We don’t find fulfillment in bringing God glory because we don’t prioritize bringing God glory. We don’t prioritize bringing God glory because we have not seen and do not understand God’s glory. Last week, we began a brief look through Scripture to help us understand the majesty of God’s glory. We started by looking at the change in Moses when we observed God’s glory. Today, we want to examine a second important Old Testament text.
Hundreds of years have passed since Moses saw God’s glory. Israel went on to conquer the promised land, and God created a great nation. At its height of power under David and Solomon, Israel dominated the Middle East. During this time, the people worshiped God faithfully and built a Temple to worship God. However, as time and kings passed, Israel turned from God. Ultimately, God informed Israel through various prophets that He would judge them for their rebellion. Isaiah was one such prophet.
As Isaiah began recording God’s words in his book, he proclaimed God’s judgment on Israel and the surrounding nations (Isaiah 1-5). Yet, Isaiah experienced a life-changing event in chapter 6. God revealed His glory to Isaiah. As the vision unfolded, Isaiah saw God’s majesty. He saw the throne of God exalted above all else. God’s throne is “high and lifted up.” He is over everything. He is absolutely sovereign. No earthly power can compare to or overrule God’s throne.
Isaiah also saw God’s honor. God was magnified, and so God was worshipped. In Isaiah’s vision, he saw Seraphim. These special angels dwell before God’s throne in worship. They have six wings. Two wings cover their face because they cannot look upon the glory of God. It is so great. Two wings cover their feet lest they mar God’s glory with disrespect. And with two wings, they fly around God’s throne. As Isaiah observed them, they cried out, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of His glory” (Isaiah 6:3). Holy means to be sacred or set apart from all else. There is nothing else in the universe like God. Why are gold, silver, and precious stones so valuable? Because of their rarity. We place value on things that are rare and unique. The reality is that there are many of everything. But there is only one God. And so, He is holy.
The Seraphim also cried that the whole earth was full of God’s glory. This statement is in line with Psalm 19. “The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. Day to day pours out speech, and night to night reveals knowledge” (Psalm 19:1-2). Even nature displays the glory of God. The problem is that while we know much about God, we don’t take the time to let these facts sink in and impact our lives. We live as though they are mere facts. While we know a lot about God, we don’t know God. We have horrible views of God. And your view of God dictates your view of life.
As Isaiah observed God’s majesty and honor, God revealed His power. As Isaiah took in this scene, he noticed that the door posts were shaking, and smoke filled the room. Picture in your mind’s eye this vision that Isaiah is having. I picture him standing in the hall outside of the throne room of God. The doors to the throne room open, and Isaiah sees God on His throne, exalted above all else. Isaiah sees angels flying around the room crying, “Holy, sacred is the Lord. The earth is filled with His glory.” Then, Isaiah notices that the door posts are shaking at the cry and that the room is filled with smoke.
Living in Michigan, I occasionally attend a University of Michigan football game at “The Big House.” Over one hundred thousand people pack the stadium to cheer on their favorite team. I will never forget the first time I entered the stadium. Because the stadium is a bowl dug into the ground, you enter the stadium from the top. As you enter the scene, you observe a sea of rabid fans dressed in blue and maize. When Michigan scores, the sound is deafening. The stadium shakes with the noise. The experience creates a feeling of euphoria that defies description. Yet, this experience is nothing compared to Isaiah’s experience when he entered God’s throne room.
That experience changed Isaiah. Up to this point, he had proclaimed God’s judgment on everyone around him. Yet, when he observed God’s glory, he recognized his inadequacy. In chapters one through five, Isaiah proclaimed woe on everyone else. But in Isaiah 6:5, he proclaimed woe (or God’s judgment) on himself. Confronted with God’s perfect, majestic glory, Isaiah recognized his sin and failure. When we see God, we do not walk away unchanged. We acknowledge our need for God.
Thankfully, God’s glory also contains God’s mercy. As Isaiah recognizes his sin in repentance, God cleanses him. He takes a coal from the altar, representing Christ’s sacrifice, and touches Isaiah to take away his guilt. So, through Christ, we also stand before God without condemnation. And this reconciliation results in change.
Isaiah’s subsequent response is to beg God to allow him to serve. He volunteers to be sent out by God into Israel to proclaim His glory. Isaiah did not do this because it would result in a life of ease. The second half of Isaiah 6 reveals that no one would listen to Isaiah, and he would be persecuted for speaking the truth. Yet, Isaiah willingly volunteered because he recognized the surpassing value of God’s glory.
Christians live in crisis and frustration because we fail to see God’s glory. We make decisions that lead us into trouble because we do not consider the need to glorify God. But we willingly face hardship and trial when we see God in His majestic glory. Because God is greater than anything we can imagine, and He is worth our allegiance and dedication.