The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-10-22
Sunday School Lesson for October g.
Isaiah Called to Service.
ISA, vi, 1-13.
BY j. e. GILBERT, d. D.. IL. d.
Secretary of American Society of Religious Education

INTRODUCTIoN.-1saiah, the evan.
gellst among the Hebrew prophets,
made three-fold introduction to the
magnificent book that bears his name.
HIS first introduction, chapter 1, and
his second, chapters ii to V, were doc
trinal setting forth certain fundamen-
tai truths which made the appearance
of q prophet necessary. The third in
PRODUCTION, chapter VI, now to be
studied, is historical, an account of his
call to the office. AS Dr. Naegelsback
remarks. quoted by DIR. Schaff, 1.-THE
entrance of this great and wonderful
man into the prophetic office was ex-
traordinary, that he needed such a
method to convince his readers that he
was indeed entitled to speak for God"
The student is therefore urged, before
beginning the study of the lesson, to
read the five chapters preceding. Isaiah
came at a time when the way was pre-
pairing fer the immediate relation of
theocracy with the great world powers
by which its ruin was threatened.
VISION.-The first intimation to
Isaiah that he was to be engaged in a
holy service came in the form of a vi
sion. (Verses 1 and p. This is the
method which God promised to employ
in selecting prophets, CNum. XII. c.
the method which He did employ,
CDan. VIII 2,) one therefore which the
people might expect. AS the term inn
plies the vision was such an unusual
illumination of the mind as enabled a
man to see what would otherwise be
hnnPn n nf ~
movable. Isaiah saw Jehovah on a
throne, exalted above all dignitaries,
surrounded by seraphims. These had
wings for fight, faces denoting intelli-
gence feet to walk, waiting to do the
bidding of their Lord. 1t is worthy of
note that the seraphims are mentioned
nowhere else in Scripture. This vision
was granted in the year of Uzziah' s
death, Il. c. 75S,-the king eternal ap-
peared as the earthly king passed
| away.
WORSHIP .-Thic remarkable spec
| tacle, a display to the sense of sight,
was sufficient to convince Isaiah of the
| existence and glory of Jehovah. the
| first religious truths that ought to en-
| ter the human mind. Ueb. Xi: g. 1t
was important that he should also
| know the esteem with which heavenly
beings cherish the Almighty. To that
end Isaiah heard the voice of praise
and worship. Holy, holy, holy, is the
Lord of hosts" they cried (verse 81, an
ascription not unlike that which John
| heard in Patmos. CRev. iv: 81 1t is
generally believed that the repetitions
were recognitions of the three persons
in the Godhead. Then followed a re-
frain, "The earth is full of His glory
that is, the globe, the material handi-
work, displays to heavenly beings tho
wisdom and power of the Maker. CRom
/: 20.) To render all this the more inn
pressive there were unusual displays OF
power. The house where Isaiah was
at the time was filed with smoke, and
the door posts moved, (verse A., ma
ture owning her Lord
ABASEMENT.-The feeling of rever
ence awakened in the prophet by thes
| manifestations to the senses CAV
place to a sense of personal unworthi
ness. The transition from thoughts o
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAA