Holy, Holy, Holy

"In the year of King Uzziah’s death I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, lofty and exalted, with the train of His robe filling the temple. Seraphim were standing above Him, each having six wings: with two each covered his face, and with two each covered his feet, and with two each flew. And one called out to another and said, Holy, Holy, Holy, is the Lord of armies. The whole earth is full of His glory.” Isaiah 6:1-3

Do we understand just how holy God is? In the Scripture, when words are repeated it is to denote it's importance, it's like putting several exclamation points behind a word. We see the word holy in this instance repeated 3 times, this is to say that God isn't just holy but He's like MEGA HOLY, the holiest. 

The word holy has a few different meanings that all tie together. In essence, when looking at God's holiness we can say it means complete perfection. His holiness magnifies our sinfulness. God is perfect, we are not and our sin separates us from a holy God. 

"And the foundations of the thresholds trembled at the voice of him who called out, while the temple was filling with smoke. Then I said, 'Woe to me, for I am ruined! Because I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips; For my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of armies.'" Isaiah 6:4-5

When Isaiah comes in contact with God, he sees and understands just how holy, holy, holy God is and just how not, not, not he is. Isaiah is undone, he literally thinks it's over for him and that God brought him to the throne room to destroy him. Isaiah exclaims "woe to me, for I am ruined" and then he points out why he is ruined, his sin. 

Do you fear the Lord? I can tell you in that moment Isaiah certainly did. When we understand (as much as we can) God's holiness and who He is, this should generate a healthy and proper fear in us. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, the beginning of understanding and knowledge. Isaiah's eyes were opened and just like Isaiah, when God opens our eyes to who He is, we see our desperate need for a Savior and the grace that only God can give...

"Then one of the seraphim flew to me with a burning coal in his hand, which he had taken from the altar with tongs. He touched my mouth with it and said, 'Behold, this has touched your lips; and your guilt is taken away and atonement is made for your sin.'" Isaiah 6:7

Instead of getting what he deserved as a result of his sin, and what getting what he thought he was going to get, death, he received grace and forgiveness. For us, Jesus is the burning coal that touches our lips and takes our guilt away as He has made atonement for our sin.

What happens next, how Isaiah's responds, is how we ought respond when we come to know Jesus as our Lord and Savior. "Then I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, 'Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?' Then I said, “'Here am I. Send me!'” Isaiah 6:8

When we understand the gospel, when we understand just what God has done for us, we, like Isaiah should be falling all over ourselves to serve, obey, and tell others about Jesus. Isaiah found himself in the throne room before God and his initial reaction was "It's over for me." The man thought he had reached the end of his time on earth and that he was about to be destroyed by the true and living God because of his sin. Isaiah, after his confession of his sinful state, is forgiven his sins. So rather than being destroyed, he is forgiven and restored. This is the gospel. The bad news comes first, that we have all sinned against a holy God, and sin, our rebellion, brings death. However, Jesus stepped in, took the punishment we so rightly deserve so that we may live in right relationship with God  and go from death to life. 

May those of us who are in Christ take Him seriously, recognizing His holiness, and finding ourselves eager to share and proclaim His Holy Name! My we echo the prophet and say "Here I am, send me!"

Thank you so much for taking the time to read this, if you have any questions or want to chat more be sure to leave a comment. Below is the new single from Meek Heroes HIYN (Holy is Your Name). The song declares that God is holy, and we are not. Every one of us is in desperate need of His grace and mercy every second of every day. HIYN is a reminder that God is the King of kings, Lord of lords and that one day every knee will bow and tongue confess that Jesus is Lord. HIYN is not only a reminder but a worshipful proclamation that our God is not one to be messed with but His love for His children is immense.