The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1917-06-29

.GRgkg thAAA ~ bdhb4 Augt--4Dtss Wv
The lesson committee now turn for
third quarters lesson to a series Of
studies In the Old Testament as found
In II Kings, Ezra and Nehemiah. AS
an introduction, they have chosen this
chapter in the book of Isaiah.
Isaiah prophesled in the latter half
pf Uzziah's reign, B. @. 760 and down
10 the early years Of the reign Of
Manasseh about B. G. 694 (ch. 1:1).
This event took place probably B. O.
755. The place was jerusalem; the
kingdom Of Israel was still in exist
ence (for SO years longer being ut
terly destroyed in B. O. 721. The
name Isaiah means 1.-THE salvation Of
Jehovah:" his wife is called THE
prophecies" two Of his sons are
named and his social position, was high,
as shown by his intimacy with kings.
Isaiah lived in troublous times. he
was a reformer seeking to rescue his
nation from the sins growing out Of
their disobedIence to God. He was
the leading statesman Of bis time, the
greatest Of the prophets, an author,
heroic, slngle-minded, patriotic, fear
Jess, undaunted man Of great personal
power and influence. he was a proph-
1t Of hope; he wrote out Of his long
ilfe Of faithfulness and fellowship with
God. The book Of Isaiah falls into
two great divisions; chapters 1-39 be-
Ing chiefly historical, interpreted with
songs and poems; chapters 1895 are
collection Of prophecies that have
to do chiefly with the return from
the BabylonIan exile and the days of
future glory for the kingdom Of God.
I. Visions wv. LAY. As we have
Bald, Isaiah prophesied In a time Of
great need. The prophet was very
much discouraged. In this passage be
locates his vision at special time
and place (ch. 1:1l. 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
b 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
fsee II Chron. 90 1919. The place in
which Isaiah saw his vision was the
house Of God. Perhaps not In the tenn
nle, but seeing the vision from the
temple the prophet looks to a house
not built with hands, Jehovah'S own
heavenly palace. Therein he saw "the
Lord sitting on q throne and
his train filed theNtemple." Above it,
Or around It, were arranged lowering
sourIers and the seraphic choir. The
majesty Of this vision is Indicated in
verse two, Its glory In verse three,
and It's power Is indicated in verse
four. The whole earth was filed with
Gods wondrous wisdom, love and pow
b. Literally ''the whole earth is full
Be his glory" The Hebrew word for
holiness comes from a word meaning
ITO set apart-set a distance from"
The holy Lord is not only dnless but
he is sublime and absolute also. It
may seem difficult to harmonize
Fsaiah's vision with John l:18, yet
these manifestations were one and the
Same. for all that saw Jesus saw God
IJohn 14:e). King Uzziah was dead
But the real king was living stll, high
md lifted up. The attempt to reason
Sbout him, what he must be and what
he must not be, as If he were one
s. ourselves Gph. 1 20. 21) is absurd.
n. pIMslonS wv. 5-1s). % The
Vision Of the prophet Wv. 90. This
Vision brought conviction because It
Showed how far separated from God
he prophet was. It also brought
conversion In that he acknowledged
himself to be unclean, himself and MS
surroundings to be vile. 1t also led to
eleansing for the king heard the voice
s. the prophet, removed his guilt and
purged his sin. (2) The voice and
proclamation from the king wv. 9-1S).
The king called for a messenger ". 81
md at once the prophet Is found.
Eomeone has said that "a task without
i vision is drudgery; a vision with
out a task Is a dream; while a task
linked to vision will move the
world" Not only did the king ask for
messenger, but he gave the message
which the messenger was to utter
tyy. 9.12). The message was to be
% his own people; 1t was not to be
pleasant one. Verse Is shows us
This message In prophecy. Isaiah ought
TO fully proclaim the truth, but the
people would not understand it. and
she whole effect of his proclamation
would be to harden them.
The AppTicatIouss
What is. your application Of this
Vision for Isaiah? We are Chris
Han nation, but there are many de-
Rrees and kinds of Christians; those
who sincerely try to follow Jesus;
those who live under a Christian gov
ernment, and are unaffected BY Chris
Han influences, There is only one
way to save this nation from going the
way Of Nineveh and Tyre that is, that
Justice and righteousness shall govern,
and that justice and righteousness shall
be the fruit Of regenerated lives. The
ery is for a better social environment
md a more Just social position.