Holy, Holy, Holy

The year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting upon his throne hard 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 with two he covered his feet to the flu and one call to another and said, holy, holy, holy is the Lord opposed the whole earth is full of his glory, the foundations of the thresholds shook at the voice of him who called the house was filled with smoke and I said whoa is me, for I am lost from 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 opposed then one of the seraphim flew to me, having his hand a burning coal he had taken with tongs from the altar and he touched my mouth and said, behold this is touch your lips, your guilt is taken away your sin atone for and I heard the voice of the Lord saying, whom shall I send who will go for us and then I said here in my send me a spray heavenly father we come before you today looking at a passage of Scripture that is indeed holy ground and heavenly father. I look at myself and have to ask the question, who am I to preach on the holiness of God from the Lord that I come so short of your glory become so short of what you called me to be. As a Christian, much less a minister of the gospel of Christ. Heavenly father today that you would give me the ability to preach truth to this congregation that would exalt Christ in such a way that we would be knocked off of our feet in just all of who Jesus is and what Jesus has done for none holy people he has made us holy, not by works in righteousness, that we have done by his own perfect and sinless righteousness that he imputed to us. May we see it, may we be wild by May it changes and make us more like Christ. Heavenly father God, and directors through this passage today. May Jesus be uplifted in it. My, this congregation beatified by this in your holy and wonderful and precious name we pray.

Amen. You may be seated couple weeks ago we went to the linear conference in Orlando, Florida, and the theme of the conference was the holiness of God. Sinclair Ferguson preached a sermon on the vision of God from John chapter 4, but he didn't start there. He went all the way back to Isaiah chapter 6 and he drew parallels between these two passages that help me to understand something to really understand what we go to be looking at an end next week. In Revelation chapter 4. We must see it through the backdrop of Isaiah chapter 6. It was St. Augustine who said this in the Old Testament you have the New Testament concealed and in the New Testament. You have the Old Testament revealed folks of something that we need understand is this God's revelation is progressive and cumulative in the Old Testament we see types, pictures and symbols and the New Testament we see substance and we see reality. The vision in Isaiah chapter 6 is in black-and-white with the vision that were going to see next week and and Revelation chapter 4 is in color and high dimension now. John and Isaiah are both viewing the very same God, but Isaiah is looking at it in a hazy view where John's view is clear is a bail Isaiah chapter 6 was written by the prophet Isaiah, about 830 years before John wrote his message in Revelation chapter 4.

This passage in both the patches together or similar list are just amazingly similar but there are quite a few differences to that make it really important for us to to see the 22 vision side-by-side. Isaiah wrote.

Isaiah 6, 750 years before Jesus Christ was even born and Isaiah knew some things he knew of the promised Messiah. But he did not know his name.

He had seen a little bit of what the future glory of the Messiah would be like, but he never seen Jesus face-to-face. Never heard Jesus speak they had never seen a smile on the lips of Jesus. Never sat down and ate a meal with Jesus. He had never heard Jesus teach a parable, not Isaiah 53 little bit later on. He's gonna write some very important things about the suffering servant but unlike John he had never seen face-to-face. John saw the suffering servant. Continuing on a first name basis. He was there when Jesus was crucified. He was there when I late took up took human tied them up to a whipping posted in as a Roman soldier took a cat of nine tails whip and a lasting 39 lashes across his back. He was there when the soldiers took Jesus laid them down on a cruel rugged cross, and took huge iron spikes and mail them through his hands and feet. He was there when I took the cross and lifted it up, hoisted up by a rope and lit it jarred drop down into the whole jar in all of his bones out of joint. He was there when Jesus spoke from the cross, Jesus look down to him that he pointed over to his mother with his eyes and said John behold your mother and mother, behold, your son he was giving John instruction to take care of his mom.

He was there when Jesus cried out from the cross to tell you stock it is finished and he was there when Jesus breathed his last breath and died. Then after three days of an emotional hell on earth. As Jesus was lying dead in the tomb, there was the resurrection and John saw the resurrected Christ peace all the lighter the ascension where Jesus said to them, and and after the us and you show seapower after that the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you shall be witnesses, and me both in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and to the uttermost parts of the earth not Isaiah softshell shadows and glimpses of the us, but Isaiah saw through a glass darkly owners to look at Isaiah's vision today because I think when we see his vision of who the Lord is it's going to really help us next week to more joyfully and more fully understand how we need to worship. This holy God knows to look into the text as a prophet Isaiah was unusual.

Most most profits came from very humble surroundings.

