Day 18: 31 Days of Prayer

Day 18: 31 Days of Prayer

Verse:

In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord seated on a high and lofty throne, and the train of His robe filled the temple. Seraphim stood above Him; each had six wings: with two they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. And they called to one another, saying: "Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts; the whole earth is full of His glory!" At the sound of their voices the foundations of the thresholds shook, and the house was filled with smoke. Then I said: "Woe is me! I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell among a people of unclean lips; yet my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts." But one of the Seraphim flew to me, with a burning coal in his hand, which he had taken with tongs from the altar. He touched my mouth with it and said: "See, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away and your sin is forgiven." Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying: "Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?" Then I answered: "Here am I, send me!" (Yes 6:1-8 - TB)

Reflection:

Just like in our reflection yesterday, today we are faced with Isaiah's heart surrendered to God, and his humility before the majesty of the Almighty. This whole scene is described with deep humility and awe before the Almighty. At the beginning of this passage it says that the train of the Lord's robe filled the whole temple! Wow. Historically, the longer your train, the more important your position as king. The train of the Lord's robe was immense, unlike any king who has ever ruled. Above the Lord were seraphim angels, each with six wings, all glorifying God with such trembling volume that the doorposts and the thresholds of the temple shook and the room was filled with smoke! Isaiah's response to this vision is the only response that makes sense when seeing the Creator of the universe on His throne: "Woe is me!" Isaiah was so aware of God's presence at that moment that he could find nothing good in himself or the people around him when compared with God's greatness. The perfect holiness of God was dramatically greater than anything he had ever witnessed. Immediately after Isaiah's witness of Perfection, an angel flew to Isaiah and redeemed his sins with a coal taken from the altar. Then, the awesome, earth-shaking voice of God, the awesome voice of God asked .... "Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?" And Isaiah, newly cleansed, redeemed, and humble, answered rightly: "Here am I, send me!"

Challenge:

Have you been cleansed but not humbled? Are you in God's presence but not in awe? It is my conviction that one cannot come without the other. To stand before God means to die completely. We cannot live in the presence of God; rather, He can live through us if we allow Him. Today, remember the glory, holiness, and perfection of God. Reflect on how high His ways are, and how dark and helpless we are without His grace, so abundant and powerful in our lives. Consider reading Job 38-41 to see God's response in the story of Job, and how confidently God speaks about Himself. He alone is worthy.

Translated from the article “31 Days of Prayer: Day 18” by Daniel Berk