Glimpses of Glory God's Holiness
Series: Isaiah
Speaker: Nick Freestone
Date: 16th April 2023
Passage: Isaiah 6:1-13
00:00:00 --> 00:00:08 We are in a season of church called Glimpses of Glory and Grace.
00:00:09 --> 00:00:11 We're in the book of Isaiah.
00:00:13 --> 00:00:21 700 years before the life of Jesus, a man called Isaiah spoke God's words to the kings of Jerusalem.
00:00:22 --> 00:00:27 They were words of judgment, predicting the nation's rebellion against God.
00:00:27 --> 00:00:37 They were also words of hope in a redeemer who God would raise up to pay for the sin of God's people and turn away God's wrath.
00:00:39 --> 00:00:48 Isaiah's words in the impact that he made outlived the kings that he served and even Isaiah himself.
00:00:48 --> 00:00:58 Isaiah's words spoke directly into the spiritual needs of God's people and they speak to our needs too.
00:00:59 --> 00:01:05 These chapters are glimpses of God as glorious and gracious.
00:01:05 --> 00:01:10 All people need something more glorious than what they can find in this world.
00:01:11 --> 00:01:16 And all people need grace if God is who he says he is.
00:01:17 --> 00:01:27 He's so wonderful and amazing and perfect and powerful and mighty and majestic that we're going to need his help.
00:01:27 --> 00:01:34 If we, the broken people of this broken world, are going to come to him.
00:01:36 --> 00:01:41 You and I need Isaiah, this book, in our life.
00:01:45 --> 00:01:51 Theologian Tim Chester says that Isaiah is like a bridge.
00:01:51 --> 00:02:07 A bridge between our side of history and the cross of Jesus Christ, reaching back to the origins of a nation called Israel, who God chose to be his people.
00:02:08 --> 00:02:17 Isaiah is a bridge, a connection for those who find forgiveness in freedom in the Messiah in 2023.
00:02:17 --> 00:02:23 But also for those who knew the Messiah only as a promise.
00:02:24 --> 00:02:35 A gracious promise that one day he would save the then divided nation of Israel and Judah through his coming Messiah King.
00:02:37 --> 00:02:41 Every year we quote Isaiah at Easter time and at Christmas.
00:02:41 --> 00:02:49 It's because of these many glimpses that Isaiah gives us of who this Messiah is going to be.
00:02:49 --> 00:02:50 What his nature is going to be.
00:02:51 --> 00:02:52 What he's going to do.
00:02:52 --> 00:02:53 What his kingdom is going to look like.
00:02:54 --> 00:02:55 Even how he's going to be born.
00:02:55 --> 00:02:56 How he's going to die.
00:02:58 --> 00:03:01 Isaiah has unrivaled depth and clarity.
00:03:02 --> 00:03:04 It's the coolest pair of sunnies in the Old Testament.
00:03:04 --> 00:03:09 That we get to look through and see who the Messiah is going to be.
00:03:11 --> 00:03:24 So in this series you're going to see that the God of the Old Testament that we hear about in Isaiah is the same God that in history is recorded in the New Testament.
00:03:26 --> 00:03:27 He is most holy.
00:03:29 --> 00:03:32 He brings justice and fair judgment for sin.
00:03:32 --> 00:03:37 He is by nature merciful, loving and compassionate.
00:03:39 --> 00:03:41 Providing hope to all nations.
00:03:41 --> 00:03:44 I honestly can't wait to share more of Isaiah.
00:03:45 --> 00:03:47 The bridge of Isaiah with you.
00:03:48 --> 00:03:51 As we see glimpses of this glorious and gracious God.
00:03:51 --> 00:03:56 So we're going to start in chapters 1 to 5.
00:03:58 --> 00:04:03 And then as we go through today we're going to get to Isaiah 6.
00:04:03 --> 00:04:07 And we're going to spend most of our time there in Isaiah 6 as Anne has read out.
00:04:07 --> 00:04:07 Thank you Anne.
00:04:09 --> 00:04:11 So let's open up our Bible.
00:04:11 --> 00:04:13 Make sure we've got Isaiah open.
00:04:13 --> 00:04:14 Turn to chapter 1.
00:04:14 --> 00:04:20 And I'm going to, no, I'm not going to read the whole thing.
00:04:21 --> 00:04:25 We're going to start our journey and step across this bridge.
00:04:27 --> 00:04:31 Isaiah is a bit like watching an opera.
00:04:31 --> 00:04:32 Or a symphony.
00:04:34 --> 00:04:35 Or a musical.
00:04:37 --> 00:04:40 Like these, Isaiah begins with an overture.
00:04:40 --> 00:04:46 An overture is a musical preview.
00:04:46 --> 00:04:52 It contains all, many of the melodies that are to come in the performance.
00:04:53 --> 00:04:56 The emotional movements of the story to come.
00:04:57 --> 00:05:00 We might not know why the tune sounds like that yet.
00:05:02 --> 00:05:07 But the overture gives us that feeling and the gravity of what's going to come next.
00:05:07 --> 00:05:08 Just without all the details.
00:05:08 --> 00:05:12 It opens our ears and focuses our minds.
00:05:13 --> 00:05:18 So let's listen to three melodies that we're going to hear through Isaiah.
00:05:19 --> 00:05:22 In Isaiah's prophetic overture.
00:05:24 --> 00:05:35 The first melody is this intimidating and fearsome, unstoppable melody of judgment and exile.
00:05:35 --> 00:05:37 God himself says,
00:05:38 --> 00:05:43 I reared children and brought them up, but they have rebelled against me.
00:05:45 --> 00:05:48 God pronounces judgment after judgment.
00:05:50 --> 00:05:52 Woes on his people.
00:05:52 --> 00:05:59 He foreshadows a time of loss and pain in chapters 1 to 5.
00:06:00 --> 00:06:02 Like it's already happening to Israel.
00:06:02 --> 00:06:06 He even calls Israel by two awful names.
00:06:06 --> 00:06:08 Sodom and Gomorrah.
00:06:09 --> 00:06:14 Two cities that were judged for their exceptional wickedness.
00:06:14 --> 00:06:18 As he was to those two cities.
00:06:18 --> 00:06:23 God is weary of Israel's wickedness and empty prayers.
00:06:25 --> 00:06:27 This melody is bleak.
00:06:28 --> 00:06:35 And Isaiah uses imagery to help us understand how bleak it is.
00:06:35 --> 00:06:39 These are the different instruments that are playing this melody.
00:06:41 --> 00:06:42 Here are a few.
00:06:44 --> 00:06:50 Their fall be like the shattering of a mighty falling tree.
00:06:50 --> 00:06:55 Like seductive women who will have their beauty taken away.
00:06:56 --> 00:07:01 Like staggering drunks who are deceived and pushed by evil people into pits.
00:07:02 --> 00:07:04 Like fools led by children.
00:07:05 --> 00:07:07 They're going to wildly go astray.
00:07:09 --> 00:07:11 Isaiah even sings.
00:07:12 --> 00:07:14 Told you it was a musical.
00:07:14 --> 00:07:18 He sings this mournful love song.
00:07:20 --> 00:07:24 I will sing for the one I love about a song about his vineyard.
00:07:24 --> 00:07:27 My loved one had a vineyard on a fertile hillside.
00:07:28 --> 00:07:31 The vineyard of the Lord Almighty is the nation of Israel.
00:07:31 --> 00:07:34 And the people of Judah are the vines he delighted in.
00:07:35 --> 00:07:37 He looked for justice but saw bloodshed.
00:07:38 --> 00:07:42 For righteousness but heard cries of distress.
00:07:42 --> 00:07:44 Can you hear the melody?
00:07:46 --> 00:07:49 Can you hear the main theme of this overture?
00:07:49 --> 00:07:50 It's terrifying.
00:07:53 --> 00:07:58 But interwoven with woe after woe, horror after horror,
00:07:58 --> 00:08:02 are these two sweet melodies.
00:08:02 --> 00:08:06 And as we go through Isaiah, as you read through Isaiah yourself,
00:08:06 --> 00:08:08 and as we explore it as a church,
00:08:08 --> 00:08:10 I want to encourage you to be looking for these
00:08:10 --> 00:08:15 and listening for these two melodies in the symphony of Isaiah.
00:08:15 --> 00:08:20 And the first is the soft call of grace.
00:08:22 --> 00:08:26 In chapter one, we can see that there is forgiveness.
00:08:27 --> 00:08:30 There is a chance for Israel and Judah,
00:08:31 --> 00:08:33 God's people, to turn things around.
00:08:33 --> 00:08:36 God says to them,
00:08:36 --> 00:08:38 though your sins are like scarlet,
00:08:39 --> 00:08:41 they shall be white as snow.
00:08:43 --> 00:08:45 Though they are red as crimson,
00:08:45 --> 00:08:47 they shall be like wool.
00:08:48 --> 00:08:50 And how will God do this?
00:08:52 --> 00:08:58 How could God be leading Israel to ruin
00:08:58 --> 00:09:02 and also make them pure before him?
00:09:04 --> 00:09:06 Well, we get a glimpse of a name in this tune.
00:09:06 --> 00:09:08 In chapter four, verse two,
00:09:08 --> 00:09:11 the name of this redeemer,
00:09:11 --> 00:09:13 this one who will save,
00:09:13 --> 00:09:16 is called the branch of the Lord,
00:09:16 --> 00:09:18 one who will bring shelter and cleansing
00:09:18 --> 00:09:21 to the people of this broken,
00:09:22 --> 00:09:24 wayward vineyard.
00:09:24 --> 00:09:27 And then melody number two,
00:09:28 --> 00:09:32 after the chords crash with a crescendo
00:09:32 --> 00:09:37 and there's the empty space after in this overture.
00:09:38 --> 00:09:40 There's these ever so quiet promises
00:09:40 --> 00:09:43 of eternal hope.
00:09:43 --> 00:09:48 Isaiah 1.26 says that there will be a day
00:09:48 --> 00:09:50 where Jerusalem,
00:09:51 --> 00:09:52 the capital of Israel,
00:09:53 --> 00:09:54 will be restored forever.
00:09:56 --> 00:09:56 And later,
00:09:57 --> 00:09:58 in chapter two,
00:09:59 --> 00:10:01 that every nation will gather
00:10:01 --> 00:10:03 to live for God there
00:10:03 --> 00:10:04 in joy.
00:10:06 --> 00:10:07 In the last days,
00:10:07 --> 00:10:08 the mountain of the Lord's temple
00:10:08 --> 00:10:09 will be established
00:10:09 --> 00:10:11 as the highest of the mountains.
00:10:11 --> 00:10:13 It will be exalted above the hills
00:10:13 --> 00:10:15 and all nations will stream to it.
00:10:15 --> 00:10:17 Many peoples will come to it and say,
00:10:18 --> 00:10:20 come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord,
00:10:20 --> 00:10:22 to the temple of the God of Jacob.
00:10:22 --> 00:10:23 He will teach us his ways
00:10:23 --> 00:10:26 so that we may walk in his paths.
00:10:27 --> 00:10:30 A day of restoration is coming.
00:10:30 --> 00:10:36 One to five of Isaiah,
00:10:37 --> 00:10:37 the overture,
00:10:39 --> 00:10:42 promises that Isaiah as a whole
00:10:42 --> 00:10:44 is going to sound like overwhelming judgment,
00:10:45 --> 00:10:48 especially for our ears
00:10:48 --> 00:10:49 thousands of years later.
00:10:50 --> 00:10:53 But keep listening to those recurring melodies
00:10:53 --> 00:10:56 of the grace of God
00:10:56 --> 00:10:57 and his promise of forgiveness
00:10:57 --> 00:10:58 and eternal hope.
00:10:58 --> 00:11:01 God will bring justice and redemption
00:11:01 --> 00:11:05 for his multi-ethnic people
00:11:05 --> 00:11:08 and he will declare them
00:11:08 --> 00:11:09 holy.
00:11:12 --> 00:11:13 Holy.
00:11:16 --> 00:11:18 But now the movement of the symphony
00:11:18 --> 00:11:19 unfolds in chapter six.
00:11:20 --> 00:11:24 The orchestra crescendos into something new
00:11:24 --> 00:11:28 and the curtains part
00:11:28 --> 00:11:30 and the cast come out
00:11:30 --> 00:11:32 to start the first number
00:11:32 --> 00:11:33 and so we see
00:11:33 --> 00:11:36 what will happen next.
