Saturday, March 7, 2015

Isaiah's Reaction to and Prayer in the Face of Loss



Isaiah 6
Quiet Time
March 6 & 7, 2015

 It was the year that King Uzziah died that Isaiah testifies that he saw the LORD. Uzziah was one of the godly kings of Judah; he was not perfect, but his heart was seeking the Lord. Commentators speak of the close relationship between the two men. I find it striking that Isaiah’s loss drove him to the presence of God –he went to the temple.  That’s how it should be pain and loss should drive us to Him rather than driving a wedge between us. I confess that I have not always handled pain and loss in a God-honoring manner.  Isaiah took refuge in the temple in the face of his loss. The Psalms are replete with the testimonies of those who sought refuge in God, and Isaiah did likewise.  Therein is victory.
It was there in the presence of Yahweh that Isaiah made a startling discovery – he did not measure up to the holiness of God.  Isaiah apparently had a problem with his mouth. Scripture is silent concerning the exact problem he faced, but various commentators have indicated that  he had a problem with profanity. Regardless of the issue, we do know one thing from consulting other passages of Scripture – our speech reveals the condition of our hearts. When Isaiah saw the holiness of God, he cried out in dismay, uttering one of the most poignant prayer in Scripture confessing his own sinfulness.  For there was a man who valued his relationship with God above all;  he wanted his heart to be right with his God in spite of his loss. God’s holiness would be reflected in his life – that’s all that mattered.  May pain and loss drive me to the arms of God –His presence  here is worth more than I can imagine.