Monday, April 6th 2009

Monday, April 6th 2009

Isaiah 6:1-4

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. Above him stood the seraphim. Each had six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. And one called to another and said: "Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory!" And the foundations of the thresholds shook at the voice of him who called, and the house was filled with smoke.


This morning, as I meditate upon my Lord and Savior, I use this passage from Isaiah 6. In this passage Isaiah has a vision of God. He sees the King of kings enthroned in heaven. This vision of God is a majestic and powerful one. One in which it will do my soul great good to meditate and contemplate.

First, God is sitting upon His throne. He is in the place of rulership and dominion above the earth. All things both in heaven and on earth are under His domain. His power, His glory, His wonder are how He rules His kingdom. As He sits on His throne, I am told here that He is high and lifted up. What does this mean? Perhaps that God is in this place of authority and power in the heavens. Though God dwells with man, He reigns in heaven. God is great, and He reigns in heaven, as the exalted and powerful one. No one can ascend to Him by their own power. No one can reach His throne room without being transported by Him to His palace. He truly is a God who is close to us, yet, He is also far from us, in the sense that He is completely infinite and incomprehensible to us.

Next, I can see the splendor of His majesty, as kings wear a royal robe, that the length of its train symbolizes the beauty and worth of the king, and perhaps even how the influence and weight spreads abroad. The majesty and beauty of God is pictured here, and I can get a glimpse here of what it must be like to behold the King of glory.

From here, Isaiah speaks of the wonder of God, by describing the reaction and stance of angelic beings, the seraphim, which such creatures are so much greater and more majestic than us. These seraphim had six wings. The first set of wings covered his face, which I think is a symbol of how majestic and powerful God is. He is so infinitely wonderful, so infinitely beautiful, so infinitely holy, that even perfect angelic beings must cover their face as they come before the very presence of God. God is too wonderful even to behold, so they cover their faces. The second set of wings covered their feet. The feet, a symbol of walking, are a symbol of how they are ready to do their work for God. Finally, the wings which they flew with symbolize how quickly they are ready to do the work and service of God.

So, therefore, these seraphim are amazed at the presence of God, His glory is too much for them, perfect creatures to bear, they were willing to immediately do the work of God, and they had the power to do the work of God.

Finally, I here the chanting of the seraphim, and this never grows weary to my hearing. Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory! The thrice holy God when contemplated, seen, or understood solicits one reaction in those who come before Him. Wonder! Wonder at His holiness, wonder at His power, wonder at His beauty. Thus, the reaction of the seraphim. They proclaimed the holiness of God, the reach of His power (LORD of hosts), and His domain. They proclaimed that the whole earth is full of His glory. Heaven is not mentioned here because they are in heaven, and His glory already fills that place. So here, it is mentioned, just in case we forget, that God's glory fills this earth to.

Today, as I take this passage and apply it to myself, I want to be amazed by God just as much as the seraphim are. I want to understand the beauty and holiness of God, and exclaim to the world, and to myself, that God is holy, holy, holy. I want to see the glory of God today, in this earth. I want to see His power and know His power and love His power.

Oh God, let me see the beauty of you now. Help me to see the vision of your power, holiness, and the extent of your reign. May you reign over my heart and my life today. Let me see the beauty of Christ, and understand the greatness of you today. In Christ's name. Amen.