00:11:37 --> 00:11:38 So I'm going to pray
00:11:38 --> 00:11:40 before we explore further
00:11:40 --> 00:11:41 in Isaiah chapter six.
00:11:42 --> 00:11:42 Let's pray.
00:11:45 --> 00:11:45 God,
00:11:45 --> 00:11:49 you have all authority.
00:11:51 --> 00:11:52 You're gracious
00:11:52 --> 00:11:54 and you bring hope.
00:11:55 --> 00:11:57 So I ask that you would graciously change us
00:11:57 --> 00:11:59 through the words of this old book.
00:12:00 --> 00:12:03 Speak to us as if promised by your Holy Spirit
00:12:03 --> 00:12:07 so that we see you for who you've always been,
00:12:07 --> 00:12:08 who you were to Israel,
00:12:09 --> 00:12:10 who you were to Isaiah
00:12:10 --> 00:12:13 and who you will always be
00:12:13 --> 00:12:14 to us.
00:12:15 --> 00:12:16 Amen.
00:12:17 --> 00:12:17 Amen.
00:12:19 --> 00:12:20 When I first moved to Sydney,
00:12:21 --> 00:12:23 it was mid-2000s
00:12:23 --> 00:12:25 and everyone I met
00:12:25 --> 00:12:27 when they were talking,
00:12:27 --> 00:12:28 when I was getting to know them,
00:12:28 --> 00:12:29 they would talk
00:12:29 --> 00:12:30 about
00:12:31 --> 00:12:32 a season of life
00:12:32 --> 00:12:33 that came before
00:12:33 --> 00:12:34 when I wasn't in Sydney
00:12:34 --> 00:12:36 and the season of life now
00:12:36 --> 00:12:37 that I kind of knew
00:12:37 --> 00:12:38 and understood.
00:12:39 --> 00:12:40 Chatswood looked very different.
00:12:41 --> 00:12:42 The train station
00:12:42 --> 00:12:44 was a totally different shape.
00:12:46 --> 00:12:47 Right now,
00:12:47 --> 00:12:48 I'd need a map
00:12:48 --> 00:12:50 of how it used to be
00:12:50 --> 00:12:51 to try and remember it.
00:12:51 --> 00:12:52 Everything is so different
00:12:52 --> 00:12:52 just over there.
00:12:55 --> 00:12:56 Everyone I met
00:12:56 --> 00:12:59 when I came to Sydney,
00:12:59 --> 00:13:00 when I was getting to know them,
00:13:01 --> 00:13:02 marked time
00:13:02 --> 00:13:03 by talking about
00:13:03 --> 00:13:05 a season of life before,
00:13:06 --> 00:13:07 something happened
00:13:07 --> 00:13:09 and life now.
00:13:09 --> 00:13:10 And that event
00:13:10 --> 00:13:13 happened in 2001
00:13:13 --> 00:13:15 because people would say
00:13:15 --> 00:13:18 before September 11
00:13:18 --> 00:13:21 or after September 11.
00:13:26 --> 00:13:28 Terrorist attacks in the USA
00:13:28 --> 00:13:29 changed the world
00:13:29 --> 00:13:30 on September 11.
00:13:30 --> 00:13:35 If you're new to Chatswood,
00:13:35 --> 00:13:35 you might be hearing
00:13:35 --> 00:13:36 the same thing.
00:13:37 --> 00:13:37 If you're new to Sydney,
00:13:38 --> 00:13:39 you might hear
00:13:39 --> 00:13:40 people talk
00:13:40 --> 00:13:42 about a before COVID
00:13:42 --> 00:13:44 and an after COVID.
00:13:47 --> 00:13:48 The event that's brought
00:13:48 --> 00:13:50 incredible insecurity
00:13:50 --> 00:13:51 and anxiety.
00:13:53 --> 00:13:53 After COVID,
00:13:53 --> 00:13:54 identities were
00:13:54 --> 00:13:56 changed,
00:13:56 --> 00:13:57 redefined.
00:13:58 --> 00:13:59 After COVID,
00:13:59 --> 00:14:00 everything is different
00:14:00 --> 00:14:02 and we will never
00:14:02 --> 00:14:03 be the same,
00:14:03 --> 00:14:04 even if we might want
00:14:04 --> 00:14:05 everything to be
00:14:05 --> 00:14:06 the same again.
00:14:09 --> 00:14:11 In Isaiah's time,
00:14:11 --> 00:14:12 the southern kingdom
00:14:12 --> 00:14:13 of Israel
00:14:13 --> 00:14:14 had been reigned
00:14:14 --> 00:14:15 over
00:14:15 --> 00:14:16 by King Uzziah
00:14:16 --> 00:14:18 for 50 years.
00:14:19 --> 00:14:20 Judah had prospered.
00:14:21 --> 00:14:22 The people
00:14:22 --> 00:14:23 had followed God.
00:14:23 --> 00:14:25 They'd even have peace
00:14:25 --> 00:14:26 from war.
00:14:28 --> 00:14:29 But a northern kingdom
00:14:29 --> 00:14:30 called Assyria
00:14:30 --> 00:14:32 rose up in great
00:14:32 --> 00:14:33 military power
00:14:33 --> 00:14:34 and began to
00:14:34 --> 00:14:35 annihilate
00:14:35 --> 00:14:37 some of the surrounding
00:14:37 --> 00:14:37 nations
00:14:37 --> 00:14:39 of Judah.
00:14:41 --> 00:14:42 But as long as
00:14:42 --> 00:14:43 King Uzziah
00:14:43 --> 00:14:44 was still alive,
00:14:45 --> 00:14:46 Judah had hope
00:14:46 --> 00:14:47 that they would be saved.
00:14:50 --> 00:14:51 But as Judah
00:14:51 --> 00:14:52 started to
00:14:52 --> 00:14:54 look elsewhere
00:14:54 --> 00:14:55 other than God
00:14:55 --> 00:14:57 for other powerful
00:14:57 --> 00:14:59 nations to trust,
00:15:02 --> 00:15:03 hope started
00:15:03 --> 00:15:03 to slide away
00:15:03 --> 00:15:06 and then it plummeted
00:15:06 --> 00:15:07 because Isaiah
00:15:07 --> 00:15:08 marks his time
00:15:08 --> 00:15:09 in chapter 6
00:15:09 --> 00:15:11 with this terrible event.
00:15:12 --> 00:15:13 In the year
00:15:13 --> 00:15:14 King Uzziah
00:15:14 --> 00:15:15 died.
00:15:17 --> 00:15:18 Here's why you need
00:15:18 --> 00:15:19 to pay attention
00:15:19 --> 00:15:20 to Isaiah 6.
00:15:20 --> 00:15:22 In the year
00:15:22 --> 00:15:23 King Uzziah
00:15:23 --> 00:15:24 died,
00:15:24 --> 00:15:25 when fear
00:15:25 --> 00:15:25 was raining
00:15:25 --> 00:15:27 and everyone
00:15:27 --> 00:15:28 began to realise
00:15:28 --> 00:15:28 that they might
00:15:28 --> 00:15:29 not have any
00:15:29 --> 00:15:30 hope for their
00:15:30 --> 00:15:31 future,
00:15:32 --> 00:15:33 God miraculously
00:15:33 --> 00:15:35 showed up.
00:15:36 --> 00:15:37 He showed
00:15:37 --> 00:15:38 Isaiah
00:15:38 --> 00:15:39 someone
00:15:39 --> 00:15:41 that would
00:15:41 --> 00:15:41 help him
00:15:41 --> 00:15:41 survive
00:15:41 --> 00:15:42 and even
00:15:42 --> 00:15:43 thrive.
00:15:44 --> 00:15:45 And our time
00:15:45 --> 00:15:46 is not Isaiah's,
00:15:46 --> 00:15:46 but
00:15:46 --> 00:15:48 after COVID,
00:15:48 --> 00:15:50 we too
00:15:50 --> 00:15:50 desperately
00:15:50 --> 00:15:51 need to see
00:15:51 --> 00:15:52 what Isaiah
00:15:52 --> 00:15:53 saw.
00:15:54 --> 00:15:55 So what did
00:15:55 --> 00:15:56 Isaiah see?
00:15:58 --> 00:15:59 Isaiah says
00:15:59 --> 00:16:01 in verse 1,
00:16:02 --> 00:16:03 I saw
00:16:03 --> 00:16:03 the Lord.
00:16:06 --> 00:16:07 Now the word
00:16:07 --> 00:16:07 here is not
00:16:07 --> 00:16:08 the common
00:16:08 --> 00:16:09 Old Testament
00:16:09 --> 00:16:11 Lord
00:16:11 --> 00:16:12 in capital
00:16:12 --> 00:16:12 letters,
00:16:13 --> 00:16:14 which is
00:16:14 --> 00:16:14 in Hebrew
00:16:14 --> 00:16:16 that's Yahweh,
00:16:16 --> 00:16:17 Israel's
00:16:17 --> 00:16:18 special
00:16:18 --> 00:16:19 name
00:16:19 --> 00:16:20 for God.
00:16:20 --> 00:16:21 Rather,
00:16:21 --> 00:16:22 Israel is
00:16:22 --> 00:16:23 literally saying,
00:16:24 --> 00:16:25 in the year
00:16:25 --> 00:16:25 King Uzziah
00:16:25 --> 00:16:26 died,
00:16:27 --> 00:16:28 I saw
00:16:28 --> 00:16:29 the King,
00:16:30 --> 00:16:32 the Lord.
00:16:34 --> 00:16:35 The scene
00:16:35 --> 00:16:35 is like
00:16:35 --> 00:16:38 heaven
00:16:38 --> 00:16:39 smashed
00:16:39 --> 00:16:39 down into
00:16:39 --> 00:16:40 the temple
00:16:40 --> 00:16:43 as Isaiah
00:16:43 --> 00:16:44 walked in
00:16:44 --> 00:16:45 one day.
00:16:46 --> 00:16:46 We have a
00:16:46 --> 00:16:47 couple of
00:16:47 --> 00:16:47 visitors who
00:16:47 --> 00:16:47 I've met
00:16:47 --> 00:16:48 this morning.
00:16:48 --> 00:16:49 Imagine you
00:16:49 --> 00:16:50 show up to
00:16:50 --> 00:16:50 church,
00:16:50 --> 00:16:51 you take a
00:16:51 --> 00:16:52 step inside
00:16:52 --> 00:16:53 and you
00:16:53 --> 00:16:54 see
00:16:54 --> 00:16:55 this.
00:17:00 --> 00:17:00 Isaiah
00:17:00 --> 00:17:01 sees the
00:17:01 --> 00:17:01 Lord,
00:17:02 --> 00:17:02 the King,
00:17:03 --> 00:17:04 on a throne,
00:17:04 --> 00:17:05 on a high
00:17:05 --> 00:17:05 platform,
00:17:07 --> 00:17:07 and His
00:17:07 --> 00:17:08 robe
00:17:08 --> 00:17:09 filled
00:17:09 --> 00:17:10 the entire
00:17:10 --> 00:17:11 floor.
00:17:12 --> 00:17:13 The temple
00:17:13 --> 00:17:13 was about
00:17:13 --> 00:17:14 the size
00:17:14 --> 00:17:14 of
00:17:14 --> 00:17:15 the
00:17:15 --> 00:17:17 floor
00:17:17 --> 00:17:18 space,
00:17:18 --> 00:17:19 the outer
00:17:19 --> 00:17:20 grassy knoll
00:17:20 --> 00:17:21 area of
00:17:21 --> 00:17:21 Chatswood
00:17:21 --> 00:17:22 Concourse.
00:17:23 --> 00:17:23 Or maybe
00:17:23 --> 00:17:24 picture a
00:17:24 --> 00:17:25 football field,
00:17:25 --> 00:17:26 a soccer
00:17:26 --> 00:17:26 field,
00:17:27 --> 00:17:28 football,
00:17:28 --> 00:17:28 soccer.
