The Penn's Grove record., 1916-07-28
HE SAW The LORD
Christian May Learn Much by
Study of the Vision of
Isaiah.

IL NAAeABN0A VI 'NAo - 0A
intensely interesting story. The first
verse deals with a dead king and a
live prophet. The story of the live
prophet will give us inspiration. The
story of the dead king gives us a
warning.
The preparation of Isaiah for serv-
fee presents to our consideration this
fact: If God would call him to a great
work, he must have preparation com
m~ensurate to the greatness of the
work to which ne was called. Success
in any great undertaking is to a de-
gree dependent upon preparation. If a
a is to speak Gods message he
must have a vision of the Lord. God
would have us see him today. "Look
unto me and be We saved; for 1 am
Jehovah, and there is none else" Again
he says, "Ye shall seek me and find
me when We shall search for me With
your whole heart"
Vision of Isaiah.
It is very interesting to notice that
in the vision of Isaiah, "the Lord was
sitting upon a throne, high and lifted
up, and his train filled the temple"
Jehovah's throne appeared first to the
prophet. Isaiah say that he must
place the Lord first within his heart
above all earthly thrones. What he
saw and heard and said forms an
interesting story. Above the throne
stood the seraphim each one had six
wings; with twain he covered his
faD a. A--zI- Ii &c.
and with twain he did fly. What a
glorious picture of reverence in per-
forming holy service about the throne
of the Lord! The seraphim are the
burning ones who minister in the
things of fire around the heavenly
affairs. The cherubim are those who
are said to know the secrets of God.
Listen to the words of the seraphim,
those fiery messengers of heaven. They
cried one to the other, saying, holy,
holy, holy is the Lord of hosts. Sup
pose the one who knows you best
should be compelled to speak his
knowledge of your moral character, as
the seraphim reveal the holiness of the
Lord in their burning words.
The glory of God was so powerful
in the temple that day that the posts
of the door moved 1t the voice of
him hat cried, and the house was
filled with smoke. Isaiah was face
to face with the holiness, the ma
jesty, the power of God. The effect
Of the vision is recorded in the fifth
verse. He saw himself, after having
seen the Lord. The contrast was ir-
resistible. He said, "Woe is me! l
am undone; because I am a man of
unclean lips, and l dwell in the midst
of a people of unclean lips; for mine
eyes have seen the king, the Lord of
hosts" The world is full of people
of unclean lips. Isaiah's complaint
| against himself was this: 81 dwell in
the midst of a people of unclean lips"
He was not any better than those he
dwelt with.
His confession preceded his cleans
ing. If you are interested to know
why he branded himself and his COM
panions as unclean, 1 will ask him.
Isaiah answers: Because mine eyes
have seen the king, the Lord of
hosts" If you would see him in his
cleansing power, you must confess
and forsake your sins. Isaiah re.
ceived the baptism of fire. He says,
"Then few one of the seraphim unto
me, having a live coal in his hand,
which he had taken with the tongs
from off the altar; and he laid it
upon my mouth" This fire-cleans-
ing Immediately followed the honest
confession of his u%ncleanness.
Prophets Commission.
When Isaiah was clean, he heard
the voice of the Lord saying: "Whom
shall l send, and who will go for us?"
Isaiah said, Here am 1; send me-"
Then he received his commission: go
and tell this people" God wants you
TO go and tell his message of love and
salvation to perishing sinners. Isaiah
asked, Lord, how long?" God an
swered Isaiah, until the cities be
wasted without inhabitant, and the
houses without man, and the land be
utterly desolate, and the Lord have
removed men far away. and there be a
great forsaking in the midst of the
land" In other words when there is
no one left to be warned, your work
is at an end. God expects your faith
full service, for your influence is to be
either a blight or q blessing.-Rev.
F. E. Oliver.