They came from very humble origins to think of Amos, who was a shepherd of Elijah who was an outdoorsman. I think of Elisha, who was a farmer, but Isaiah was different. He came from the nobility.

Isaiah was a statesman, prophet, he was the right-hand man owned King use the highest court.

He later became the right-hand man on the court of three other kings does them a hasn't Hezekiah Julissa with RC Sproul said what set a prophet of Israel. Apart from all other men was the sacred call.

This call was not from men.

He could not apply for the job he had to be selected chosen directly and immediately by God and the call was sovereign it could not be refused. Jeremiah tried to refuse his call that was abruptly reminded by God that he had consecrated Jeremiah from his mother's womb went after term and is this office. Jeremiah sought to resign.

God refused to accept his resignation.

The job of prophet was for life. There was no quitting or retiring with the pension. King Uzziah died in the eighth century BC. He was one of the better kings of Judah.

He was not a David but he certainly wasn't like King Ahab of Israel, who was so corrupt and and wicked. He came to power and came to start start. His reign of when he was 16 years old.

He reigned for 52 years now to just to think about that for just a minute started the time that we are right now and go back 52 years you member who was the president then it was Pres. Eisenhower.

There been 12 different presidents and at 52 year period, 12 different presidents and yet here was a man he was a king, who reigned over Judah for 52 years and and people that were there that were used to him and I felt comfortable and they felt safe and they felt very protected by this king second Chronicles 26 verse four tells us that he Uzziah. What was a godly man that he he desired to obey the word of God, to obey the law of God, and he was leaving Israel to be obedient to the Lord and to love the Lord.

He was a very godly man. He built towers in Jerusalem to strengthen the wall around Jerusalem PA fault against many different enemies and defeated them all.

He was a man who engineered bright agricultural achievements and he built the military up to where it was just about as strong as it was in the days of David, but the story of these ends on a very sad note here was a man who had unquestioned power and authority, but it was like that wasn't quite good enough. As a one day is an older man. He goes into the temple of God, he decides he's gonna take the priesthood upon himself.

He's going to offer the sacrifices the priest were horrified. I tried everything they could to stopping don't do this king, he Uzziah you've not been called to be a priest. God has to call a man to be a priest you don't call yourself. Surely they reminded him of King Saul, who years before would not wait on Samuel, but went ahead and offered the sacrifice before Samuel got there and what did the Lord do the Lord took his hand of grace off of King Saul and rejected his kingship. Surely the priest were saying don't do this thing. Uzziah, this is not a good thing. You can't take the priesthood upon yourself and he Uzziah got mad at him and started arguing with them and in the middle of a big tirade, God judging in leprosy broke out across his four head Amanda taking from the air out to the outskirts of town in the little house were nobody else would come around and there he was quarantined until finally he died and he died alone, he got embarrassed and he died absolutely humiliated, but despite his blunder at the end of his life. His death led to a time of great national morning and it was during this time that Isaiah went over to the temple of God. He was terribly disappointed. He was terribly confused and he needed some answers. That was the background now is to look at the encounter first owners to look at the Lord himself and his second ominous look at the prophet versus look at the Lord. I got three points I want to share with you .1 is the authority to prevent verse one in the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up in the train of his robe filled the temple. Isaiah walks into the into the temple terribly discouraged, and he thinking himself what in the world are we gonna do this man was arcane. He had been our king for 52 years, over half a century under him. We felt secure. We felt safe. We felt taken care of, but now he's gone. So how are we going to handle Leo's when we get to do. Who's going to rule over over Judah who's going to do it. What does the Lord do for Isaiah the Lord. I mean to do Isaiah gave them a vision and it was a vision of himself high and lifted up on his throne in the Scripture says that God's robe hit the train of his robe filled the temple. Only take a minute and develop this because I think this is very important.