00:17:29 --> 00:17:30 But a
00:17:30 --> 00:17:30 soccer field,
00:17:32 --> 00:17:33 that's
00:17:33 --> 00:17:35 the size
00:17:35 --> 00:17:36 of the
00:17:36 --> 00:17:36 space
00:17:36 --> 00:17:37 and God's
00:17:37 --> 00:17:38 majestic
00:17:38 --> 00:17:39 robe,
00:17:39 --> 00:17:41 symbol of
00:17:41 --> 00:17:41 His
00:17:41 --> 00:17:43 power and
00:17:43 --> 00:17:44 impressiveness,
00:17:44 --> 00:17:45 fills that
00:17:45 --> 00:17:45 old space.
00:17:46 --> 00:17:47 Not only is it
00:17:47 --> 00:17:48 totally impractical,
00:17:48 --> 00:17:49 but it's just
00:17:49 --> 00:17:50 incredible.
00:17:52 --> 00:17:53 God,
00:17:54 --> 00:17:54 the Lord,
00:17:55 --> 00:17:56 the King,
00:17:56 --> 00:17:57 is beyond
00:17:57 --> 00:17:58 impressive.
00:17:59 --> 00:17:59 And Isaiah
00:17:59 --> 00:18:00 knew who He
00:18:00 --> 00:18:00 was immediately.
00:18:00 --> 00:18:00 King.
00:18:00 --> 00:18:05 And then Isaiah
00:18:05 --> 00:18:07 sees who
00:18:07 --> 00:18:08 attends this
00:18:08 --> 00:18:08 King,
00:18:10 --> 00:18:10 the
00:18:10 --> 00:18:11 Seraphim.
00:18:14 --> 00:18:16 Two beings
00:18:16 --> 00:18:17 stand huge
00:18:17 --> 00:18:19 above the
00:18:19 --> 00:18:19 King.
00:18:19 --> 00:18:19 King.
00:18:21 --> 00:18:22 They have
00:18:22 --> 00:18:22 six wings,
00:18:24 --> 00:18:24 covering
00:18:24 --> 00:18:25 themselves
00:18:25 --> 00:18:25 with four
00:18:25 --> 00:18:26 and flying
00:18:26 --> 00:18:27 with two,
00:18:27 --> 00:18:28 uniquely
00:18:28 --> 00:18:29 created for
00:18:29 --> 00:18:30 this throne
00:18:30 --> 00:18:30 room worship.
00:18:32 --> 00:18:33 Have a
00:18:33 --> 00:18:33 look
00:18:33 --> 00:18:36 in your
00:18:36 --> 00:18:36 Bible
00:18:36 --> 00:18:38 at how
00:18:38 --> 00:18:38 they're
00:18:38 --> 00:18:38 described.
00:18:40 --> 00:18:40 Have a look
00:18:40 --> 00:18:40 right now.
00:18:40 --> 00:18:43 can you
00:18:43 --> 00:18:44 picture that?
00:18:46 --> 00:18:47 Can you
00:18:47 --> 00:18:47 imagine
00:18:47 --> 00:18:49 what Isaiah
00:18:49 --> 00:18:50 is describing
00:18:50 --> 00:18:51 in only a
00:18:51 --> 00:18:51 few words?
00:18:51 --> 00:18:55 I googled
00:18:55 --> 00:18:55 it this
00:18:55 --> 00:18:56 week.
00:18:56 --> 00:18:57 I'm more
00:18:57 --> 00:18:58 confused than
00:18:58 --> 00:18:58 ever before
00:18:58 --> 00:18:59 about how
00:18:59 --> 00:18:59 these things
00:18:59 --> 00:19:00 look.
00:19:00 --> 00:19:01 And I can
00:19:01 --> 00:19:01 tell you
00:19:01 --> 00:19:02 that no
00:19:02 --> 00:19:03 artificial
00:19:03 --> 00:19:03 intelligence
00:19:03 --> 00:19:04 computer is
00:19:04 --> 00:19:04 going to be
00:19:04 --> 00:19:05 able to
00:19:05 --> 00:19:05 give me
00:19:05 --> 00:19:06 the picture
00:19:06 --> 00:19:06 that's any
00:19:06 --> 00:19:07 more impressive,
00:19:08 --> 00:19:10 not even
00:19:10 --> 00:19:11 getting close
00:19:11 --> 00:19:12 to the
00:19:12 --> 00:19:13 amazing
00:19:13 --> 00:19:14 sight that
00:19:14 --> 00:19:14 this would
00:19:14 --> 00:19:15 have been
00:19:15 --> 00:19:15 for Isaiah.
00:19:17 --> 00:19:18 But these
00:19:18 --> 00:19:20 two Seraphim,
00:19:20 --> 00:19:21 they call
00:19:21 --> 00:19:21 to one
00:19:21 --> 00:19:21 another.
00:19:23 --> 00:19:24 Their job
00:19:24 --> 00:19:25 is to speak
00:19:25 --> 00:19:25 about what
00:19:25 --> 00:19:26 is true.
00:19:27 --> 00:19:27 They don't
00:19:27 --> 00:19:28 qualify anything,
00:19:28 --> 00:19:29 there's no
00:19:29 --> 00:19:29 nuance.
00:19:30 --> 00:19:31 They're like
00:19:31 --> 00:19:31 a toddler
00:19:31 --> 00:19:33 who when
00:19:33 --> 00:19:33 a plane
00:19:33 --> 00:19:34 flies overhead
00:19:34 --> 00:19:35 just yells
00:19:35 --> 00:19:35 at the top
00:19:35 --> 00:19:36 of their
00:19:36 --> 00:19:36 voice,
00:19:36 --> 00:19:36 no matter
00:19:36 --> 00:19:36 what's
00:19:36 --> 00:19:37 happening,
00:19:37 --> 00:19:37 no matter
00:19:37 --> 00:19:38 what they
00:19:38 --> 00:19:38 should be
00:19:38 --> 00:19:38 doing,
00:19:39 --> 00:19:39 no matter
00:19:39 --> 00:19:39 if it's
00:19:39 --> 00:19:40 quiet,
00:19:40 --> 00:19:40 they just
00:19:40 --> 00:19:40 go,
00:19:41 --> 00:19:41 plane!
00:19:43 --> 00:19:43 Because
00:19:43 --> 00:19:43 there's a
00:19:43 --> 00:19:44 plane.
00:19:45 --> 00:19:46 Or if
00:19:46 --> 00:19:46 they're
00:19:46 --> 00:19:46 standing in
00:19:46 --> 00:19:47 the kitchen
00:19:47 --> 00:19:49 and you're
00:19:49 --> 00:19:50 trying to
00:19:50 --> 00:19:50 get them
00:19:50 --> 00:19:51 to listen
00:19:51 --> 00:19:53 and they
00:19:53 --> 00:19:54 point to
00:19:54 --> 00:19:54 the oven
00:19:54 --> 00:19:54 and they
00:19:54 --> 00:19:55 just yell
00:19:55 --> 00:19:55 hot!
00:19:56 --> 00:19:57 Just because
00:19:57 --> 00:19:58 that's
00:19:58 --> 00:19:58 true.
00:20:01 --> 00:20:01 These
00:20:01 --> 00:20:02 creatures
00:20:02 --> 00:20:02 simply
00:20:02 --> 00:20:03 exist
00:20:03 --> 00:20:04 to declare
00:20:04 --> 00:20:05 the obvious,
00:20:06 --> 00:20:07 the incredible
00:20:07 --> 00:20:09 majesty of
00:20:09 --> 00:20:09 the king
00:20:09 --> 00:20:09 that they
00:20:09 --> 00:20:10 serve.
00:20:10 --> 00:20:10 Here's what
00:20:10 --> 00:20:10 they say,
00:20:11 --> 00:20:11 verse 3,
00:20:11 --> 00:20:13 holy,
00:20:13 --> 00:20:13 holy,
00:20:14 --> 00:20:14 holy,
00:20:14 --> 00:20:15 holy,
00:20:15 --> 00:20:16 holy is
00:20:16 --> 00:20:17 the Lord
00:20:17 --> 00:20:18 of hosts.
00:20:18 --> 00:20:19 The whole
00:20:19 --> 00:20:19 earth is
00:20:19 --> 00:20:20 full of
00:20:20 --> 00:20:21 his glory.
00:20:23 --> 00:20:24 Their
00:20:24 --> 00:20:24 foundation
00:20:24 --> 00:20:25 shaking
00:20:25 --> 00:20:26 voices
00:20:26 --> 00:20:26 declare
00:20:26 --> 00:20:27 who God
00:20:27 --> 00:20:28 is.
00:20:28 --> 00:20:29 He's
00:20:29 --> 00:20:29 holy,
00:20:30 --> 00:20:32 but he's
00:20:32 --> 00:20:32 not just
00:20:32 --> 00:20:33 holy.
00:20:33 --> 00:20:33 holy.
00:20:36 --> 00:20:36 In
00:20:36 --> 00:20:36 Hebrew
00:20:36 --> 00:20:37 conversation,
00:20:38 --> 00:20:38 repeating
00:20:38 --> 00:20:39 a word
00:20:39 --> 00:20:40 twice
00:20:40 --> 00:20:43 emphasizes
00:20:43 --> 00:20:44 its quality.
00:20:45 --> 00:20:45 In
00:20:45 --> 00:20:46 2 Kings
00:20:46 --> 00:20:46 25,
00:20:48 --> 00:20:48 there are
00:20:48 --> 00:20:49 bowls
00:20:49 --> 00:20:49 described,
00:20:50 --> 00:20:50 and they're
00:20:50 --> 00:20:51 not just
00:20:51 --> 00:20:52 gold bowls,
00:20:52 --> 00:20:53 but they're
00:20:53 --> 00:20:54 gold gold.
00:20:56 --> 00:20:57 And in
00:20:57 --> 00:20:57 English,
00:20:58 --> 00:20:58 that would
00:20:58 --> 00:20:59 be purest
00:20:59 --> 00:21:00 gold,
00:21:00 --> 00:21:01 or finest
00:21:01 --> 00:21:02 gold.
00:21:05 --> 00:21:05 Jesus,
00:21:06 --> 00:21:07 in the
00:21:07 --> 00:21:07 Gospels,
00:21:07 --> 00:21:08 is said to
00:21:08 --> 00:21:08 have often
00:21:08 --> 00:21:10 begun his
00:21:10 --> 00:21:11 preaching with
00:21:11 --> 00:21:12 truly,
00:21:12 --> 00:21:12 truly,
00:21:13 --> 00:21:15 which means
00:21:15 --> 00:21:17 this is
00:21:17 --> 00:21:17 the truest
00:21:17 --> 00:21:18 truth.
00:21:20 --> 00:21:20 The
00:21:20 --> 00:21:21 equivalent
00:21:21 --> 00:21:21 would be
00:21:21 --> 00:21:22 if a
00:21:22 --> 00:21:22 married couple
00:21:22 --> 00:21:23 are getting
00:21:23 --> 00:21:23 married over
00:21:23 --> 00:21:24 here,
00:21:25 --> 00:21:26 and the
00:21:26 --> 00:21:27 ceremony's
00:21:27 --> 00:21:27 about to
00:21:27 --> 00:21:28 start,
00:21:28 --> 00:21:29 and the
00:21:29 --> 00:21:29 brides
00:21:29 --> 00:21:30 come down
00:21:30 --> 00:21:30 the aisle,
00:21:31 --> 00:21:32 and the
00:21:32 --> 00:21:32 blubbering
00:21:32 --> 00:21:33 mess of
00:21:33 --> 00:21:33 the groom
00:21:33 --> 00:21:34 is standing
00:21:34 --> 00:21:34 there,
00:21:35 --> 00:21:35 and he
00:21:35 --> 00:21:36 takes her
00:21:36 --> 00:21:37 hand and
00:21:37 --> 00:21:37 says,
00:21:38 --> 00:21:38 you are
00:21:38 --> 00:21:38 beautiful,
00:21:39 --> 00:21:39 beautiful.
