To Read: Isaiah 6:1-7
In the year that King Uzziah died I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up; and the train of his robe filled the temple. 2 Above him stood the seraphim. Each had six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. 3 And one called to another and said:
“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts;
the whole earth is full of his glory!”
4 And the foundations of the thresholds shook at the voice of him who called, and the house was filled with smoke. 5 And I said: “Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts!”
6 Then one of the seraphim flew to me, having in his hand a burning coal that he had taken with tongs from the altar. 7 And he touched my mouth and said: “Behold, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away, and your sin atoned for.”
This is not a typical Advent passage, but one I want you to see just before we get into the prophecies about the baby to be born in Isaiah 7. There are three times in the Bible where a group of angels come and make some announcement together, in a statement or in song. They are (1) right here in Isaiah 6, (2) Revelation 19, and (3) at the birth of Jesus. The first two instances are in visions – Isaiah sees a vision in Isaiah 6 and the apostle John sees a vision recorded in the book of Revelation. That means that the only time where a group of angels broke into human history in a public way to praise the Lord is at the birth of Christ. It is recorded in Luke 2:14, when they appeared to the shepherds and said “Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased.” It’s a very big deal when angels break in and make a declaration like this! It means the birth of Christ is a massively important event, and we are to never forget that. Take that with you this Christmas season, knowing just how rare and wonderful it is that God would become a little baby.
The reverence towards the glory of the Lord starts here with Isaiah who got to see the glory of the Lord in a vision. When he encounters the holiness of God, his response is humility and acknowledgment of his sinful nature. He shows his need of God. But God, in his mercy, sends one of the seraphim to him to heal him and to say that his sins have been atoned for. Notice that it’s a burning coal that touches his lips – it won’t be easy – the death of Jesus that is coming will not be easy, but effective. All of us people of unclean lips will be healed because of what Jesus has done.
Song to Sing: O Come All Ye Faithful
Remember to adore the King of all the Earth at Christmas. Let us all rejoice at his coming.
Prayer: Holy Spirit, help our hearts this Christmas to be focused on you, and not the distractions of the holiday season. Let us ponder these things in our hearts, as Mary did – with great love for you and what you’ve done for us by breaking into the world and rescuing us. Help us to see the gravity of this holiday and let us worship you appropriately. In the name of Jesus, Amen.
Echoes of Eden: Christmas lights! Go and take a drive and enjoy the lights. This is a way that the world unknowingly participates in God’s plan in bringing light into the darkness. Whether its lights on your tree or lights on a house, enjoy this part of the holiday as lights as night do remind us that joy broke in and pushed back against the darkness of the world. Drive by the Von Herrmann house – they have an excellent display!