I and I want us to go over the numbers chapter 15 verses 37 through 39 and I want you to listen to the instruction that God gave to Moses and God told Moses that he was stuck to make a garment and that on the him of that garment. There were to be white tassels and both those tassels and in a him of that garment are very important and I want you after we look at this to be able to see the court. The parallel between the garment that that Moses commanded to make and the him or the train of God's robe and Isaiah 6. Numbers 1537 through 39 the Lord said to Moses, speak to the people of Israel and tell them to make tassels on the corners of their garments throughout their generations and to put a cord of blue on the tassels of each corner which will be a tassel for you to look at and remember all the commandments of the Lord to do them not to fall after your own heart your own eyes which you are inclined to horror after the garment that Moses was commanded to make is called a Tolles. It's a prayer shawl and its white and it has a him on it and in that him there always white tassels, but there is one tassel. They are ribbons. That is to be to be a different color. It's to be royal blue. And it's to be sewn in to the corner of the of the Tolles now the hymn of the garment represents authority and this was a prayer shawl. So how did they use it. They took that prayer shawl in they put it up over their head that got them in their face before the Lord and when they would pray they would reach over and they would grab that blue ribbon and they would hold it with all their heart for that ribbon represented the, the authority of Almighty God met with that understanding that helps to understand another passage over Luke chapter 8 and Luke chapter 8 verse 43 through 48. Listen to this and there was a woman who had a discharge of blood for 12 years, and though she had spent all of her living on physicians. She could not be healed by anyone. She came up behind Jesus and touch the freedom of his garment. And immediately her discharge of blood ceased and Jesus said was it that touched me when all denied it, Peter said master.

The crowds around you and are pressing in on you. But Jesus said someone touched me proper see that power has gone out for me and when the woman saw that she was not hidden, she came trembling and falling down before him declared in the presence of all the people why she had touched team and how she had been immediately healed and he said to her daughter, your faith has made you well.

Go in peace.

I used to read this passage I think to myself, what will this woman was just kind of a short reaching through the crowd. The crowd was real real thick and she would just kinda reach into the crowd. The best way that she could to touch Jesus anywhere on his person. It was kind of a haphazard thing I thought that is not the case. This woman knows exactly what she's doing. She is reaching over and what did she grab, she reached over and she grabbed the ham of his garment.

She reached over to grab that royal blue ribbon in the corner of his him for that represented his authority. She was saying Jesus.

I believe that you have the power to heal me and so I am tapping into your authority I'm reaching over and I'm taking the us believing that you're going to a miracle for me and what happened there was instantaneous healing.

Just like that instantaneous Jesus healed her. Jesus even said when she touched me. I felt power leaving my body so back Isaiah the train of God's robe is a picture of his authority is like the hymn of the garment, now in most kings when they set up on their throne. The train of their robe would reach down right to the bottom of the of the throne.

And it would touch the floor.

Is that what happens with with God's.

With God's robe with the hymn of God's garment all know that I howl at how far does it go, will the Scripture tells us that it keeps on flowing and it keeps on flowing any keeps on flowing until the hymn of the garment. The train of his robe fills the entire temple what we been told where folks were being told this that are God does not just have authority because not just have great authority that our God has all authority and that no and that that no one can stay his hand, and though one can for his purpose and no one can mock his power, unlike King Uzziah, this King cannot sin cannot fail and cannot die. So first solo Isaiah saw his authority.

Secondly, he saw his Holiness. Look at verses two and three above him stood the seraphim each had six wings with two he covered his face 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.

I wonder seraphim seraphim are angelic billions and they these particular angelic beings were created for one purpose is all they did. They worship God. That was their purpose in being created that was all they ever did. That is all they will ever do is to worship God.

The Scripture says they have six wings with two wings they covered their face, but if they cover their face, because if they were to take a gaze of clear days at the full glory of God.

It would wipe them out so they have to look through their wings. Then there were two wings that covered his feet was that all about. Remember when Moses encountered God in the burning bush that would not be consumed what God said to Moses. Moses don't come any closer. Take off your sandals for you are standing on holy ground. RC Sproul made the following comments God commanded Moses to take off his shoes. Moses was standing on holy ground. The ground was made holy by the presence of God. The act of removing the shoes as a symbol of Moses recognition that he was of the earth, earthy human feet sometimes call feet of clay symbolize our pre-chilliness is our feet that link us to the earth. The seraphim are not of the earth.

Their feet are not made of clay as angels, they are spirit beings. Nevertheless, they remain creatures in the imagery of Isaiah's vision suggests that they too must cover their feet acknowledging their pre-chilliness in the exalted presence of God, then we are told of the song they sing. The seraphim sing this song to God, holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, the whole world is full of his glory. The song is called the Trish had beyond the three times holy and what we have repetition in Scripture, especially in the Old Testament we have it because rent repetition means emphasis, it means emphasis. It's very strong. This is used constantly in the in the Hebrew mindset. Do you remember when Jesus would speak to people he wanted to get their attention. It's safe for us and he verily I say unto you, and then what he really wanted to get their attention.