00:21:41 --> 00:21:42 Or,
00:21:42 --> 00:21:42 like my
00:21:42 --> 00:21:44 daughter said
00:21:44 --> 00:21:45 to me a
00:21:45 --> 00:21:45 couple of
00:21:45 --> 00:21:46 weeks ago,
00:21:47 --> 00:21:47 this is not
00:21:47 --> 00:21:47 quite the
00:21:47 --> 00:21:48 same,
00:21:48 --> 00:21:48 but it's
00:21:48 --> 00:21:48 nearly there,
00:21:48 --> 00:21:49 in a world
00:21:49 --> 00:21:49 of fake
00:21:49 --> 00:21:50 news,
00:21:50 --> 00:21:50 what you
00:21:50 --> 00:21:50 have to
00:21:50 --> 00:21:51 do now
00:21:51 --> 00:21:51 is to
00:21:51 --> 00:21:52 say,
00:21:52 --> 00:21:53 this is
00:21:53 --> 00:21:54 a true
00:21:54 --> 00:21:54 fact.
00:21:58 --> 00:21:59 A fact
00:21:59 --> 00:21:59 is a
00:21:59 --> 00:21:59 fact,
00:21:59 --> 00:22:00 fact,
00:22:00 --> 00:22:00 but we
00:22:00 --> 00:22:00 don't say
00:22:00 --> 00:22:01 fact,
00:22:01 --> 00:22:01 fact,
00:22:01 --> 00:22:01 we now
00:22:01 --> 00:22:02 say true
00:22:02 --> 00:22:02 fact,
00:22:03 --> 00:22:03 or this
00:22:03 --> 00:22:04 is news,
00:22:04 --> 00:22:05 news.
00:22:07 --> 00:22:08 But the
00:22:08 --> 00:22:08 Israelites
00:22:08 --> 00:22:09 would never
00:22:09 --> 00:22:09 repeat a
00:22:09 --> 00:22:10 word three
00:22:10 --> 00:22:10 times,
00:22:11 --> 00:22:11 wouldn't make
00:22:11 --> 00:22:12 sense,
00:22:13 --> 00:22:14 unless
00:22:14 --> 00:22:16 something is
00:22:16 --> 00:22:17 so impressive,
00:22:18 --> 00:22:19 it doesn't
00:22:19 --> 00:22:20 happen anywhere
00:22:20 --> 00:22:20 else in the
00:22:20 --> 00:22:20 Bible,
00:22:22 --> 00:22:23 unless they're
00:22:23 --> 00:22:24 talking about
00:22:24 --> 00:22:26 God's
00:22:26 --> 00:22:26 holiness.
00:22:26 --> 00:22:27 holiness.
00:22:28 --> 00:22:28 He's not
00:22:28 --> 00:22:28 just holy,
00:22:29 --> 00:22:29 he's not
00:22:29 --> 00:22:30 just holiest,
00:22:30 --> 00:22:31 but holy,
00:22:32 --> 00:22:32 holy,
00:22:33 --> 00:22:33 holy.
00:22:35 --> 00:22:36 Holiness is
00:22:36 --> 00:22:36 the defining
00:22:36 --> 00:22:38 attribute of
00:22:38 --> 00:22:38 the king.
00:22:41 --> 00:22:42 This holiness
00:22:42 --> 00:22:43 is not just
00:22:43 --> 00:22:44 a goodness
00:22:44 --> 00:22:45 or a
00:22:45 --> 00:22:45 righteousness,
00:22:46 --> 00:22:46 though it
00:22:46 --> 00:22:46 is,
00:22:47 --> 00:22:48 but it also
00:22:48 --> 00:22:49 describes this
00:22:49 --> 00:22:49 king's
00:22:49 --> 00:22:51 transcendence,
00:22:51 --> 00:22:52 his all-ruling
00:22:52 --> 00:22:52 authority,
00:22:53 --> 00:22:53 his complete
00:22:53 --> 00:22:55 and incomparable
00:22:55 --> 00:22:55 majesty.
00:22:57 --> 00:22:57 He's totally
00:22:57 --> 00:22:58 set apart from
00:22:58 --> 00:22:59 anything else,
00:22:59 --> 00:23:00 in perfection,
00:23:01 --> 00:23:01 in power,
00:23:01 --> 00:23:02 and in wisdom.
00:23:03 --> 00:23:04 Nothing is
00:23:04 --> 00:23:06 holy compared
00:23:06 --> 00:23:06 to him.
00:23:07 --> 00:23:08 He's the
00:23:08 --> 00:23:09 three times
00:23:09 --> 00:23:10 holy king.
00:23:11 --> 00:23:11 He's so much
00:23:11 --> 00:23:12 more than
00:23:12 --> 00:23:14 our languages
00:23:14 --> 00:23:15 can capture.
00:23:18 --> 00:23:19 But this is
00:23:19 --> 00:23:20 already a big
00:23:20 --> 00:23:22 problem for
00:23:22 --> 00:23:23 Isaiah.
00:23:24 --> 00:23:25 Isaiah's
00:23:25 --> 00:23:26 fallen body
00:23:26 --> 00:23:27 is buckling.
00:23:27 --> 00:23:28 His senses
00:23:28 --> 00:23:29 are searing
00:23:29 --> 00:23:29 with God's
00:23:29 --> 00:23:30 holiness.
00:23:30 --> 00:23:31 The sound
00:23:31 --> 00:23:31 of the voices,
00:23:32 --> 00:23:32 the smell
00:23:32 --> 00:23:33 of the smoke,
00:23:33 --> 00:23:34 the ground
00:23:34 --> 00:23:34 quaking under
00:23:34 --> 00:23:35 his feet,
00:23:35 --> 00:23:36 the bending
00:23:36 --> 00:23:37 beams of
00:23:37 --> 00:23:37 the walls.
00:23:39 --> 00:23:40 And Isaiah's
00:23:40 --> 00:23:41 cry in response
00:23:41 --> 00:23:42 to the holiest
00:23:42 --> 00:23:43 holiness of
00:23:43 --> 00:23:44 God,
00:23:44 --> 00:23:44 the king,
00:23:45 --> 00:23:45 is,
00:23:47 --> 00:23:48 woe to
00:23:48 --> 00:23:48 me,
00:23:49 --> 00:23:50 I am
00:23:50 --> 00:23:50 ruined.
00:23:52 --> 00:23:52 And there's
00:23:52 --> 00:23:52 that word
00:23:52 --> 00:23:53 again.
00:23:53 --> 00:23:57 our melodies
00:23:57 --> 00:23:57 from our
00:23:57 --> 00:23:58 overture
00:23:58 --> 00:24:00 prepared us.
00:24:01 --> 00:24:01 But now
00:24:01 --> 00:24:02 that melody
00:24:02 --> 00:24:02 is ringing
00:24:02 --> 00:24:03 out in a
00:24:03 --> 00:24:03 scene that's
00:24:03 --> 00:24:04 not about
00:24:04 --> 00:24:04 the whole
00:24:04 --> 00:24:04 nation of
00:24:04 --> 00:24:05 Israel,
00:24:05 --> 00:24:05 it's just
00:24:05 --> 00:24:06 about one
00:24:06 --> 00:24:06 man.
00:24:06 --> 00:24:07 It's just
00:24:07 --> 00:24:08 about Isaiah.
00:24:09 --> 00:24:10 He realises
00:24:10 --> 00:24:11 that he is
00:24:11 --> 00:24:13 part of
00:24:13 --> 00:24:14 Israel's
00:24:14 --> 00:24:14 deserving
00:24:14 --> 00:24:15 of ruin.
00:24:15 --> 00:24:17 God has
00:24:17 --> 00:24:18 promised
00:24:18 --> 00:24:19 that what is
00:24:19 --> 00:24:19 happening for
00:24:19 --> 00:24:20 Israel,
00:24:20 --> 00:24:20 because they
00:24:20 --> 00:24:21 do not
00:24:21 --> 00:24:21 turn to
00:24:21 --> 00:24:21 him,
00:24:22 --> 00:24:23 and will
00:24:23 --> 00:24:23 not turn
00:24:23 --> 00:24:23 to him,
00:24:24 --> 00:24:24 he's a
00:24:24 --> 00:24:25 part of
00:24:25 --> 00:24:25 that
00:24:25 --> 00:24:27 uncleanness
00:24:27 --> 00:24:27 that leads
00:24:27 --> 00:24:28 to that
00:24:28 --> 00:24:28 horrible,
00:24:29 --> 00:24:30 horrible fate
00:24:30 --> 00:24:30 that is
00:24:30 --> 00:24:31 coming.
00:24:31 --> 00:24:32 And he
00:24:32 --> 00:24:33 literally says
00:24:33 --> 00:24:33 in Hebrew,
00:24:33 --> 00:24:34 I am
00:24:34 --> 00:24:35 disintegrating.
00:24:37 --> 00:24:38 All that is
00:24:38 --> 00:24:38 me is
00:24:38 --> 00:24:39 falling apart.
00:24:41 --> 00:24:42 His very
00:24:42 --> 00:24:42 identity,
00:24:43 --> 00:24:43 his strength
00:24:43 --> 00:24:44 and reputation,
00:24:45 --> 00:24:46 everything is
00:24:46 --> 00:24:46 undone
00:24:46 --> 00:24:49 before this
00:24:49 --> 00:24:50 holy God.
00:24:51 --> 00:24:51 And when he
00:24:51 --> 00:24:52 sees God's
00:24:52 --> 00:24:52 holiness,
00:24:53 --> 00:24:54 he immediately
00:24:54 --> 00:24:55 discovers how
00:24:55 --> 00:24:57 unsafe he is
00:24:57 --> 00:24:59 before the
00:24:59 --> 00:24:59 king.
00:24:59 --> 00:25:00 the smoke
00:25:00 --> 00:25:01 and the
00:25:01 --> 00:25:01 noise and
00:25:01 --> 00:25:02 the earthquake,
00:25:02 --> 00:25:02 they're not
00:25:02 --> 00:25:03 just epic.
00:25:04 --> 00:25:04 It's not
00:25:04 --> 00:25:04 just an
00:25:04 --> 00:25:05 impressive
00:25:05 --> 00:25:06 smoke and
00:25:06 --> 00:25:06 light show
00:25:06 --> 00:25:07 at the
00:25:07 --> 00:25:08 beginning of
00:25:08 --> 00:25:08 this
00:25:08 --> 00:25:09 production.
00:25:10 --> 00:25:10 It's a
00:25:10 --> 00:25:11 prequel to
00:25:11 --> 00:25:12 divine
00:25:12 --> 00:25:13 wrath.
00:25:15 --> 00:25:15 Isaiah
00:25:15 --> 00:25:17 was a
00:25:17 --> 00:25:17 preacher,
00:25:17 --> 00:25:18 he's a
00:25:18 --> 00:25:18 prophet,
00:25:18 --> 00:25:19 he spoke
00:25:19 --> 00:25:20 to kings,
00:25:21 --> 00:25:21 he was
00:25:21 --> 00:25:22 known.
00:25:23 --> 00:25:24 His lips
00:25:24 --> 00:25:25 were laced
00:25:25 --> 00:25:26 with the
00:25:26 --> 00:25:27 very words
00:25:27 --> 00:25:27 of God,
00:25:28 --> 00:25:28 but even
00:25:28 --> 00:25:29 Isaiah,
00:25:29 --> 00:25:31 strength and
00:25:31 --> 00:25:32 good life
00:25:32 --> 00:25:33 couldn't stand
00:25:33 --> 00:25:34 up to a
00:25:34 --> 00:25:35 comparison
00:25:35 --> 00:25:39 of the
00:25:39 --> 00:25:39 creator
00:25:39 --> 00:25:41 and judge.
00:25:43 --> 00:25:44 This is
00:25:44 --> 00:25:44 not the
00:25:44 --> 00:25:45 vision Isaiah
00:25:45 --> 00:25:46 might have
00:25:46 --> 00:25:46 wanted in
00:25:46 --> 00:25:47 the year
00:25:47 --> 00:25:48 Uzziah died,
00:25:48 --> 00:25:48 but it's
00:25:48 --> 00:25:49 what he
00:25:49 --> 00:25:49 needed.
00:25:50 --> 00:25:50 He needed
00:25:50 --> 00:25:51 to see
00:25:51 --> 00:25:53 that Israel,
00:25:53 --> 00:25:54 that Judah,
00:25:54 --> 00:25:55 needed a
00:25:55 --> 00:25:55 miracle of
00:25:55 --> 00:25:57 grace from
00:25:57 --> 00:25:58 the Lord,
00:25:58 --> 00:26:00 the king.
