The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1917-06-28
LESSON FOR JULY |
I ISAlAH'S CALL TO HEROIC
SERVICE.


In II Kings, Ezra and Nehemiah. As
an introduction, they have chosen this
chapter In the book OF Isaiah.
Isaiah prophesied In the latter half
Of Uzzlah's reign, b. G. 760 and down
to the early years Of the reign OF
Manasseh about B. G. G9i (ch. I'D.
This event took place probably B. G.
755. The place was Jerusalem; the
kingdom Of Israel was still In exist
ence (for 80 years longer) being ut
terly destroyed In B. @. 721. The
name Isaiah means 1.-THE salvation of
Jehovah :" his wife Is called "the
prophetess;" two Of his sons are
named and his social position was high,
as shown by his intimacy with kings.
Isaiah lived In tr0ublous times. He
was a reformer seeking to rescue his
nation from the sins growing out Of
their dlsobedlence TO God. He was
the leading statesman Of his time, the
greatest Of the prophets, an author,
heroic, slngle-mlnded, patriotic, fear
less, undaunted man Of great personal
power and influence. He was proph-
ct Of hope; he wrote out Of his long
life of faithfulness and fellowship with
God. The book of Isaiah falls into
two great divisions; chapters l-39 be-
Ing chiefly historical, lnterspersed with
songs and poems; chapters 40-GG are
a collection Of prophecies that have
to do chiefly with the return from
the Babylonlan exile and the days Of
future glory for the kingdom Of God.
To assume that another prophet OF
greater brilllancy and genius than
Isaiah wrote part Of this book should
be forgotten; 1t Is not worthy Of
thought. That book was inspired OF
God and that Its truth and It's prophe-
cles, included those about Christ who
is mentioned by name, Is also beyond
doubt or question.
|. Visions wv. 1-4). AS we have
said, Isaiah prophesled In time OF
great need. The prophet was very
much discouraged. In this passage no
locates his vision at special time
and place (ch. I'D. Every mans
great need today is real vision OF
God. We are not so much In need OF
theories about God, as a vision Of
God himself. Uzziah's long reign Of
80 years, In which the kingdom pros
pered and the kings name was spread
abroad, stopped as suddenly as an
earthquake, and his glory was eclipsed
(see II Chron. 26:16-19. The place in
which Isaiah saw his vision was the
house Of God. Perhaps not In the tenn
pie, but seeing the vision from the
temple the prophet looks to house
not built with hands, Jehovah's own
heavenly palace. Therein he saw "the
Lord sitting Oh throne and
his train filled the temple" Above 1t,
or around II, were arranged lowering
couriers and the sernphic choir. The
majesty Of this vision Is Indicated in
verse two. Its glory in verse three,
and Its power Is indicated In verse
four. The whole earth was filled with
Gods wondrous wisdom, love and pow
er. Literally "the whole earth Is full
Of his glory" The Hebrew word for
holiness comes from q word meaning
"to set apart-set distance from"
The holy Lord Is not only sinless but
he Is sublime and absolute also. II
may seem difficult to harmonize
Isalah's vision with John lis, yet
these manifestations were one and the
same, for all that saw Jesus saw God
(John IA :9). King Uzziah was dead
but the real king was living still, high
and lifted up. The attempt to reason
about him, what he must be and what
he must not be, rs II he were one
of ourselves (Eph. / 20, 21) is absurd.
1t Is such a vision Of God as this that
will change our modern pulpits and
laymen and send them out to be fam
Ing evangels. A vision of God as the
Holy One affected Isaiah's preaching
ever afterwards. Such n vision Is a
cleansing vision, inspiring, enthusing,
enabling us to render effective serv-
ice.
u. Divisions wv. 5-13). (D The
vision of the prophet (vv. SD. This
vision brought conviction because II
showed how far separated from God
the prophet was. It also brought
conversion In that he acknowledged
himself to be unclean, himself and his
surroundings to be vile. 1t also led to
cleansing, for the king heard the voice
of the prophet, removed his guilt and
purged his sin. (2) The voice and
proclamation from the king (vv. S-13).
The king called for messenger ", 81
and at once the prophet is found. 4.
Someone has said that "a task without
q vision Is drudgery; a vision with
out task Is a dream; while task
linked to vision will move the
world" Not only did the king ask for
q messenger, but he gave the message
which the messenger was to utter
wv. 0-12). The message was to be
to his own people; 1t was not to be
a pleasant one. Verse 13 shows us
this message In prophecy. Isaiah ought
to fully proclaim the truth, but the
people would not understand 1t, and
the whole effect Of his proclamation
would be to harden them.
What Is your application of this
vision FOR Isaiah? We are Chris
tian nation, but there are many de-
grees and kinds Of Christians; those
who sincerely try to follow Jesus;
those who live under q Christian gov
ernment, and are unaffected by Chris
tian influences. There Is only one
way to save this nation from going the