By Rev. Ron Purkey
Guest Columnist

Read Isaiah 6:1-13

Rev. Ron Purkey

“So I said: “Woe is me, for I am undone! Because 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.” (Isaiah 6:5)

Isaiah had pronounced woes on other people, but now he cried, “Woe is me!” He admitted he was a sinner, he confessed his sin, and the Lord cleansed him. Were it not for the sacrifice on the altar, we could never approach the throne.

“Men are never duly touched and impressed with a conviction of their insignificance, until they have contrasted themselves with the majesty of God,” wrote John Calvin. This was true not only of Isaiah but also of Job (Job 42:5–6), Daniel (Daniel 10:16–17), Peter (Luke 5:8), and John (Revelation 1:17).

A true vision of God and his holiness always makes us realize our own sinfulness and failure. Job saw God and repented (Job 42:6); Peter cried out, “I am a sinful man” when he saw the Lord Jesus Christ’s power (Luke 5:8). Self-righteous rabbi Saul saw his own righteousness was but “garbage” next to the glory of Jesus Christ (Acts 9 and Philippians 3), and he believed and became the Apostle Paul. When believers have a true experience with the Lord, it does not make them proud; rather, it humbles and breaks them.

When Isaiah confessed his sins, he mentioned especially his unclean lips. Of course, unclean lips are the products of an unclean heart. The prophet knew he could not faithfully preach for the Lord unless he was prepared and cleansed. How different from some Christians who rush out to serve Christ before taking time to meet the Lord and be cleansed. God met the prophet’s need: He sent a seraph to cleanse him with a coal from the altar. How tragic it would be to have the throne without the altar. There would be conviction of sin, but no cleansing. Notice it was more important for the seraph to equip Isaiah to be a soul-winner than to praise God. True worship ought to lead to witness and service. Too many Christians want to hold on to a “spiritual experience” with the Lord, rather than be prepared to go out to share the Lord with others.

God is our redeemer and let us remember he is our creator also. We should praise him for that. When we climb to a mountaintop or walk down by the ocean, we can praise him. “Everything that has breath” should praise the LORD (Psalm 150:6). Our breath comes from him (Acts 17:25), so we ought to use it to praise his name and tell others about our redeemer and creator.

There is a wonderful word of encouragement in Isaiah 6: God quickly answers prayer and cleanses us (1 John 1:9). The Lord longs to equip us to serve him.

Read Ron Purkey’s Bible study outlines at www.rtcol.com/purkey free on the website. Purkey has been an ordained Baptist minister for 50 years.