00:26:03 --> 00:26:04 If we
00:26:04 --> 00:26:04 were to
00:26:04 --> 00:26:05 see the
00:26:05 --> 00:26:06 holiness of
00:26:06 --> 00:26:06 God,
00:26:08 --> 00:26:10 the true
00:26:10 --> 00:26:10 holiness of
00:26:10 --> 00:26:11 God in
00:26:11 --> 00:26:11 that moment,
00:26:11 --> 00:26:12 we would
00:26:12 --> 00:26:13 react just
00:26:13 --> 00:26:14 like Isaiah.
00:26:14 --> 00:26:16 Know in a
00:26:16 --> 00:26:17 moment that
00:26:17 --> 00:26:18 our future is
00:26:18 --> 00:26:19 totally hopeless.
00:26:20 --> 00:26:21 We haven't
00:26:21 --> 00:26:21 measured up to
00:26:21 --> 00:26:22 God's holiness.
00:26:22 --> 00:26:22 holiness.
00:26:24 --> 00:26:25 In fact,
00:26:25 --> 00:26:26 we only have
00:26:26 --> 00:26:27 our sin
00:26:27 --> 00:26:28 revealed in
00:26:28 --> 00:26:29 his holy
00:26:29 --> 00:26:29 light.
00:26:30 --> 00:26:30 We too
00:26:30 --> 00:26:31 are completely
00:26:31 --> 00:26:33 exposed before
00:26:33 --> 00:26:33 the king,
00:26:34 --> 00:26:34 and we too
00:26:34 --> 00:26:35 need that same
00:26:35 --> 00:26:36 miracle of
00:26:36 --> 00:26:37 grace.
00:26:37 --> 00:26:38 So what
00:26:38 --> 00:26:38 happens next?
00:26:40 --> 00:26:40 Don't worry,
00:26:40 --> 00:26:41 there's no cliffhanger,
00:26:42 --> 00:26:43 but I am going to
00:26:43 --> 00:26:44 start by pointing out
00:26:44 --> 00:26:45 what does not
00:26:45 --> 00:26:45 happen next.
00:26:45 --> 00:26:50 I don't know
00:26:50 --> 00:26:50 whether it's
00:26:50 --> 00:26:51 Hollywood or
00:26:51 --> 00:26:52 just the stories
00:26:52 --> 00:26:53 that we like or
00:26:53 --> 00:26:54 the stories we
00:26:54 --> 00:26:55 read or the
00:26:55 --> 00:26:56 ways we hope
00:26:56 --> 00:26:57 things will end,
00:26:58 --> 00:26:58 but what does
00:26:58 --> 00:27:01 not happen is
00:27:01 --> 00:27:02 Isaiah's not
00:27:02 --> 00:27:03 secretly revealed as
00:27:03 --> 00:27:04 good enough to
00:27:04 --> 00:27:05 stand before God.
00:27:06 --> 00:27:07 There's no secret
00:27:07 --> 00:27:08 magic words that
00:27:08 --> 00:27:10 he went found on
00:27:10 --> 00:27:10 a scroll,
00:27:11 --> 00:27:11 on a mountain,
00:27:11 --> 00:27:12 in a cave,
00:27:12 --> 00:27:14 to be able to
00:27:14 --> 00:27:15 stand before God,
00:27:16 --> 00:27:17 and God doesn't
00:27:17 --> 00:27:20 see some kind
00:27:20 --> 00:27:20 of mysterious
00:27:20 --> 00:27:22 good in him,
00:27:23 --> 00:27:23 like in some
00:27:23 --> 00:27:24 Hollywood script,
00:27:25 --> 00:27:26 because God's
00:27:26 --> 00:27:27 holy,
00:27:28 --> 00:27:30 there's no
00:27:30 --> 00:27:31 optimistic way
00:27:31 --> 00:27:31 out.
00:27:32 --> 00:27:33 Isaiah's sin,
00:27:34 --> 00:27:35 everyone's sin,
00:27:36 --> 00:27:37 must be paid
00:27:37 --> 00:27:37 for.
00:27:39 --> 00:27:40 God being
00:27:40 --> 00:27:40 completely
00:27:40 --> 00:27:41 perfect and
00:27:41 --> 00:27:42 righteous,
00:27:42 --> 00:27:43 means that
00:27:43 --> 00:27:44 wrath is the
00:27:44 --> 00:27:45 only option,
00:27:46 --> 00:27:47 and Isaiah
00:27:47 --> 00:27:48 should die
00:27:48 --> 00:27:49 right there.
00:27:52 --> 00:27:52 But he
00:27:52 --> 00:27:53 doesn't.
00:27:56 --> 00:27:56 Have a look
00:27:56 --> 00:27:57 with me at
00:27:57 --> 00:27:57 verse 6.
00:28:02 --> 00:28:03 Then one of
00:28:03 --> 00:28:03 the seraphim
00:28:03 --> 00:28:04 flew to me
00:28:04 --> 00:28:04 with a live
00:28:04 --> 00:28:05 coal in his
00:28:05 --> 00:28:05 hand,
00:28:06 --> 00:28:06 which he had
00:28:06 --> 00:28:07 taken with
00:28:07 --> 00:28:07 tongs from
00:28:07 --> 00:28:08 the altar,
00:28:09 --> 00:28:10 and with it
00:28:10 --> 00:28:11 he touched
00:28:11 --> 00:28:12 my mouth
00:28:12 --> 00:28:12 and said,
00:28:13 --> 00:28:14 see this
00:28:14 --> 00:28:14 has touched
00:28:14 --> 00:28:15 your lips,
00:28:16 --> 00:28:16 your guilt
00:28:16 --> 00:28:17 is taken
00:28:17 --> 00:28:17 away,
00:28:18 --> 00:28:18 and your
00:28:18 --> 00:28:19 sin
00:28:19 --> 00:28:20 atoned
00:28:20 --> 00:28:21 for.
00:28:22 --> 00:28:23 In Hebrew,
00:28:24 --> 00:28:24 atoned for
00:28:24 --> 00:28:25 literally means
00:28:25 --> 00:28:26 here,
00:28:26 --> 00:28:27 paid for.
00:28:28 --> 00:28:29 God
00:28:29 --> 00:28:30 has paid
00:28:30 --> 00:28:32 for Isaiah's
00:28:32 --> 00:28:33 sins
00:28:33 --> 00:28:34 in this
00:28:34 --> 00:28:34 moment.
00:28:34 --> 00:28:35 God's
00:28:35 --> 00:28:35 wrath.
00:28:35 --> 00:28:37 How?
00:28:37 --> 00:28:37 How?
00:28:39 --> 00:28:40 If this
00:28:40 --> 00:28:40 is not
00:28:40 --> 00:28:40 done
00:28:40 --> 00:28:41 fairly,
00:28:42 --> 00:28:43 then God
00:28:43 --> 00:28:43 is not
00:28:43 --> 00:28:44 holy.
00:28:45 --> 00:28:45 This is
00:28:45 --> 00:28:46 really important.
00:28:47 --> 00:28:47 How can
00:28:47 --> 00:28:48 Isaiah's
00:28:48 --> 00:28:48 sins be
00:28:48 --> 00:28:49 paid for?
00:28:51 --> 00:28:51 In the
00:28:51 --> 00:28:52 Bible,
00:28:53 --> 00:28:54 fire and
00:28:54 --> 00:28:55 smoke and
00:28:55 --> 00:28:55 flames are
00:28:55 --> 00:28:57 all imagery
00:28:57 --> 00:28:59 associated with
00:28:59 --> 00:29:00 God's wrath.
00:29:00 --> 00:29:03 a coal
00:29:03 --> 00:29:04 is that
00:29:04 --> 00:29:05 leftovers
00:29:05 --> 00:29:06 after a
00:29:06 --> 00:29:06 fire.
00:29:06 --> 00:29:07 And this
00:29:07 --> 00:29:07 coal is
00:29:07 --> 00:29:08 the leftover
00:29:08 --> 00:29:09 coal from
00:29:09 --> 00:29:09 the fires
00:29:09 --> 00:29:10 of wrath
00:29:10 --> 00:29:11 that have
00:29:11 --> 00:29:11 been spent
00:29:11 --> 00:29:12 burning up
00:29:12 --> 00:29:13 a sacrifice.
00:29:14 --> 00:29:15 In the
00:29:15 --> 00:29:15 temple,
00:29:16 --> 00:29:16 the center
00:29:16 --> 00:29:18 was the
00:29:18 --> 00:29:18 altar,
00:29:19 --> 00:29:20 where offerings
00:29:20 --> 00:29:21 were brought
00:29:21 --> 00:29:22 and burnt.
00:29:23 --> 00:29:24 A sacrifice
00:29:24 --> 00:29:24 died
00:29:24 --> 00:29:26 in a
00:29:26 --> 00:29:26 swap,
00:29:27 --> 00:29:28 a swap
00:29:28 --> 00:29:29 of judgment
00:29:29 --> 00:29:31 because the
00:29:31 --> 00:29:31 one who
00:29:31 --> 00:29:31 offered up
00:29:31 --> 00:29:32 that sacrifice
00:29:32 --> 00:29:33 had their
00:29:33 --> 00:29:34 death for
00:29:34 --> 00:29:35 their sin
00:29:35 --> 00:29:36 substituted,
00:29:37 --> 00:29:37 swapped,
00:29:38 --> 00:29:39 and paid
00:29:39 --> 00:29:40 for by
00:29:40 --> 00:29:40 that
00:29:40 --> 00:29:41 sacrifice.
00:29:43 --> 00:29:43 This
00:29:43 --> 00:29:44 atonement
00:29:44 --> 00:29:45 was at the
00:29:45 --> 00:29:46 heart of
00:29:46 --> 00:29:47 temple worship.
00:29:47 --> 00:29:48 And for
00:29:48 --> 00:29:49 the nation
00:29:49 --> 00:29:49 of Israel,
00:29:49 --> 00:29:50 it ritually
00:29:50 --> 00:29:51 purified
00:29:51 --> 00:29:51 someone.
00:29:53 --> 00:29:54 It never
00:29:54 --> 00:29:54 forgave them
00:29:54 --> 00:29:55 and removed
00:29:55 --> 00:29:56 their guilt
00:29:56 --> 00:29:56 for good
00:29:56 --> 00:29:56 though,
00:29:57 --> 00:29:57 because more
00:29:57 --> 00:29:58 sacrifices were
00:29:58 --> 00:29:59 always needed
00:29:59 --> 00:30:00 in season
00:30:00 --> 00:30:01 or as sins
00:30:01 --> 00:30:02 were committed.
00:30:03 --> 00:30:03 But there's
00:30:03 --> 00:30:04 no mention
00:30:04 --> 00:30:06 here of
00:30:06 --> 00:30:07 what died
00:30:07 --> 00:30:08 on the
00:30:08 --> 00:30:08 altar.
00:30:11 --> 00:30:11 God
00:30:11 --> 00:30:14 offered it.
00:30:15 --> 00:30:16 Israel didn't
00:30:16 --> 00:30:16 bring anything
00:30:16 --> 00:30:17 for himself
00:30:17 --> 00:30:17 to that
00:30:17 --> 00:30:18 moment.
00:30:20 --> 00:30:20 God
00:30:20 --> 00:30:21 did.
00:30:24 --> 00:30:25 A sacrifice
00:30:25 --> 00:30:25 has been
00:30:25 --> 00:30:26 burnt on
00:30:26 --> 00:30:27 the altar
00:30:27 --> 00:30:27 and the
00:30:27 --> 00:30:28 fire of
00:30:28 --> 00:30:28 wrath is
00:30:28 --> 00:30:29 out.
00:30:31 --> 00:30:31 And the
00:30:31 --> 00:30:31 coals
00:30:31 --> 00:30:33 that are
00:30:33 --> 00:30:33 left
00:30:33 --> 00:30:34 are used
00:30:34 --> 00:30:35 to show
00:30:35 --> 00:30:35 the power
00:30:35 --> 00:30:36 of that
00:30:36 --> 00:30:36 sacrifice.
00:30:37 --> 00:30:37 The
00:30:37 --> 00:30:37 leftover
00:30:37 --> 00:30:38 coal
00:30:38 --> 00:30:39 is this
00:30:39 --> 00:30:40 singeing
00:30:40 --> 00:30:40 symbol
00:30:40 --> 00:30:41 on
00:30:41 --> 00:30:41 Isaiah's
00:30:41 --> 00:30:42 lips.
