Whom Shall I Send?

June 2, 2013

Lesson: Isaiah 6:1–13

Key Verse: Isaiah 6:8

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Introduction

Isaiah received an extraordinary call to the Gospel to “Go and tell this people” (6:9). We are all to evidence the Good News of Jesus Christ in the opus of our home, work, and church fellowship. However, there is a ministry that is not of the nature of a career or of our daily activities and general labors. It is a calling to the ministry of the Word. These are those who are called under-shepherds, those who feed the sheep under the rule of the Good Shepherd. These are those who are to be counted as “worthy of double honour,” those “who labour in the word and doctrine” (1 Tim. 5:17). These are the teaching elders, ministers of the Word. They are inwardly called of God that they may, bridled by the grace of God, testify with the apostle Paul, “For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus sake” (2 Cor. 4:5).

Isaiah was to preach the Word of the Lord that He alone is Holy, the God of their salvation. The people are to hear the message that they be convicted of their sin, turn to their Lord in repentance, know His forgiveness by faith through grace, and to live their lives proclaiming His glory in their relationship with each other in their homes, businesses, and worship. This is the design of the minister of the Word today. He is called out of his chosen career to serve his Master in a peculiar and singular way. He is given pastoral oversight as one who does so in “word and doctrine.” Paul Helm, in The Callings, writes that the Christian ministry exists to foster and encourage discipleship in the life of a lathe operator, hairdresser, or social worker. He writes that the ministry should be characterized by “helping believers to be more consistently Christian where they are, with all its temptations and pressures. It ministers the Word of God to them and thereby–with God’s help–encourages the formation of the image of Christ in them (Gal. 4:19).”

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The Lord’s Glory—Isaiah 6:1–3

The Lord had “nourished and brought up children,” and they had rebelled against Him. They had chosen to worship images of the gods of this world, rather than serve the Lord who created and redeemed them in His image. They were, instead, a “seed of evildoers.” Forsaking the Lord, they “provoked the Holy One of Israel unto anger, they are gone away backward” (Isa. 1:2–4). In the year 740 B.C., the year in which king Uzziah died, The Lord spoke to His servant Isaiah through an unparalleled vision. Isaiah testifies, “I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple.” This is the beginning of our worship, to see “Our Father” who is in heaven, whose person should be sanctified (hallowed), to see Him on His eternal throne. From His position as the King of kings and Lord of lords, His will is being done in heaven and on earth. His throne is royal, from which the Son governs His creation, “to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice… The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this” (Isa. 9:7). Isaiah hears from the same Lord as did the apostles of the New Testament, who said, “All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations” (Matt. 28:18–19).

Isaiah stands before the Holy Lord and King. The seraphim stand upon the lower part of the majestic robe of the King of kings. Isaiah witnesses the testimony of these awesome creatures as one cries out to one another, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole world is full of his glory.” These incredible creatures must cover their eyes from the righteous character of the Creator. They must cover their feet that they might not tread where the Lord would not have them go. And, they must be able to fly in quick obedience to the voice of their Master. They seem to be agents sent to proclaim God’s judgment, as well as sent with the Word that cleanses. The seraphim “holds out to us, as in sunbeams, the brightness of God’s infinite majesty, that we may learn by it to behold and adore his wonderful and overwhelming glory” (Calvin). The glory of the Lord refers to who He is, His honor and majesty inherent in His person. In Him are all righteousness, truth, and justice. To Him, all of creation owes faithful allegiance with praise and thanksgiving. Ought we to not also cover ourselves before our Creator and Redeemer?

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Discussion: How should we understand the authority and glory of our Lord?

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Unclean Lips—Isaiah 6:4–7

From His temple (house), His dwelling place among His people, the voice of the seraph cried out, “and the house was filled with smoke.” The Lord confirms that it is His voice that the prophet is hearing; it is He who has brought Isaiah into His noble presence. Isaiah responds to the presence of his Lord, not with arrogance, presuming that, as the Lord’s servant, he has a right to that audience, but with humbleness of spirit, knowing he is poor in spirit. Ministers, especially, must always come acknowledging their unworthiness before Him who has called them. Thus Isaiah cries out, “Woe is me! For 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.”

Isaiah represents his office and the people to whom he has been called to serve. He is not above the people in his need for repentance and cleansing. We represent our congregations in the same manner. Our office is unique by virtue of our call by Christ. But our position before God is that of a priest who can only comfort with the comfort by which we have been comforted. If we do not know the hot coals of Christ’s death upon Calvary’s cross for the forgiveness of sins, we cannot serve as Ministers of the Word. Isaiah’s call is confirmed in God’s cleansing work.

Isaiah confessed his uncleanness before the only King and Potentate, the Lord of hosts. To this acknowledgment, the Lord sends to Isaiah one of the seraphim carrying a “live coal in his hand.” The ‘hand’ of the seraph refers to his power or authority. In other words, the seraphim takes the fiery coal from the altar by the authority of his Lord. By this authority, the seraph lays it upon the mouth of Isaiah, saying that his iniquity is taken away, and his sin is purged. “The Lord redeemeth the soul of his servants; and none of them that trust in him shall be desolate” (Psa. 34:22).

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Discussion: How did the Lord confirm His call to Isaiah?

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Here Am I—Isaiah 6:8–13

Isaiah is constrained to response to the call of his Lord, not as in compulsion, but as in efficacious. When the Lord called Isaiah into service He brings about the needed response, a response that both is pleasing to the Lord and joyful to the servant. A minister of the Word joyfully knows the compulsion of serving in such an office. For if it is not of the Lord through and through, then there is no hope in its desired outcome. The Lord establishes the servant, the means, and the end of His Gospel.

The voice of the Lord comes first, before the hearing of a call. His voice reached into the heart of His servant, saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” The triune God counsels within the Godhead as to whom He would send to His people. Isaiah answers clearly, in the Spirit, “I, Here I am; send me.” His preaching is to first convict the people of their sin: “Hear ye indeed, but understand not; and see ye indeed, but perceive not.” He is to make the heart of the people fat, their ears dull, their eyes shut, “lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and convert and be healed.” When the grace of our Lord works in the hearts of His people, they will know that there is no other person under heaven, except Christ, whereby they would be saved.

“How long?” asks Isaiah. Until the “land be utterly desolate,” says the Lord. The Lord will set the day, and there will be no excuse for their sin. There will be those who will return, and they will be chosen of the Lord. Men will fail in their attempt to save themselves through their graven idols and selfish deeds. There will be a “holy seed” that will be born and nourished to give glory to the Lord of grace and truth. There will be a cleansing of the Church, of the people of God. The Lord will remove the ungodly. He will gather to Himself a people, “truly consecrated to himself… for the holy seed is the substance of the Church” (Calvin).

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Discussion: What hope did Isaiah receive from the Lord concerning Israel?

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Lessons are based on the International Sunday School Lessons for Christian Teaching, copyright © 2013 by the Committee on the Uniform Series.