Cheraw chronicle. [volume] (Cheraw, S.C.) 1896-2005, 1922-04-27
LESSON FOR APRIL 80
ISAIAH'S SUMMONS AND RE-
SPONSE.

LESSON .TEXT.-Isa s:I-la
GOLDEN TEXT.-Here am I: send me.
lisa. 6:S
REFERENCE MATERIAL-Gen. 12:1-4:
Elk. 3:1-4:17; Josh. Ills; Jer. 1:4-lo; Matt.
10:5-20.
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
It's occurrence. 1t meant so much to
him that he could ever look back to
It as day when his ministry took on
new meaning.
!. He Saw the Lord on His Throne
". ~. Though the death Of Uzziah
left Judah's throne empty 1t 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 a
peculiar preparation Of Isaiah for his
work. The one who has really seen
God can never be the same agoeOs1Ss
has a fuller meaning ever afterward.
.. He Saw the Serapkims Above wv.
2, 81. Just who these beings are we
do not know. The word signifies
'fiery," burning" They were glorious
beings whose business was to walt
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 10 cover their
feet, showing humility. These three
pairs show that reverence and hu-
mility are of equal value before God.
with activity. The song Of the sera-
phims shows that they saw holiness as
Gods supreme attribute. The thrice
"hOly" perhaps refers 10 the Trinity.
The first choir sang, Holy, holy, holy
and the second choir responded to
this by saying, 1.-The whole earth Is
full Of His glory"
3. The Manifestation Of Majesty ".
~. "The posts " 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 Rinfulness (see Psalms
1873; 74:D.
u. Isaiah's Co, o,'rietion Of Sin ". g..
The vision OF God brought the
prophet to see hheself. 1t Is only in
the light of Gods holiness that we see
our unhollness. When Peter got a.
glimpse of who Chnst was he begged
Him to depart from MIN, saying, "De.
part from me; for an sinful man,
o lord" (Luke 5:S). 1ae prophet not
only realized that he sas sinner,
but that the nation was q nation OF
sinners. What the world seeds today
above all things Is a vision of God.
III. Isaiah's Cleansing i7sm Sin
wv. 6, y.
The taking Of the coal from he altar
shows that 1t was connecteC with
sacrifice. The fire that consumed the
sacrifice was holy Are. When a sin.
ner gets vision Of God in Christ, tha
Holy Spirit applies the merits OF
Christ's shed blood and cleanses from
al sin. The soul touched by the fire
from the altar of Gods sacrifice is
freed instantly 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 er.
rands upon which only cleansed hu.
man beings can 60. The only ones
who can really declare the gospel OF
Gods grace are those who have ex.
perienced its saving power. God Is
asking this same question Of men and
women. Isaiah readily responded 10
his call by dedlcating himself to the
task. He said "Here am / send me-"
v. Isaiah's Commission wv. 9-13).
/. The Sending (vv. 8, 10Y. He had
a most dlscouraglng task before him.
He is assured that the people VIII
hear his message, Gut be unmoved by
it. 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.
9. The encouragement wv. 11-13)
Facing this discouraging outlook the
prophet raised tia inquiry, Lord, how
long?" The Lord in His reply assured
him that it would not last forever
The land would be desolate, the cities
without inhabitants, and the houses
without occupants; but as the oak re-
tains it's vital substance even long
afteS 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 kingdom
which shall come when David's son
shall be king.