00:30:45 --> 00:30:45 Isaiah's
00:30:45 --> 00:30:45 sins are
00:30:45 --> 00:30:46 atoned for
00:30:46 --> 00:30:47 and paid
00:30:47 --> 00:30:47 for by
00:30:47 --> 00:30:48 whatever
00:30:48 --> 00:30:48 or whoever
00:30:48 --> 00:30:50 paid for
00:30:50 --> 00:30:50 them
00:30:50 --> 00:30:53 on the
00:30:53 --> 00:30:53 altar.
00:30:53 --> 00:30:56 God
00:30:56 --> 00:30:56 is a
00:30:56 --> 00:30:57 holy
00:30:57 --> 00:30:57 king
00:30:57 --> 00:30:58 and sin
00:30:58 --> 00:30:59 has been
00:30:59 --> 00:30:59 justly
00:30:59 --> 00:31:00 removed
00:31:00 --> 00:31:03 and he's
00:31:03 --> 00:31:03 gracious
00:31:03 --> 00:31:04 in this.
00:31:05 --> 00:31:06 Isaiah
00:31:06 --> 00:31:06 is changed
00:31:06 --> 00:31:07 in that
00:31:07 --> 00:31:07 moment
00:31:07 --> 00:31:07 from
00:31:07 --> 00:31:08 unholy
00:31:08 --> 00:31:09 to
00:31:09 --> 00:31:10 forgiven
00:31:10 --> 00:31:10 and
00:31:10 --> 00:31:11 holy.
00:31:12 --> 00:31:13 God
00:31:13 --> 00:31:13 provides
00:31:13 --> 00:31:14 that
00:31:14 --> 00:31:14 sacrifice
00:31:14 --> 00:31:14 for
00:31:14 --> 00:31:15 forgiveness
00:31:15 --> 00:31:15 of
00:31:15 --> 00:31:16 Isaiah's
00:31:16 --> 00:31:16 sins
00:31:16 --> 00:31:17 yet
00:31:17 --> 00:31:18 Isaiah
00:31:18 --> 00:31:19 did
00:31:19 --> 00:31:19 nothing
00:31:19 --> 00:31:20 here
00:31:20 --> 00:31:21 but be
00:31:21 --> 00:31:21 afraid.
00:31:23 --> 00:31:23 He
00:31:23 --> 00:31:24 sacrificed
00:31:24 --> 00:31:24 nothing
00:31:24 --> 00:31:26 and he
00:31:26 --> 00:31:26 got this
00:31:26 --> 00:31:27 purifying
00:31:27 --> 00:31:27 forgiveness
00:31:27 --> 00:31:28 and was
00:31:28 --> 00:31:28 made
00:31:28 --> 00:31:28 holy to
00:31:28 --> 00:31:29 stand
00:31:29 --> 00:31:29 before
00:31:29 --> 00:31:29 a
00:31:29 --> 00:31:30 holy
00:31:30 --> 00:31:30 God
00:31:30 --> 00:31:31 and this
00:31:31 --> 00:31:31 is
00:31:31 --> 00:31:31 great
00:31:31 --> 00:31:31 news
00:31:31 --> 00:31:32 for him
00:31:32 --> 00:31:33 and it's
00:31:33 --> 00:31:34 also great
00:31:34 --> 00:31:34 news for
00:31:34 --> 00:31:35 Israel
00:31:35 --> 00:31:36 for all
00:31:36 --> 00:31:36 who hear
00:31:36 --> 00:31:37 it.
00:31:40 --> 00:31:40 So God
00:31:40 --> 00:31:41 asks
00:31:41 --> 00:31:42 whom
00:31:42 --> 00:31:43 shall I
00:31:43 --> 00:31:43 send?
00:31:43 --> 00:31:43 Who
00:31:43 --> 00:31:44 will go
00:31:44 --> 00:31:44 for us?
00:31:45 --> 00:31:46 And Isaiah
00:31:46 --> 00:31:46 is ready
00:31:46 --> 00:31:47 and he
00:31:47 --> 00:31:47 says
00:31:47 --> 00:31:49 me.
00:31:51 --> 00:31:51 His
00:31:51 --> 00:31:52 identity
00:31:52 --> 00:31:53 that had
00:31:53 --> 00:31:53 disintegrated
00:31:53 --> 00:31:54 before
00:31:54 --> 00:31:55 God
00:31:55 --> 00:31:55 has been
00:31:55 --> 00:31:56 rebuilt
00:31:56 --> 00:31:57 on this
00:31:57 --> 00:31:57 new
00:31:57 --> 00:31:58 solid rock
00:31:58 --> 00:31:58 this
00:31:58 --> 00:31:59 foundation
00:31:59 --> 00:32:00 of grace
00:32:00 --> 00:32:01 from
00:32:01 --> 00:32:01 the
00:32:01 --> 00:32:02 Lord
00:32:02 --> 00:32:02 the
00:32:02 --> 00:32:03 King
00:32:03 --> 00:32:04 and Isaiah's
00:32:04 --> 00:32:04 obedience
00:32:04 --> 00:32:04 is
00:32:04 --> 00:32:05 joyful
00:32:05 --> 00:32:06 he's
00:32:06 --> 00:32:06 willing
00:32:06 --> 00:32:07 to tell
00:32:07 --> 00:32:07 everyone
00:32:07 --> 00:32:08 he meets
00:32:08 --> 00:32:08 about what
00:32:08 --> 00:32:08 this
00:32:08 --> 00:32:09 King
00:32:09 --> 00:32:09 is
00:32:09 --> 00:32:09 like
00:32:09 --> 00:32:13 but
00:32:13 --> 00:32:14 will
00:32:14 --> 00:32:14 God's
00:32:14 --> 00:32:14 people
00:32:14 --> 00:32:14 hear
00:32:14 --> 00:32:16 how
00:32:16 --> 00:32:16 will
00:32:16 --> 00:32:16 God's
00:32:16 --> 00:32:17 people
00:32:17 --> 00:32:17 respond
00:32:17 --> 00:32:18 have a
00:32:18 --> 00:32:18 look at
00:32:18 --> 00:32:19 verse 9
00:32:19 --> 00:32:22 be
00:32:22 --> 00:32:22 ever
00:32:22 --> 00:32:22 hearing
00:32:22 --> 00:32:23 but never
00:32:23 --> 00:32:24 understanding
00:32:24 --> 00:32:24 be
00:32:24 --> 00:32:24 ever
00:32:24 --> 00:32:25 seeing
00:32:25 --> 00:32:25 but never
00:32:25 --> 00:32:26 perceiving
00:32:26 --> 00:32:26 make
00:32:26 --> 00:32:27 the heart
00:32:27 --> 00:32:27 of this
00:32:27 --> 00:32:27 people
00:32:27 --> 00:32:28 calloused
00:32:28 --> 00:32:28 make
00:32:28 --> 00:32:29 their ears
00:32:29 --> 00:32:29 dull
00:32:29 --> 00:32:30 and close
00:32:30 --> 00:32:30 their eyes
00:32:30 --> 00:32:31 otherwise
00:32:31 --> 00:32:31 they may
00:32:31 --> 00:32:32 see with
00:32:32 --> 00:32:32 their eyes
00:32:32 --> 00:32:32 and hear
00:32:32 --> 00:32:32 what
00:32:32 --> 00:32:33 they
00:32:33 --> 00:32:33 is
00:32:33 --> 00:32:33 and
00:32:33 --> 00:32:33 understand
00:32:33 --> 00:32:33 with
00:32:33 --> 00:32:34 their
00:32:34 --> 00:32:34 hearts
00:32:34 --> 00:32:34 and turn
00:32:34 --> 00:32:34 and be
00:32:34 --> 00:32:35 healed
00:32:35 --> 00:32:38 oh no
00:32:38 --> 00:32:39 how could
00:32:39 --> 00:32:40 this
00:32:40 --> 00:32:41 be
00:32:41 --> 00:32:43 the music's
00:32:43 --> 00:32:44 changed
00:32:44 --> 00:32:44 again
00:32:44 --> 00:32:45 we're back
00:32:45 --> 00:32:45 to that
00:32:45 --> 00:32:46 horrifying
00:32:46 --> 00:32:47 melody
00:32:47 --> 00:32:47 from the
00:32:47 --> 00:32:48 overture
00:32:48 --> 00:32:49 verse 11
00:32:49 --> 00:32:51 then I
00:32:51 --> 00:32:51 said
00:32:51 --> 00:32:52 for how
00:32:52 --> 00:32:52 long
00:32:52 --> 00:32:53 Lord
00:32:53 --> 00:32:54 has he
00:32:54 --> 00:32:55 answered
00:32:55 --> 00:32:56 till the
00:32:56 --> 00:32:56 cities
00:32:56 --> 00:32:56 line
00:32:56 --> 00:32:57 ruined
00:32:57 --> 00:32:58 without
00:32:58 --> 00:32:59 inhabitant
00:32:59 --> 00:33:00 until the
00:33:00 --> 00:33:01 houses are
00:33:01 --> 00:33:01 left
00:33:01 --> 00:33:01 deserted
00:33:01 --> 00:33:02 and the
00:33:02 --> 00:33:02 fields
00:33:02 --> 00:33:03 ruined
00:33:03 --> 00:33:04 and ravaged
00:33:04 --> 00:33:04 until the
00:33:04 --> 00:33:04 Lord has
00:33:04 --> 00:33:05 sent everyone
00:33:05 --> 00:33:06 far away
00:33:06 --> 00:33:06 and the
00:33:06 --> 00:33:07 land is
00:33:07 --> 00:33:07 utterly
00:33:07 --> 00:33:08 forsaken
00:33:08 --> 00:33:10 no
00:33:10 --> 00:33:11 Lord
00:33:11 --> 00:33:12 stop
00:33:12 --> 00:33:13 the song
00:33:13 --> 00:33:13 I know
00:33:13 --> 00:33:14 this melody
00:33:14 --> 00:33:15 change
00:33:15 --> 00:33:16 the channel
00:33:16 --> 00:33:18 is there
00:33:18 --> 00:33:18 no hope
00:33:18 --> 00:33:19 at all
00:33:19 --> 00:33:23 verse 13
00:33:23 --> 00:33:24 second half
00:33:24 --> 00:33:24 of verse 13
00:33:24 --> 00:33:26 but as the
00:33:26 --> 00:33:26 terebinth and
00:33:26 --> 00:33:27 oak leave
00:33:27 --> 00:33:28 stumps when
00:33:28 --> 00:33:28 they're cut
00:33:28 --> 00:33:29 down
00:33:29 --> 00:33:30 so the
00:33:30 --> 00:33:31 holy seed
00:33:31 --> 00:33:32 will be
00:33:32 --> 00:33:33 the stump
00:33:33 --> 00:33:34 in the
00:33:34 --> 00:33:34 land
00:33:34 --> 00:33:37 at the
00:33:37 --> 00:33:37 end of
00:33:37 --> 00:33:38 that verse
00:33:38 --> 00:33:40 all
00:33:40 --> 00:33:41 three
00:33:41 --> 00:33:42 of our
00:33:42 --> 00:33:42 melodies
00:33:42 --> 00:33:44 are playing
00:33:44 --> 00:33:44 at once
00:33:44 --> 00:33:47 it's a
00:33:47 --> 00:33:47 song of
00:33:47 --> 00:33:48 sorrow
00:33:48 --> 00:33:49 and grace
00:33:49 --> 00:33:51 and hope
00:33:51 --> 00:33:54 of wrath
00:33:54 --> 00:33:55 and justice
00:33:55 --> 00:33:56 and love
00:33:56 --> 00:33:57 all at once
00:33:57 --> 00:33:59 there is
00:33:59 --> 00:33:59 hope
00:33:59 --> 00:34:00 from the
00:34:00 --> 00:34:01 roots left
00:34:01 --> 00:34:01 in the
00:34:01 --> 00:34:02 ground
00:34:02 --> 00:34:02 the holy
00:34:02 --> 00:34:03 seed
00:34:03 --> 00:34:04 is gonna
00:34:04 --> 00:34:04 grow
00:34:04 --> 00:34:05 and there's
00:34:05 --> 00:34:06 that word
00:34:06 --> 00:34:06 again
00:34:06 --> 00:34:07 holy
