Greene County herald. (Leakesville, Miss.) 1898-current, 1922-04-28
LESSON FOR APRIL 80
isAiAH's SUMMONS AND RE-
SPONSE.

LESSON TExT.--Isa. Glib
GOLDEN TExT.-Here am Z. send me.
lisa. 6:8
REFERENCE MATBRIAL.-Gen. 12:i-4:
Ex. 3:1-417; Josh. 1913; Jer. 1:4-1o; Matt
10:5-2O.
PRIMARY TOPIc.-God Calls Isaiah to
JUNIOR ToPIc.-A Young Man Who
Was Ready.
INTERMEDIATEAND SENIOR TOPIC.
Our Response to the Call for Service.
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOPIC.
The Service to Which God Calls Us.
!. Isaiah's Vision of Glory (vv. 1-4).
So definite was this vision that the
prophet remembered the very time of
Its occurrence. 1t meant so much to
him that he could ever look back to
1t as a day when his ministry took on
a new meaning.
/. He Saw the Lord on His Throne.
(v. ~. Though the death of Uzziah
left Judah's throne empty it was made
clear to the prophet that the throne
of God was occupied. The Lord was
high and lifted up, showing that He
Is above all kingdoms. This was
peculiar preparation Of Isaiah for his
work. The one who has really seen
God can never be the same again; life
has a fuller meaning ever afterward.
2. He Saw the Seraphims Above (vv.
2, 81. Just who these beings are we
do not know. The word signifies
fiery" burning" They were glorious
beings whose business was to wait
upon the Lord, to go ON errands for
Him. They had six wings-two for
flight; two to cover their face, show
ing reverence; and two to cover their
feet, showing humility. These three
pairs show that reverence and hui
Esflity are Of equax &l.le before Sod.
with activity. The song of the sera-
phims shows that they saw holiness as
Gods supreme attribute. The thrice
"holy" perhaps refers to the Trinity.
The first choir sang, Holy. holy, holy"
and the second choir responded to
this by saying, "rhe whole earth Is
full of His glory"
3. The Manifestation of Majesty ".
A.. "The posts OF the door moved at
the voice of him that cried, and the
house was filled with smoke" The
smoke, no doubt. signified Gods wrath
against mans sinfulness (see Psalms
1873; 74:D.
IL. isaiah's Conviction Of Sin ". 81.
The vision of God brought the
prophet to see himself 1t Is only In
the light of Gods holiness that we see
our unholiness. When Peter got a
glimpse of who Christ was he begged
Him to depart from him, saying, de-
part from me- for am a sinful man,
o lord" duke 5:S). The prophet not
only realized that he was a sinner,
but that the nation was a nation of
sinners. What the world needs today
above all things is vision of God.
III. Isaiah's Cleansing From Sin
wv. 6, y. {
The taking of the coal from the altar
shows that it was connected with
sacrifice. The fire that consumed the
sacrifice was holy fire. When a sim
ner gets vision of God in Christ, the
Holy Spirit applies the merits of
Christ's shed blood and c,raQses from
all sin.
w. Isaiah's Call ". 81.
Immediately following his cleansing
came the call. Men must be cleansed
from sin before they shall be called
to Gods service. Though God has
many angelic beings who willingly go
on errands for Him, yet He has err
rands upon which only cleansed hui
man beings can go. The only ones
who can really declare the gospel of
Gods grace ExV those who have ex-
perienced its saving power. God is
asking this same question of men and
women. Isaiah readily responded to
his call by dedicating himself to the
task. He said, Here am L; send me-"
v. Isaiah's Commission (vv. 9-13).
/. The Sending wv. 8. 1O). He had
a most discouraglng task before him.
He Is assured that the people will
hear his message, but be unmoved by
1t. They will even increase in blind
ness and deafness to the divine warn
ings-they will neither be converted
nor healed. Such hopeless task
would only be undertaken by one who
had had a vision of God.
2. The encouragement (yv. 11-13).
Facing this discouraging outlook the
prophet raised the inquiry. Lord, how
long?" The Lord in His reply assured
him that 1t would not last forever.
The land would be desolate, the cities
without inhabitants, and the houses
without occupants; but as the oak re-
tains its vital substance even long
| after it has been cut down, SO from
Judah shall remnant be saved The
holy seed is the substance which shall
constitute the basis of the kingdo.n
which shall come when Dasid's son
shall be king.