Context: This week we look at two "call" stories. Our first "call" story is Isaiah's. This extraordinary prophet who was the son of Amoz, lived and prophesied in Jerusalem of Judah in the late eighth and early seventh centuries BCE. As a court prophet, Isaiah was an outstanding prophet to the Kings. Isaiah was "called by God" in the year that King Uzziah died. King Uzziah had ruled for over 40 years and Jerusalem had prospered in this time period. People were living a good, stable, comfortable life ... especially people like Isaiah who was a mover and shaker in the court of the Kings.
At the time that King Uzziah died the Assyrians were a constant threat to the stability of the land and the survival of the people in the lands in and around Judah, the southern kingdom. The northern kingdom of Israel had not yet been exiled to Assyria but this would happen around 740 BCE and Isaiah would witness this from his homeland right next door. God has called upon Isaiah to prophecy to the people of the southern kingdom of Judah to repent or suffer the same fate as the northern kingdom. He spoke for God, preaching doom and destruction for the kingdom of Judah for social injustice, for breaking the covenant with Yahweh, and for calling upon foreign nations instead of Yahweh when they needed deliverance. However, as Isaiah of Jerusalem called for repentance, he also delivered a message of restoration to the obedient.
Going Deeper: Woe is me! In the year that King Uzziah died, Isaiah's life of comfort changed ... his world was turned upside down. Can your remember a time when your world was turned upside down? What was the situation? Were you able to sense God's presence as Isaiah did? How do you sense God's presence in your life? Isaiah seemed to feel very much in awe of God ... how would you describe Isaiah's reaction? How is it the same as you think your reaction would be if you received a vision this powerful? How is it different?
How would you describe the image of God that is portrayed in this passage? How do you connect with this image of God? What is the image of God that speaks most strongly to you at this point in your life and ministry?
The “call” stories in the bible are often quite spectacular. Some of us might but most of us won’t experience events like burning coals to the lips (Isaiah) and that’s just the way it is. God may seem to be quieter today but God is no surely no less persistent. Do you have a sense of God's call upon your life right now?
Pondering: "Woe is me!" No wonder Isaiah felt lost. Yet in this hour of darkness, God calls.
Read the passage again as you use your imagination and all of your senses to visualize the scene as it unfolds. Better yet ... Have someone read it to you as you close your eyes and image the presence of God filling the room ... Can you see the robe that fills the temple? What color is it? What texture is the material? What does throne look like? Can you describe it ... How would it feel if you reached out and touched the throne of God? What about the seraphs (angels) ... are they sweetly fluttering around or fiercely protective? How would you describe them? Can you hear their song ... is it angelic and melodic or is there a hint of dissonance to the music you hear? Can you feel the earth quaking under your feet? Can you smell the smoke? Is it sweet like incense or is it putrid like burning flesh? Can you feel the searing heat of the coal as it touches your lips? How do you feel? Can you hear God calling ... Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? What is your response?
Praying: It is tempting to stop with such a majestic call and response but it is important to realize the difficulty of the message that God calls Isaiah the prophet to proclaim. Read these verses that follow Isaiah's surrender to God's call. Read the passage out loud and "hear" it as if you are experiencing your darkest hour and are hiding in a corner of the temple to hear this conversation between God and Isaiah. Allow yourself to comprehend the doom yet read it desperately seeking the glimmer of hope embedded within it. Know yourself and others as "chosen ones" ... I believe that God chooses us all but sometimes we don't accept our status as chosen and see ourselves as called. Respond to your reading of this passage by praying for those who don't know they are "chosen" or "called." End your time of prayer by praising God for choosing you and calling you to be a beloved child of God!
Isaiah 6:9-13 (contemporary English version)
Then the LORD told me to go and speak this message to the people:
"You will listen and listen,
but never understand.
You will look and look,
but never see."
The LORD also said,
"Make these people stubborn!
Make them stop up their ears,
cover their eyes,
and fail to understand.
Don't let them turn to me
and be healed."
Then I asked the LORD, "How long will this last?"
The LORD answered:
Until their towns are destroyed and their houses are deserted,
until their fields are empty,
and I have sent them far away,
leaving their land in ruins.
If only a tenth of the people are left,
even they will be destroyed.
But just as stumps remain after trees have been cut down,
some of my chosen ones will be left.
"You will listen and listen,
but never understand.
You will look and look,
but never see."
The LORD also said,
"Make these people stubborn!
Make them stop up their ears,
cover their eyes,
and fail to understand.
Don't let them turn to me
and be healed."
Then I asked the LORD, "How long will this last?"
The LORD answered:
Until their towns are destroyed and their houses are deserted,
until their fields are empty,
and I have sent them far away,
leaving their land in ruins.
If only a tenth of the people are left,
even they will be destroyed.
But just as stumps remain after trees have been cut down,
some of my chosen ones will be left.
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