00:34:07 --> 00:34:10 only God
00:34:10 --> 00:34:11 is holy
00:34:11 --> 00:34:13 unless he
00:34:13 --> 00:34:14 graciously
00:34:14 --> 00:34:15 makes
00:34:15 --> 00:34:16 someone
00:34:16 --> 00:34:16 holy
00:34:16 --> 00:34:17 by forgiving
00:34:17 --> 00:34:18 their sin
00:34:18 --> 00:34:20 so to do
00:34:20 --> 00:34:20 this
00:34:20 --> 00:34:21 God is
00:34:21 --> 00:34:22 gonna plant
00:34:22 --> 00:34:23 a holy
00:34:23 --> 00:34:23 thing
00:34:23 --> 00:34:24 in the
00:34:24 --> 00:34:24 soils
00:34:24 --> 00:34:25 of Israel
00:34:25 --> 00:34:26 holy
00:34:26 --> 00:34:27 seed
00:34:27 --> 00:34:28 and that
00:34:28 --> 00:34:28 is the
00:34:28 --> 00:34:29 hope
00:34:29 --> 00:34:30 Isaiah
00:34:30 --> 00:34:30 has in
00:34:30 --> 00:34:30 this
00:34:30 --> 00:34:30 moment
00:34:30 --> 00:34:31 even
00:34:31 --> 00:34:32 while no
00:34:32 --> 00:34:32 one's
00:34:32 --> 00:34:32 gonna
00:34:32 --> 00:34:33 listen
00:34:33 --> 00:34:33 to him
00:34:33 --> 00:34:34 all
00:34:34 --> 00:34:35 is not
00:34:35 --> 00:34:36 lost
00:34:36 --> 00:34:40 and we
00:34:40 --> 00:34:40 know
00:34:40 --> 00:34:41 who the
00:34:41 --> 00:34:41 holy
00:34:41 --> 00:34:42 seed
00:34:42 --> 00:34:43 is
00:34:43 --> 00:34:45 it is
00:34:45 --> 00:34:45 Jesus
00:34:45 --> 00:34:48 in God's
00:34:48 --> 00:34:48 son we
00:34:48 --> 00:34:49 saw
00:34:49 --> 00:34:49 this
00:34:49 --> 00:34:50 holy
00:34:50 --> 00:34:50 seed
00:34:50 --> 00:34:52 die
00:34:52 --> 00:34:53 as buried
00:34:53 --> 00:34:53 in the
00:34:53 --> 00:34:53 ground
00:34:53 --> 00:34:55 so that it
00:34:55 --> 00:34:55 could grow
00:34:55 --> 00:34:56 life
00:34:56 --> 00:34:58 the holy
00:34:58 --> 00:34:58 seed
00:34:58 --> 00:34:59 is
00:34:59 --> 00:35:00 the
00:35:00 --> 00:35:01 sacrifice
00:35:01 --> 00:35:03 Isaiah's
00:35:03 --> 00:35:03 mystery
00:35:03 --> 00:35:04 on the
00:35:04 --> 00:35:05 altar
00:35:05 --> 00:35:05 is
00:35:05 --> 00:35:06 solved
00:35:06 --> 00:35:08 Jesus
00:35:08 --> 00:35:09 was
00:35:09 --> 00:35:09 sacrificed
00:35:09 --> 00:35:10 for the
00:35:10 --> 00:35:10 sin of
00:35:10 --> 00:35:11 all who
00:35:11 --> 00:35:11 would
00:35:11 --> 00:35:11 believe
00:35:11 --> 00:35:12 in him
00:35:12 --> 00:35:13 not on
00:35:13 --> 00:35:13 the temple
00:35:13 --> 00:35:14 altar
00:35:14 --> 00:35:16 but on
00:35:16 --> 00:35:16 a timber
00:35:16 --> 00:35:17 beam
00:35:17 --> 00:35:18 on a
00:35:18 --> 00:35:18 hill
00:35:18 --> 00:35:19 where the
00:35:19 --> 00:35:20 wrath of
00:35:20 --> 00:35:20 God was
00:35:20 --> 00:35:21 endured
00:35:21 --> 00:35:22 and quenched
00:35:22 --> 00:35:24 God's
00:35:24 --> 00:35:24 holiness
00:35:24 --> 00:35:25 held
00:35:25 --> 00:35:25 true
00:35:25 --> 00:35:26 and just
00:35:26 --> 00:35:26 as was
00:35:26 --> 00:35:27 done
00:35:27 --> 00:35:28 on the
00:35:28 --> 00:35:28 altar
00:35:28 --> 00:35:30 of the
00:35:30 --> 00:35:30 cross
00:35:30 --> 00:35:32 see that's
00:35:32 --> 00:35:32 how this
00:35:32 --> 00:35:33 bridge
00:35:33 --> 00:35:35 that Isaiah
00:35:35 --> 00:35:35 is
00:35:35 --> 00:35:36 that's how
00:35:36 --> 00:35:37 it works
00:35:37 --> 00:35:38 we see from
00:35:38 --> 00:35:38 our time
00:35:38 --> 00:35:39 looking back
00:35:39 --> 00:35:42 what Isaiah
00:35:42 --> 00:35:43 and what Israel
00:35:43 --> 00:35:43 could not yet
00:35:43 --> 00:35:45 we know
00:35:45 --> 00:35:45 who that
00:35:45 --> 00:35:45 sacrifice
00:35:45 --> 00:35:46 on the
00:35:46 --> 00:35:46 altar
00:35:46 --> 00:35:47 that in
00:35:47 --> 00:35:48 this image
00:35:48 --> 00:35:49 who he
00:35:49 --> 00:35:49 was
00:35:49 --> 00:35:51 it was
00:35:51 --> 00:35:51 Jesus
00:35:51 --> 00:35:53 but unlike
00:35:53 --> 00:35:54 Isaiah
00:35:54 --> 00:35:56 we see
00:35:56 --> 00:35:57 his
00:35:57 --> 00:35:57 holy
00:35:57 --> 00:35:58 life
00:35:58 --> 00:35:58 recorded
00:35:58 --> 00:35:58 in the
00:35:58 --> 00:35:59 gospels
00:35:59 --> 00:36:00 we see
00:36:00 --> 00:36:00 our
00:36:00 --> 00:36:01 unholy
00:36:01 --> 00:36:02 ending
00:36:02 --> 00:36:03 enacted
00:36:03 --> 00:36:03 at the
00:36:03 --> 00:36:04 cross
00:36:04 --> 00:36:06 lived out
00:36:06 --> 00:36:07 and died
00:36:07 --> 00:36:08 for us
00:36:08 --> 00:36:09 what a
00:36:09 --> 00:36:09 saviour
00:36:09 --> 00:36:14 in the
00:36:14 --> 00:36:14 year
00:36:14 --> 00:36:15 King
00:36:15 --> 00:36:15 Isaiah
00:36:15 --> 00:36:15 died
00:36:15 --> 00:36:16 God
00:36:16 --> 00:36:16 revealed
00:36:16 --> 00:36:17 himself
00:36:17 --> 00:36:19 as a
00:36:19 --> 00:36:19 holy
00:36:19 --> 00:36:20 and
00:36:20 --> 00:36:20 gracious
00:36:20 --> 00:36:21 king
00:36:21 --> 00:36:22 after
00:36:22 --> 00:36:23 COVID
00:36:23 --> 00:36:23 in
00:36:23 --> 00:36:24 2023
00:36:24 --> 00:36:24 this
00:36:24 --> 00:36:25 Easter
00:36:25 --> 00:36:25 we
00:36:25 --> 00:36:26 remembered
00:36:26 --> 00:36:26 a man
00:36:26 --> 00:36:26 who was
00:36:26 --> 00:36:27 crucified
00:36:27 --> 00:36:27 on a
00:36:27 --> 00:36:27 hill
00:36:27 --> 00:36:27 outside
00:36:27 --> 00:36:28 Jerusalem
00:36:28 --> 00:36:30 and
00:36:30 --> 00:36:30 written
00:36:30 --> 00:36:31 on his
00:36:31 --> 00:36:32 cross
00:36:32 --> 00:36:33 in a
00:36:33 --> 00:36:33 sign
00:36:33 --> 00:36:34 for all
00:36:34 --> 00:36:34 to see
00:36:34 --> 00:36:35 were the
00:36:35 --> 00:36:35 words
00:36:35 --> 00:36:36 this
00:36:36 --> 00:36:36 is
00:36:36 --> 00:36:36 Jesus
00:36:36 --> 00:36:38 the
00:36:38 --> 00:36:39 King
00:36:39 --> 00:36:40 of the
00:36:40 --> 00:36:40 Jews
00:36:40 --> 00:36:44 the
00:36:44 --> 00:36:44 King
00:36:44 --> 00:36:46 was
00:36:46 --> 00:36:47 crucified
00:36:47 --> 00:36:49 the
00:36:49 --> 00:36:50 King
00:36:50 --> 00:36:51 on the
00:36:51 --> 00:36:51 throne
00:36:51 --> 00:36:52 stepped
00:36:52 --> 00:36:52 down
00:36:52 --> 00:36:54 and took
00:36:54 --> 00:36:54 off
00:36:54 --> 00:36:54 his robe
00:36:54 --> 00:36:55 of glory
00:36:55 --> 00:36:56 he made
00:36:56 --> 00:36:56 himself
00:36:56 --> 00:36:56 nothing
00:36:56 --> 00:36:57 he was
00:36:57 --> 00:36:57 born
00:36:57 --> 00:36:58 as a
00:36:58 --> 00:36:58 man
00:36:58 --> 00:36:59 he lived
00:36:59 --> 00:36:59 a holy
00:36:59 --> 00:37:00 life
00:37:00 --> 00:37:00 he was
00:37:00 --> 00:37:01 crowned
00:37:01 --> 00:37:01 not with a
00:37:01 --> 00:37:02 crown
00:37:02 --> 00:37:04 of gold
00:37:04 --> 00:37:05 but of
00:37:05 --> 00:37:06 thorns
00:37:06 --> 00:37:09 he didn't
00:37:09 --> 00:37:09 he didn't wear
00:37:09 --> 00:37:10 a robe
00:37:10 --> 00:37:12 he was
00:37:12 --> 00:37:12 stripped
00:37:12 --> 00:37:12 naked
00:37:12 --> 00:37:18 and he
00:37:18 --> 00:37:18 wore
00:37:18 --> 00:37:21 our
00:37:21 --> 00:37:21 wrath
00:37:21 --> 00:37:22 and died
00:37:22 --> 00:37:23 in shame
00:37:23 --> 00:37:25 that
00:37:25 --> 00:37:25 is how
00:37:25 --> 00:37:26 far
00:37:26 --> 00:37:27 this
00:37:27 --> 00:37:27 holy
00:37:27 --> 00:37:28 king
00:37:28 --> 00:37:29 will go
00:37:29 --> 00:37:30 to make
00:37:30 --> 00:37:31 unholy
00:37:31 --> 00:37:31 people
00:37:31 --> 00:37:33 holy
00:37:33 --> 00:37:33 the
00:37:33 --> 00:37:34 king
00:37:34 --> 00:37:37 sacrifices
00:37:37 --> 00:37:39 himself
00:37:39 --> 00:37:42 and that's
00:37:42 --> 00:37:43 not even
00:37:43 --> 00:37:43 the end
00:37:43 --> 00:37:44 because he
00:37:44 --> 00:37:44 is not
00:37:44 --> 00:37:45 dead
00:37:45 --> 00:37:45 he is
00:37:45 --> 00:37:46 risen
00:37:46 --> 00:37:47 and he
00:37:47 --> 00:37:48 reigns
00:37:48 --> 00:37:49 in glory
00:37:49 --> 00:37:54 the
00:37:54 --> 00:37:54 king
00:37:54 --> 00:37:56 is
00:37:56 --> 00:37:57 gracious
00:37:57 --> 00:37:59 so much
00:37:59 --> 00:37:59 so that
00:37:59 --> 00:38:00 he made
00:38:00 --> 00:38:01 an offering
00:38:01 --> 00:38:02 for Isaiah's
00:38:02 --> 00:38:02 sin
00:38:02 --> 00:38:03 by offering
00:38:03 --> 00:38:04 himself
00:38:04 --> 00:38:07 as the
00:38:07 --> 00:38:07 sacrifice
00:38:07 --> 00:38:08 and we
00:38:08 --> 00:38:09 now know
