Last week, we briefly discussed the reverence of God, and now all of this week I would like us to focus on the sheer awe of God in our prayers. Truly, the angels had such reverence and veneration; how much more so should we as sinful humanity be awestruck in our prayers. Today’s devotional is not a study on angels, as there are numerous articles, devotionals, even books on angels, including authors such as Billy Graham and David Jeremiah. There are also even more false articles, devotionals and books on angels and fallen angels. Here, we will only concern ourselves with the seraphim, and how they relate to the portrait of prayer of awestruck worship.
“Above it stood seraphim; each one had six wings” I will also frequently refer to Revelation 4 and 5 as John described his heavenly vision of these angelic hosts who announced the holiness of God. ““Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, Who was and is and is to come!...Worthy is the Lamb who was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom, and strength and honor and glory and blessing!...Blessing and honor and glory and power be to Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, forever and ever!” (Rev. 4:8; 5:12, 13)
These fiery, glowing messengers of God were undoubtedly awesome and terrifying to behold. Yet, with all of their powerful attributes (wings and flying allude to their strength and swiftness), they are nothing compared to the magnificent holiness of God. In the presence of the Almighty, two-thirds of their wings are used to show profound reverence, covering their faces and feet. There is a glorious Revelation song linked here about the spectacular vision which John saw in the Revelation of Jesus Christ.
Read the lyrics of the modern song telling of John’s vision of heaven:
Worthy is the Lamb who was slain; Holy, holy is He
Sing a new song to Him who sits on Heaven's mercy seat
Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty
Who was and is and is to come
With all creation I sing praise to the King of kings
You are my everything and I will adore You
Clothed in rainbows of living color
Flashes of lighting, rolls of thunder
Blessing and honor strength and glory and power be
To You the only wise King
Filled with wonder awestruck wonder
At the mention of Your name
Jesus Your name is power, breath and living water
Such a marvelous mystery
Oh, You're worthy, mystery
You are worthy
In Isaiah, the angels were first seen flying above the throne, signifying their direct and complete access to throne. They are spiritual messengers who descend and ascend from the throne to the earth and other realms of the cosmos.
Traditionally, seraphim are the highest ranking of angels. Yet, notice on what both Isaiah and John concentrate: the holiness of God. These angels have faces, feet, hands, voices, all attributes of humanity, although the word “seraphim” is identical to the word “serpents.” In John they can also resemble lions, calves, humans and eagles.
The prophet and apostle both were undoubtedly transfixed by the heavenly hosts. Albert Barnes wrote, “If the pure and holy seraphim evinced such reverence in the presence of Jehovah, with what profound awe and veneration should we, polluted and sinful creatures, presume to draw near to Him! Assuredly their position should reprove our presumption when we rush thoughtlessly and irreverently into his presence, and should teach us to bow with lowly veneration and deep humility.”
In English, we have two words, “sanctify” and “holy,” to convey the word “holy,” but in both Hebrew and Greek, there is essentially one word, combining the two thoughts. There is an infinitely profound “otherness” about God from us but also set apart even from the angels. Revelation 4:8 speaks on the four living creatures not resting day or night, but saying, “Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, Who was and is and is to come!”
In the ascriptions of praise in Isaiah, we see again a three-fold pronouncement of God’s holy sanctification and separation from all of creation: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; The whole earth is full of His glory!” God is completely holy, and His glory fills the earth. The angelic hosts proclaimed the words of praise so mightily that the posts of the doors of the temple were shaken! The word “seraphim” quite literally means fiery burning and when the angels spoke, smoke engulfed the temple. Smoke and fire represent judgment and solemn respect and honor.
A cloud of God’s glory consumed the temple when it was first built and dedicated by Solomon, five hundred years earlier. Now, near its destruction, the temple is again filled with smoke.
So how should this aspect of the portrait of the angels of God impact our prayer life? How marvelous in the truest sense of the word that we should marvel and how awful in the truest sense of the word that we should be full of awe, that such a holy God, such a supreme Being should descend to us to redeem us.
We can use the three-fold proclamation of God’s holiness to remind us of the three-fold aspects of God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit as did the hymn-writer Reginald Heber. Christ did not die to redeem the fallen angels. Jesus did not die to redeem creation, although creation will someday be redeemed. No, the holy condescension of the Word of God to humanity should strike us with (oh, I wish I could find another word but reverence) such profound humility that we should be overwhelmed with fear, trembling and extreme praise. As we pray the holiness of God, the Holy Spirit should fill and consume us as the smoky cloud filled the temple. Glorify God today in your prayers.
Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty,
Early in the morning our song shall rise to Thee;
Holy, holy, holy, merciful and mighty!
God in three Persons, blessed Trinity!
Holy, holy, holy! All the saints adore Thee,
Casting down their golden crowns around the glassy sea;
Cherubim and seraphim falling down before Thee,
Who was, and is, and evermore shall be.
Holy, holy, holy! Though the darkness hide Thee,
Though the eye of sinful man Thy glory may not see;
Only Thou art holy; there is none beside Thee,
Perfect in power, in love, and purity.
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