One does not act in malice and punitive glee. How does Isaiah 30:8-18 show this? What is God’s longing? Note Isaiah’s constant use of “the Holy One”.

God is not trying to punish Israel because he likes to. He’s doing it to bring them back to Him. These verses show how the people of Israel have turned their backs upon God and His prophets, wanting only to have the modern day equivalent of a “feel-good-church”. It’s the kind that doesn’t rebuke you when you’ve fallen away, gives you what you want and not what you need. Punishment and discipline are rarely ever asked for by the wrong-doer, and typically not enjoyed by the punisher, either. God wants His people to be close to Him again, but they have moved so far away from Him that he must do something so big that they can’t help but turn back to him. It reminds me of a shepherd who will purposely break the legs of a sheep who continues to wander away from the flock. With a broken leg, the sheep is utterly dependent upon the shepherd, who carries the hurt animal upon his back to keep him safe and tended to. Even after being hurt and healing, that sheep is content within the comfort and safety of his shepherd. The shepherd doesn’t enjoy breaking his own sheep’s leg, but after all other attempts have failed, that ends up being the biggest way to turn the sheep from the wrong path. That is what God does for us, and what Isaiah prophesied that He would do to Israel. In repentance and rest, Israel will find their salvation.

What would Isaiah learn from his vision of the Lord and the seraphim (vv. 1-4)?

God is a forgiving God. The angel touched his lips with a burning coal which removed all of Isaiah’s sins. Atonement was shown to Isaiah in a way other than sacrificing animals. This foretold of a new law to come.

How did his response in v. 5 show the impact of his vision? Notice what had to be dealt with before he was commissioned (vv. 6-7)

Isaiah had to confess his sin. He had to realize how low he was and how holy God was. He didn’t believe that he should be in this place because of his sin. He knew that he was not worthy of being in the presence of the Lord because of his unrighteousness and the sin of those around him.

In what terms did Isaiah describe the Israelites at the start of his prophecy (1:1-4)? What was their attitude to God?

• Children
• My people
• Sinful nation
• People laden with iniquity
• Offspring of evildoers
• Children who deal corruptly
• Utterly estranged

Israel did not care about the Lord. They cared more about their personal idols, priorities and the such. They were far away from the Lord. They were disobedient to and separated from His Word.

But the Holy One does not act in malice and punitive glee. How does Isaiah 30:8-18 show this? What is God’s longing? Note Isaiah’s constant use of “the Holy One”.

Verse 18 states:

Therefore the Lord waits to be gracious to you,
and therefore he exalts himself to show mercy to you.
For the Lord is a God of justice;
blessed are all those who wait for him.

God is patient. God is just. God loves His people but disciplines for their own good. It goes to the point Hebrews 12:4-13 where we are reminded that God disciplines us for our own good. He disciplines us like a loving father. “…he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness” (Hebrews 12:10) How amazing and wonderful! God longs for us to trust in Him and to rest in Him. He will take away all of our worries and our woes if we truly rely on Him.