He would say, verily, verily I say unto you, her low country preacher one time say and when when Jesus was to get your attention you give your verily but when he wants to bowl you over to give your verily, verily, and that's true where a handful of illustrations where we have the the three repetitions one is found in Revelation chapter 8 verse 13 where the Eagle is flying through the air saying whoa whoa whoa, there's another one in Jeremiah chapter 7 verse four were Jeremiah is mocking the people of God for their hypocrisy and very sarcastically. Jeremiah says this is what you're saying. The temple of the Lord, the temple, the Lord, the temple of the Lord, but only once in sacred Scripture do we see an attribute of God be moved to the 3rd°, but this is important. The Bible says that God is holy, holy, holy God is not just holy P is not just holy, holy P is holy, holy, holy know where to else do we see the attributes of God. It described that way we don't see us. The attribute of God's justice. That way, it does not call just just just or mercy, mercy, mercy, or love love love or or or wrath, wrath, wrath.

We don't see that is, it's not. They are, but the Scripture says that God is holy, holy, holy, that holiness attribute is the attribute that I believe that all the other attributes of God flow out of what does this teach us about the Trinitarian nature of our God. God the father is holy God the son is holy God the Holy Spirit is holy. The third point concerning the Lord is his power. Look at verse four.

The foundations of the thresholds shook at the voice of him who called the house was filled with smoke.

So here we see the difference between what Isaiah saw and and what John sees in Revelation chapter 4 and into chapter 5 and Isaiah's vision what happened. Smoke field. The temple smoke filled the temple.

So Isaiah was able to see some of the authority some of the powers some of the glory. Some of the holiness of God, but he was seeing it through the haze. He could not see at all. He couldn't see it clearly. Sinclair Ferguson is a golfer and he said he lives in Scotland and says every once in a while you get the privilege of going to St. Andrews golf course so they always get there real early in the morning said is that Dawn and said when they get there.

The fog is always very heavy. He said they can look down, they could see the grass under their feet with a look out to the golf course. He said they can't see him see the grains so they have to wait.

They have to wait for the for the sun to come up the sun burns off the fog and then Lacey can say clearly to play golf but this is the way it is between Isaiah and John Isaiah saw through a fog.

But John sees after the fog has been burned off.

Let me share with you what RC Sproul said about the foundations being shaken of this was powerful recent survey of people who used to be church members reveal that the main reason they stopped going to church was they found it boring is difficult for many people to find a fine warship, a thrilling and moving experience. We note here when God appeared in the temple.

The doors and the thresholds were moved.

The inert matters of doorpost that inanimate thresholds the wood in the metal they could neither he nor hear nor speak had the good sense to be moved by the presence of God. The literal meaning of this text is that they were shaken they began to quite where they stood. Like that's a description of our Lord now is to look at the description of Isaiah the prophet have three points number one. The hopelessness.

Look at verse five and I said what was made 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 of glory, the foundations the temple were not the only thing that was shaken and that in that temple I take to Isaiah was shaken. He was shaking like a leaf in a hurricane. He was absolutely scared to death that Isaiah knew of God, we had no idea that God was this break this majestic this holy this powerful that he had this much authority now for the first time he is seen that and he's absolutely shaken and what is he say pieces whoa is me, for I am undone from an unclean man and I live among midst of a people who have unclean lips.

I mean, that vision absolutely tore him to pieces now in Isaiah chapter 5 the chapter right before this Isaiah is preaching to the people of Judah, and he preaches a sermon that has six woes. That's not common that's not the way it was usually done, almost always that the sermon way if it was a whoa sermon that would be seven was not six so why is there only six here because Isaiah's not finished yet. Isaiah chapter 5 done in the sermon because right into chapter 6 and his last whoa is not a whoa just on the people of Judah.

It's a whoa on him pieces whoa is me. I will read you three of the was not Isaiah chapter 5 how to listen to these carefully. See if you don't think these apply to the culture in the United States.

One of those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter.

Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes and shrewd in their own site. What of those who are heroes and drinking wine and valiant men in mixing strong drink that was Isaiah sermon to the nation, but in Isaiah 6 he preaches a sermon to himself and Isaiah proclaims the judgment of God upon himself.

Woe is me.

The old King James version says woe is me, for I am undone. I like that I like what he says. Therefore, it means I I am falling apart at the seams.

It will what's going all there is personal disintegration.

This is the exact opposite of you say it will man, I've got it all together. He was saying. I don't have anything together. I'm absolutely fallen apart. He felt as small as an aunt.

He felt like he was the though the worst person on the face of the earth at that point in time and he calls himself just a great sinner pieces. I'm a man of unclean lips, and what is that matter will what he is a what's his job. He's a prophet he's a prophet and what is a prophet's job. A prophet's job is to use his lips, his mouth, to do what to proclaim God's truth and what is he come to see he has come to see that he is not proclaim God's truth correctly because he had not seen how glorious and holy and powerful. This great God was and there was absolutely shaken in his boots. Roma chapter 3 verse 23 is always for we have all sinned and come short of the glory of God.

