Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1922-04-27
LESSON FOR APRIL 80
isAiAH's SUMMONS AND RE.
SPONSE.

LESSON TExT.-Isa. s:1-13
| GOLDEN TExT-Here am 1: send me.
| lisa. 6:&
REFERENCE MATERIAL.-Gen.1 2:1-4;
Elk. 3:1-4:17; Josh. 49, Jer. 1910; Matt.
! 10:5-0
PRIMARY ToPIc.-God Calls Isaiah to
| Help Him.
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.
!. lsaiah's Vision of Glory wv. 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
| it as a day when his ministry took on
new meaning
| 1. He Saw the Lord on His Throne
| ". y. 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 a
peculiar preparation of Isaiah for his
work. The one who has really seen
| God can never be the same again; life
| has fuller meaning ever afterward
| 2. He Saw the Seraphims 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 wait
| upon the Lord, to go on errands for
Him. They had six wings-two for
| fight two to cover their face, show
ing reverence; and two to cover their
| feet, showing humility. These three
pairs show that reverence and hui
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 to the Trinity
The first choir sang, Holy, holy, holy"
and the second choir responded to
this by saying, "The whole earth is
full of His glory"
g. 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.
". Isaiah's Conviction of Sin ". g..
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 l am sinful man,
o lord" duke :S). The prophet not
only realized that he was q sinner,
but that the nation was a nation Of
sinners. What the world needs today
above all things is vision Of God.
III. lsaiah's Cleansing rom 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 sin
ner gets vision of God in Christ, the
Holy Spirit applies the merits of
Christ's shed blood and cleanses from
all sin.
w. Isaah'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 are 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 1; send me-"
v. Isaiah's Commission wv. 9-13).
/. The Sending wv. 9, 10Y. He had
most discouraging 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-they will neither be converted
nor healed. Such a hopeless task
would only be undertaken by one who
had had a vision of God.
?. The Encouragement wv. 11-13).
Facing this discouragsng outlook the
prophet raised the inquiry, Lord how
long?' The Lord in His reply assured
him that it would mot 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 a remnant be saved The
! loly seed is the substance which shall
! constitute the basis of the kingdom
which shall come when David's son
| shall be king.