The Pickens sentinel. (Pickens, S.C.) 1911-2016, 1922-04-27
LESSON FOR APRIL 80
ISAiAH'S SUMMONS AND RE.
SPONSE.

REFERENCE MATERIAL.-Gcn. 12:1-4;
TX. Sa-4:l7: Josh. 1:1-9; Jer 1:4-l0 Matt
PRIMARY ToPIc.-God Calls Isaiah to
JUNIOR ToP1c.-A Young Man Who
Was Ready.
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. SENIOR TOPIC
"T VnT,Ne: Nesponse 1el, to the Can for Service.
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
1t us day when his ministry took on
new meaning.
!. lie Saw the Lord on His Throne
t". -. Though the death Of UZZiah
left Judah's throne empty it was made
clear to the prophet that the throne
or God was occupied. The Lord was
nigh and lifted up. showing that He
is above MI Kingdoms. This was a
peculiar preparations Of Isaiah for his
work. The one who has really seen
God can never be the same again; life
mas fuller meaning ever ufterward.
= He Saw the Scrnphin,s Above wv,
Z, ~. Just who these beings are we
40 not know. The word signifies
merry 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
rect, showing humility. These thres
pairs show that reverence and hu-
inllity 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 to the Trinity.
The first choir sang "Holy, holy, holy"
ana the second choir responded to
this by saying, "The whole earth Is
full Of His glory"
3. The Manifestation Of Majesty ".
~. ",The posts of the door moved at
the voice of him that cried and the
house was filled with smoke" The
smoke, no doubt. s1gnitied Gods wrath
against man's Sinfulness (see Psalms
1873; T4:1).
u. lsaiah's Conviction Of Sin (v. O.
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 9
glimpse Of who Christ was he begged
Him to depart from him. saying, "De
part from me; for am sinful man
o lord" Tuke 5:3). The prophet not
only realized that he was sinner
but that the nation was nation OF
sinners What the world needs today
above all things is vision of God.
III. lsaiah's Cleansing From Sin
(vv 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 sin
ner gets a vision of God in Christ, the
Holy Spirit applies the merits of
Christ's shed blood and cleanses from
all sin.
w. lsaiah'a Cal! ". s..
Immediately following his cleansing
came the call. Men must be clennscG
from sin before tEey shall be called
to Gods service. Though God hns
many angelic beings who willingly 20
on crrands for Him, yet He has er-
rands upon which only cleansed hu.
man beings can go. The only ones
who can really declare the gospel of
Gods grace are those who have cX-
perienced it's saving power. God is
asking this same question Of men and
women. Isaiah readily responded to
his call by dedcating himself TO the
task. He said, Here am l; send me-"
V. lsaiah's Commission wv. 0-l3.
]. The Sending wv. o, 10). Hc had
q most discouragng task before him.
He is assured that the people will
hear his message, but be unmoved by
it. They will even increase in blind
ness and deafness to the divine warn
ings--thcy will neither be converted
nor healed. Such Il hopeless task
would only he unslcrtaken by one who
had had q vision Of God.
2. The Encouragement wv. 11-13)
Facing this disxournging outlook the
prophet raised the 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
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