Sinclair Ferguson said that if he had was the one to write that that verse, he would've done it differently. He said he would've said we have all sinned and broken God's law, but he said Paul and Isaiah understood something much more clearly than he does. And that is this that sinning is robbing God of his glory. Why should see and break our heart, not just because it's wrong because it robs God of his glory. We are reflectors of God's glory. We can't give God more glory that cozies his glories is ever to be, but we reflect his glory and sinning is robbing God of his glory .2 is a cleansing look at verses 6 to 7 then one of the seraphim flew to me, having in his hand a burning coal that he had taken with tongs from the altar and he touched my mouth and said the whole, this has touched your lips, your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for.

I want your picture Isaiah.

There is just groveling down on the temple floor. He's doing everything he can to try to find a hiding place. He is scared to death, and always feeling is just guilt. Guilt. Guilt. Guilt is in spiritual anguish, his heart and his soul being ripped to pieces and then what happens. There's the grace of God and God sent his angel to take a a little coal from the altar and the touches on his mouth while once again let me quote RC Sproul in this divine act of cleansing Isaiah experience the forgiveness that went beyond the purification of his lips he was cleansed through out forgiven to the core, but not without the awful pain of repentance.

He went beyond cheap grace and easy utterance. I'm sorry he was in mourning for his see and overcome with moral grief and God's an angel to healing his sin was taken away his dignity remained intact. His guilt was removed but his humanity was not insulted the conviction that he felt was constructive he was no crew. It was his was no cruel and unusual punishment.

A second of burning flesh on his lips, bought a healing that would extend to eternity in a moment the disintegrated profit would be whole again. His mouth was purged. He was clean. As CS Lewis so so well said grace is disruptive before it is redemptive art. In the third and final point is the call verse eight. I heard the voice of the Lord say and whom shall I send who will go for us.

Then I said, here I am, send me Isaiah so field at this point time with appreciation of God's grace that there is no question about how he's going to respond and he doesn't just say here I am Lord police add something to it. He says here I am Lord, send me.

He can't wait for the opportunity to share the truth about this great glorious God that he is just saying. With the spiritualize he can't wait to tell people about the grace that saved he can't wait to tell people about how holy and how glorious this God really is brothers and sisters where you today where are you do you know we have more revelation that Isaiah ever had. Isaiah knew there was a promised Messiah. Common we know who the Messiah is Isaiah knew Kenny had a a a promise of a substitutionary atonement that one day would happen, but we got more than that. We got the substitutionary atonement already accomplished and what Jesus did for us on the cross. Maybe you're here today you're not sure about your salvation. What you need to do.

You need to do what Isaiah did you need to repent and put your trust in the God who is holy, just in glorious is that where you are, let me ask you this. Are you tired of nagging guilt. Are you tired of doubts you tired of getting up in the morning wondering what's gonna happen to you when you die or are you tired of one in my Gillick go to an eternal hell forever.

Or I'm not going to spend forever and ever and ever, with the most glorious, wonderful, gracious and merciful holy God that is what am I going to do. Do you want to be all lien. Nothing held back is a Doug Woodard do. Jesus said this, Jesus said come to me. Jesus said come to be. And John said all those who come to Jesus. He will in no wise cast out. What a glorious promise and brothers and sisters, let me tell you something when it's all said and done nothing else. This is really going to matter. We have elders here and in our church and Elliott you're an elder. He owns you raise your hand just a minute to raise up everybody can see it. I'm here. Eugene's here after services over if you need to talk. Grab one of these elders grabbed me and Eugene because there's nothing on the face of the earth that is more important than your relationship with Jesus Christ. The spray heavenly father, we thank you and praise you for this precious passage of Scripture that gives us just a little inkling of how holy and how glorious you are. Heavenly father. It also makes us realize how desperately we need your grace and I pray Lord, if there are those that are here today in this congregation that are not sure about their salvation that today might be the day that there is genuine repentance of sin in a genuine trust in Christ as their Lord and Savior. Heavenly father now as we enter into our time of the Lord's supper may it be a time we really experience your sweet presence might be at a sweet time for us a glorious time for us in a time where we can walk out of this building, no knowing that we've been in the presence of the King of Kings and Lord of lords.

We love you Jesus, thank you for loving us and it's near holy and precious name we pray.

Amen