The other day, Melissa and I got rid of a desk that we had in our dining room since we moved into our house nearly five years ago. Wow, nothing like comparing your heavily travelled carpet to the carpet which is like what it was when it was brand new. Suddenly, what had been tolerably dingy carpet to look at now appeared obscenely dirty. So off to get the steamer cleaner I go.
When Isaiah came into the presence of the Holy Almighty Lord, this man of God and largest writer of the Major Prophets suddenly did not seem so clean. In our prayer portrait today of Isaiah 6 we look at a major yet sometimes overlooked aspect of our prayer lives: Admission of Sin.
So I said “Woe is me, for I am undone! Because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, The Lord of hosts.”
Isaiah 6:5
Admission of Sin: Isaiah said “I am undone.” That exclamation undoubtedly came when he saw the angels, heard the voice thundering and the smoke filling the temple. He saw the pillars of the temple shake at the awesome manifestation of the Lord.
Compared to the holiness of the Lord, the angels and certainly Isaiah himself paled in righteousness. The word “undone,” can also mean “cut off, ruined, destroyed.” He had seen the glory of the Lord in his sinful state, he was convicted of his own uncleanness, his people’s unworthiness and of God’s holiness.
Compared to the holiness of the Lord, the angels and certainly Isaiah himself paled in righteousness. The word “undone,” can also mean “cut off, ruined, destroyed.” He had seen the glory of the Lord in his sinful state, he was convicted of his own uncleanness, his people’s unworthiness and of God’s holiness.
Jesus said that unclean lips reveal unclean hearts and that what comes out of our mouths shows what is in our hearts (see Matt. 12:34 , 15:17 -18).
Have you confessed your sins lately? Or have you been comparing yourselves to others and saying, “I’m not so bad”? An awe-focused prayer is one that begins with confession and ends with repentance.
Look at the portrait now of Isaiah in your mind’s eye. How does he look to you? Humbled? Frightened? Ashamed? No doubt he was immediately confronted of his sins but his conviction came from his higher view of the Lord.
Mark Twain once said that the difference between humanity and all of the animals is that man is the only one that blushes or needs to. I’m not for sure if the esteemed Mr. Clements would say that today of our society. Few blush today at their immorality but they certainly need to.
Compared to others, we are like the carpet of the dining room compared to the hallway—not too shabby. Oh, but move the furniture and see how stained and worn we have become.
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Mark Twain once said that the difference between humanity and all of the animals is that man is the only one that blushes or needs to. I’m not for sure if the esteemed Mr. Clements would say that today of our society. Few blush today at their immorality but they certainly need to.
Compared to others, we are like the carpet of the dining room compared to the hallway—not too shabby. Oh, but move the furniture and see how stained and worn we have become.
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