Here I Am: Isaiah

A six-week series on a lifestyle of Here I Am 

No. 5 Isaiah

Isaiah 6

Summary. The Lord asks, “Who shall I send, and will go for us?” Isaiah responds, “Here I am! Send me.” His response follows a vision he has of God and heavenly activity. Can you picture these descriptions? The Lord was seated on a throne high and lifted up, and the train of his robe spilled into the temple filling it up. Above him were heavenly creatures with wings to fly with, wings that covered their face, and wings that covered their feet. They called to one another, “Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is filled with his glory.” When Isaiah saw the holiness of God and of his kingdom, he realized his own unclean self and that of Israel. One of the seraphim touched Isaiah’s lips with a burning coal from the altar and declared him atoned for and cleansed. I believe this is a foretaste of the work Jesus accomplished through the cross.

Isaiah was a prophet to Israel and her leaders in perhaps its most wretched state. If we step back and look at his words as a whole, we see an interesting contrast between harsh realities and hope. As God’s mouthpiece, Isaiah did not hold back describing the state of affairs and the impending doom because of their rebellion, idolatry, and wickedness. But they were intermingled with some of the most personal and assuring depictions of God. For example, He will gather the lambs in his arms, he will carry them (40:10-11), and he does not faint or grow weary…those who wait on him will renew their strength like eagle’s wings (40:28-31). And, of course, the most hopeful, beautiful descriptions of Jesus, the coming messiah from the root of David. His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Prince of Peace…(9:6-7).

Isaiah’s Here I am response landed him uncomfortable tasks, but more than that, they allowed him to foretaste and foretell of Jesus’ coming; and how he would — how he did and is changing everything.

Highlights from Isaiah 6 and Overall

• Isaiah was already a prophet when he had the vision of the Lord

Prayer: Jesus, we never want to stop seeing you. It doesn’t matter how long we are ministers, one day or thousands of days — we keep looking to you. We admit our need to see you again and again. Give us eyes that see and ears that hear what you are doing. 

• Seeing a vision of the Lord and the activity of heaven gives us a right, hopeful perspective

Prayer: Lord, let us see you rightly. We come to gaze on you again. You are everlasting. You are reigning above it all. You are holy. Your glory fills the temple and the earth. Remind us that we are alive in Jesus, raised and seated in heavenly places in Jesus. (Ephesians 2:5-7) Let us see rightly.

• Isaiah acknowledged his own uncleanness and that of his people.

Prayer: In your light, we see light. (Psalm 36:9), We acknowledge that  we are no good without you. (Psalm 16:2). We turn from our wickedness, and we turn from ourselves to you. Holy God, make us holy. Cleanse our lips, wash us in your blood, Jesus. 

• Isaiah experienced Jesus

Prayer: Jesus, we were created to walk and talk with you, to experience you. Thank you! Thank you for being a God that is near and personal. We want everything you are offering. More, Lord. Let us become more aware of your presence and that you long show us more of who you are. You want to show us what you’re doing because we are created to co-labor with you on the earth. 

• Isaiah prophesied Jesus. Quite accurately

Prayer: God, we confess that our words are affected by what we see. We turn our eyes to heaven so that we prophesy heaven. We turn our eyes to you, Lord so that we speak you to the world around us. You are healer. You are deliverer. You are Almighty. And we pray for measures of accuracy as we look to you. We set aside time that is only for gazing on your beauty so that we see clearly what you’re doing. 

• Isaiah prophesied hope in the middle wretchedness

Prayer: Spirit of wisdom and revelation, open our eyes to see the hope to which we are called. Regardless of what we see on earth, the faithlessness around us, the rise of ungodliness, we remember that you are the name above every other name and that all things are under your feet. (Ephesians 1:15+) We declare the reign and the peace of heaven that it is always increasing. We commit to being mouthpieces of hope, love, joy, redemption, of kingdom truths. Amen!

Read other posts in this series: Abraham | Jacob | Moses | Samuel

————————–