00:38:09 --> 00:38:09 him as
00:38:09 --> 00:38:10 the king
00:38:10 --> 00:38:11 Jesus
00:38:11 --> 00:38:12 of Nazareth
00:38:12 --> 00:38:13 king
00:38:13 --> 00:38:14 of the
00:38:14 --> 00:38:14 Jews
00:38:14 --> 00:38:17 once
00:38:17 --> 00:38:18 you
00:38:18 --> 00:38:19 see
00:38:19 --> 00:38:20 Jesus
00:38:20 --> 00:38:21 you'll
00:38:21 --> 00:38:21 only want
00:38:21 --> 00:38:22 to keep
00:38:22 --> 00:38:22 seeing
00:38:22 --> 00:38:24 this king
00:38:24 --> 00:38:27 so I
00:38:27 --> 00:38:27 want to
00:38:27 --> 00:38:27 encourage you
00:38:27 --> 00:38:28 as we
00:38:28 --> 00:38:29 step through
00:38:29 --> 00:38:29 this season
00:38:29 --> 00:38:30 in Isaiah
00:38:30 --> 00:38:33 challenge
00:38:33 --> 00:38:34 yourself
00:38:34 --> 00:38:34 to read
00:38:34 --> 00:38:35 this book
00:38:35 --> 00:38:38 to listen
00:38:38 --> 00:38:38 to this
00:38:38 --> 00:38:38 symphony
00:38:38 --> 00:38:39 as you
00:38:39 --> 00:38:39 read
00:38:39 --> 00:38:41 a chapter
00:38:41 --> 00:38:42 a day
00:38:42 --> 00:38:42 four or
00:38:42 --> 00:38:43 more times
00:38:43 --> 00:38:43 a week
00:38:43 --> 00:38:45 glimpse
00:38:45 --> 00:38:46 God's
00:38:46 --> 00:38:46 glory and
00:38:46 --> 00:38:47 grace
00:38:47 --> 00:38:47 here in
00:38:47 --> 00:38:47 Isaiah
00:38:47 --> 00:38:49 open up
00:38:49 --> 00:38:49 the gospels
00:38:49 --> 00:38:50 in these
00:38:50 --> 00:38:51 school holidays
00:38:51 --> 00:38:51 and see
00:38:51 --> 00:38:52 the king
00:38:52 --> 00:38:54 king
00:38:54 --> 00:38:54 Jesus
00:38:54 --> 00:38:56 over and
00:38:56 --> 00:38:56 over
00:38:56 --> 00:38:57 helping you
00:38:57 --> 00:38:58 see that
00:38:58 --> 00:38:59 he is
00:38:59 --> 00:38:59 holy and
00:38:59 --> 00:39:00 gracious
00:39:00 --> 00:39:01 to you
00:39:01 --> 00:39:02 and to
00:39:02 --> 00:39:02 all people
00:39:02 --> 00:39:06 in the
00:39:06 --> 00:39:06 words of
00:39:06 --> 00:39:06 a book
00:39:06 --> 00:39:07 you have
00:39:07 --> 00:39:07 the sight
00:39:07 --> 00:39:07 that you
00:39:07 --> 00:39:08 need to
00:39:08 --> 00:39:09 see now
00:39:09 --> 00:39:10 after
00:39:10 --> 00:39:10 covid
00:39:10 --> 00:39:11 after
00:39:11 --> 00:39:11 whatever
00:39:11 --> 00:39:12 the season
00:39:12 --> 00:39:13 seeing the
00:39:13 --> 00:39:13 king in
00:39:13 --> 00:39:14 the word
00:39:14 --> 00:39:15 is who
00:39:15 --> 00:39:15 you need
00:39:15 --> 00:39:16 and how
00:39:16 --> 00:39:17 you grow
00:39:17 --> 00:39:18 and thrive
00:39:18 --> 00:39:20 wherever you
00:39:20 --> 00:39:21 are in your
00:39:21 --> 00:39:21 time right
00:39:21 --> 00:39:21 now
00:39:21 --> 00:39:24 and these
00:39:24 --> 00:39:24 are the
00:39:24 --> 00:39:25 words the
00:39:25 --> 00:39:27 world need
00:39:27 --> 00:39:27 to hear
00:39:27 --> 00:39:30 for those
00:39:30 --> 00:39:31 who follow
00:39:31 --> 00:39:31 this king
00:39:31 --> 00:39:33 if you
00:39:33 --> 00:39:34 follow Jesus
00:39:34 --> 00:39:37 will you
00:39:37 --> 00:39:37 say with
00:39:37 --> 00:39:37 Isaiah
00:39:37 --> 00:39:38 here am
00:39:38 --> 00:39:39 I
00:39:39 --> 00:39:42 send me
00:39:42 --> 00:39:45 Jesus
00:39:45 --> 00:39:45 the king
00:39:45 --> 00:39:47 just like
00:39:47 --> 00:39:47 in Isaiah
00:39:47 --> 00:39:49 says in
00:39:49 --> 00:39:50 Matthew 28
00:39:50 --> 00:39:51 all authority
00:39:51 --> 00:39:52 in heaven
00:39:52 --> 00:39:53 and on earth
00:39:53 --> 00:39:53 has been
00:39:53 --> 00:39:53 given to
00:39:53 --> 00:39:54 me
00:39:54 --> 00:39:54 therefore
00:39:54 --> 00:39:55 go and
00:39:55 --> 00:39:55 make
00:39:55 --> 00:39:56 disciples
00:39:56 --> 00:39:57 of all
00:39:57 --> 00:39:57 nations
00:39:57 --> 00:39:59 the holy
00:39:59 --> 00:40:00 king has
00:40:00 --> 00:40:00 placed
00:40:00 --> 00:40:01 into our
00:40:01 --> 00:40:02 holy made
00:40:02 --> 00:40:03 hands
00:40:03 --> 00:40:04 a holy
00:40:04 --> 00:40:05 message of
00:40:05 --> 00:40:05 repentance
00:40:05 --> 00:40:06 and forgiveness
00:40:06 --> 00:40:07 and grace
00:40:07 --> 00:40:08 to all
00:40:08 --> 00:40:08 peoples
00:40:08 --> 00:40:08 of all
00:40:08 --> 00:40:09 nations
00:40:09 --> 00:40:09 so if
00:40:09 --> 00:40:10 you know
00:40:10 --> 00:40:10 Jesus
00:40:10 --> 00:40:12 will you
00:40:12 --> 00:40:13 fearlessly
00:40:13 --> 00:40:13 trust
00:40:13 --> 00:40:14 this holy
00:40:14 --> 00:40:15 king
00:40:15 --> 00:40:17 to share
00:40:17 --> 00:40:17 the message
00:40:17 --> 00:40:17 of his
00:40:17 --> 00:40:18 grace
00:40:18 --> 00:40:18 with someone
00:40:18 --> 00:40:18 who does
00:40:18 --> 00:40:18 not
00:40:18 --> 00:40:20 know him
00:40:20 --> 00:40:22 he does
00:40:22 --> 00:40:22 not see
00:40:22 --> 00:40:23 him
00:40:23 --> 00:40:23 and maybe
00:40:23 --> 00:40:23 is even
00:40:23 --> 00:40:24 hostile
00:40:24 --> 00:40:25 to him
00:40:25 --> 00:40:28 and if
00:40:28 --> 00:40:28 you don't
00:40:28 --> 00:40:29 know
00:40:29 --> 00:40:29 Jesus
00:40:29 --> 00:40:29 yet
00:40:29 --> 00:40:31 and if
00:40:31 --> 00:40:31 you want
00:40:31 --> 00:40:32 to receive
00:40:32 --> 00:40:33 this gift
00:40:33 --> 00:40:34 of grace
00:40:34 --> 00:40:35 in Jesus
00:40:35 --> 00:40:35 Christ
00:40:35 --> 00:40:36 come to
00:40:36 --> 00:40:37 the altar
00:40:37 --> 00:40:39 come to
00:40:39 --> 00:40:39 the cross
00:40:39 --> 00:40:42 respond
00:40:42 --> 00:40:43 even now
00:40:43 --> 00:40:44 as we
00:40:44 --> 00:40:44 sing
00:40:44 --> 00:40:46 come speak
00:40:46 --> 00:40:46 to me
00:40:46 --> 00:40:46 come speak
00:40:46 --> 00:40:47 to Carmen
00:40:47 --> 00:40:48 or Rachel
00:40:48 --> 00:40:51 and why
00:40:51 --> 00:40:51 not even
00:40:51 --> 00:40:52 start praying
00:40:52 --> 00:40:52 right now
00:40:52 --> 00:40:54 that God
00:40:54 --> 00:40:55 would help
00:40:55 --> 00:40:55 you see
00:40:55 --> 00:40:56 what Isaiah
00:40:56 --> 00:40:56 saw
00:40:56 --> 00:40:58 and with
00:40:58 --> 00:40:58 Isaiah
00:40:58 --> 00:40:59 receive with
00:40:59 --> 00:41:00 joy
00:41:00 --> 00:41:01 the gift
00:41:01 --> 00:41:01 of grace
00:41:01 --> 00:41:02 to stand
00:41:02 --> 00:41:03 forgiven
00:41:03 --> 00:41:05 before your
00:41:05 --> 00:41:06 king
00:41:06 --> 00:41:07 before God
00:41:07 --> 00:41:08 because of the
00:41:08 --> 00:41:08 sacrifice
00:41:08 --> 00:41:09 of Jesus
00:41:09 --> 00:41:10 Christ
00:41:10 --> 00:41:12 let's pray
00:41:12 --> 00:41:16 God
00:41:16 --> 00:41:17 we all
00:41:17 --> 00:41:17 need to
00:41:17 --> 00:41:18 see
00:41:18 --> 00:41:18 that you
00:41:18 --> 00:41:18 are the
00:41:18 --> 00:41:19 king
00:41:19 --> 00:41:21 we cannot
00:41:21 --> 00:41:21 stand before
00:41:21 --> 00:41:22 you
00:41:22 --> 00:41:23 but because
00:41:23 --> 00:41:23 of Jesus
00:41:23 --> 00:41:24 we can
00:41:24 --> 00:41:24 receive
00:41:24 --> 00:41:25 forgiveness
00:41:25 --> 00:41:27 he is
00:41:27 --> 00:41:27 our
00:41:27 --> 00:41:28 sacrifice
00:41:28 --> 00:41:29 he pays
00:41:29 --> 00:41:30 for sins
00:41:30 --> 00:41:30 so we
00:41:30 --> 00:41:31 can stand
00:41:31 --> 00:41:31 in your
00:41:31 --> 00:41:32 presence
00:41:32 --> 00:41:33 we look
00:41:33 --> 00:41:33 forward to
00:41:33 --> 00:41:34 the day
00:41:34 --> 00:41:34 when people
00:41:34 --> 00:41:35 from all
00:41:35 --> 00:41:35 nations
00:41:35 --> 00:41:36 will join
00:41:36 --> 00:41:37 with Isaiah
00:41:37 --> 00:41:39 in worship
00:41:39 --> 00:41:40 and we
00:41:40 --> 00:41:41 claim
00:41:41 --> 00:41:41 that
00:41:41 --> 00:41:42 forgiveness
00:41:42 --> 00:41:42 today
00:41:42 --> 00:41:43 we commit
00:41:43 --> 00:41:44 ourselves
00:41:44 --> 00:41:44 to the
00:41:44 --> 00:41:45 king
00:41:45 --> 00:41:46 king
00:41:46 --> 00:41:47 Jesus
00:41:47 --> 00:41:48 and until
00:41:48 --> 00:41:48 then and for
00:41:48 --> 00:41:49 all eternity
00:41:49 --> 00:41:50 we are your
00:41:50 --> 00:41:51 people so
00:41:51 --> 00:41:52 send us
00:41:52 --> 00:41:53 to tell all
00:41:53 --> 00:41:53 nations of
00:41:53 --> 00:41:54 your holiness
00:41:54 --> 00:41:55 and grace
00:41:55 --> 00:41:58 amen