God's Presence in times of mourning.Part 2
Perspective changes in the presence of God. This is one truth that is evident from Isaiah 6:1-8. After beholding the Lord in all His majesty and glory Isaiah cried out.
Here we see a shift in Isaiah's feelings, from mourning the death of King Uzziah to grief over his own wretchedness. It is interesting to note that Isaiah confessed to having "unclean lips". The word used in Hebrew (tame' )actually translates "polluted or defiled". Implicit in this confession are two realities concerning Isaiah. First even as God's prophet, Isaiah had a problem taming his tongue. Second, in Isaiah's heart lurked sin, for a man's words is an overflow of His heart. Matthew 12:14 says "out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks."
Beholding the presence of God opened Isaiah's eyes to the reality of GOD's holiness. Suddenly the man who rebuked his people for their rebellious hearts comes face to face with his own sinfulness and cries out "Woe is me for I am ruined!"
As I pondered about Isaiah's predicament James 1:26-27 comes to mind:
26If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless. 27Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world....
In chapter 5:9-12, James further exhorts:
9With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God's likeness. 10Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be. 11Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? 12My brothers, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.
As I reflect on these verses, I think about myself. I too like Isaiah am a minister. God on many occasions have used me to speak His words to people from various walks of life and ethnicities. But when I look at my heart today, it is with an admission that my heart is not completely blameless before the Lord. I know that there have been times when my lips have not always spoken words of grace. Thankfully I have a counselor in the person of Christ who can take away my guilt through His blood that has been shed for my sins.
PRAYER
Dear Lord, I know I have not always spoken in a manner that will edify others and glorify your name. I too am a woman of "unclean lips". I thank you for bringing this to my attention. I ask you to cleanse me from this impurity. Holy Spirit quicken your word to convict me every time the temptation to stray in this area comes knocking at my door.May my life be truly a holy offering to you today and always. Amen.
"Woe to me!" I cried. "I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the LORD Almighty." (6:5)
Here we see a shift in Isaiah's feelings, from mourning the death of King Uzziah to grief over his own wretchedness. It is interesting to note that Isaiah confessed to having "unclean lips". The word used in Hebrew (tame' )actually translates "polluted or defiled". Implicit in this confession are two realities concerning Isaiah. First even as God's prophet, Isaiah had a problem taming his tongue. Second, in Isaiah's heart lurked sin, for a man's words is an overflow of His heart. Matthew 12:14 says "out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks."
Beholding the presence of God opened Isaiah's eyes to the reality of GOD's holiness. Suddenly the man who rebuked his people for their rebellious hearts comes face to face with his own sinfulness and cries out "Woe is me for I am ruined!"
As I pondered about Isaiah's predicament James 1:26-27 comes to mind:
26If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless. 27Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world....
In chapter 5:9-12, James further exhorts:
9With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God's likeness. 10Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be. 11Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? 12My brothers, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.
As I reflect on these verses, I think about myself. I too like Isaiah am a minister. God on many occasions have used me to speak His words to people from various walks of life and ethnicities. But when I look at my heart today, it is with an admission that my heart is not completely blameless before the Lord. I know that there have been times when my lips have not always spoken words of grace. Thankfully I have a counselor in the person of Christ who can take away my guilt through His blood that has been shed for my sins.
PRAYER
Dear Lord, I know I have not always spoken in a manner that will edify others and glorify your name. I too am a woman of "unclean lips". I thank you for bringing this to my attention. I ask you to cleanse me from this impurity. Holy Spirit quicken your word to convict me every time the temptation to stray in this area comes knocking at my door.May my life be truly a holy offering to you today and always. Amen.
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