Isaiah 6:1 In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple. 2 Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly. 3 And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory. 4 And the posts of the door moved at the voice of him that cried, and the house was filled with smoke.
This passage of scripture takes us into the realm of praise, the aspect of our experience that is inhabited by God. Prior to this experience, Isaiah had become accustomed to a mild, formal worship that was lifeless in nature, coming from hearts polluted by sin, and from minds that did not fully appreciate the greatness and majesty of Jehovah. And thus it was, when he was taken off into vision to behold the purity and excellence of God, he became overwhelmed by the fervent praises of the Seraphim, who praised and worshiped God with all the power and strength with which they are endowed. As their praises ascended to God, the foundations of the temple were shaken, and Isaiah cried out in utter despair, for he saw as never before that his praises, and that of his people fell far short of what God is worthy of.
In a rare exposition on this very occurrence, the servant of The Lord notes that the sounds emanating from the Seraphim who stand in the presence of God shake the very gates of the temple, and when Isaiah beheld and heard their worship, he was moved to confess sins that were previously unknown to him and his people. The following is an excerpt taken from S.D.A Bible commentary, book 4, page 1139, paragraph 7, written by the pen of inspiration, so that all who read this blog may have a more thorough understanding of what the experience of Isaiah on this occasion, was like. Let's read:
"In the year that King Uzziah died, Isaiah was permitted in vision to look into the holy place, and into the holy of holies in the heavenly sanctuary. The curtains of the innermost sanctuary were drawn aside, and a throne high and lifted up, towering as it were to the very heavens, was revealed to his gaze. An indescribable glory emanated from a personage on the throne, and His train filled the temple, as His glory will finally fill the earth. Cherubim were on either side of the mercy-seat, as guards round the great king, and they glowed with the glory that enshrouded them from the presence of God. As their songs of praise resounded in deep, earnest notes of adoration, the pillars of the gate trembled, as if shaken by an earthquake. These holy beings sang forth the praise and glory of God with lips unpolluted with sin. The contrast between the feeble praise which he had been accustomed to bestow upon the Creator and the fervid praises of the seraphim, astonished and humiliated the prophet. He had, for the time being, the sublime privilege of appreciating the spotless purity of Jehovah's exalted character. {4BC 1139.7}
Our worship to God should consist mostly of praise to Him for His mighty acts in saving us from the deadly clutches of satan, and for blessing us with both the spiritual and the temporal blessings which are too numerous to mention. It is indeed no small matter for a person to be saved from sin, for although many of us may have taken it for granted, the Bible teaches us that a very terrible struggle between the invisible forces of good and evil occurs, before a soul is rescued by the power of Christ alone. This fact must often be contemplated when we come to worship before God. Let's read:
Matthew 12:26 And if Satan cast out Satan, he is divided against himself; how shall then his kingdom stand? 28 But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you. 29 Or else how can one enter into a strong man's house, and spoil his goods, except he first bind the strong man? and then he will spoil his house.
Then in humble gratitude for the new lease on life which God grants to us, shouldn't we then come before His presence, bubbling over with joy and gladness, in an intelligent appreciation for what He has done, and what He continues to do for us? Let us then, like the Seraphim in heaven, praise God with every fiber of our being, and the heavenly angels will be sure to pick up the strain. It is worthy of note that it was only after this revelation of total praise in the very presence of God, that Isaiah realized how sinful he really was, and it was only then that he was purified, and made ready to speak the words that were to be given him.
In our own experiences, let us then be certain to avoid the same type of feeble praise referred to in the Bible, but let us rather often contemplate the majesty, the power, and the glory of God, which is a reflection of His exalted character, and then let our voices be raised in pouring forth spontaneous and intelligent praises to our Creator, Redeemer and Friend. We therefore end with a passage of scripture which enjoins upon us the privilege of praise and worship, so that we too, like the Seraphim in heaven, may radiate and glow with the glory of God. Let's read:
Psalm 100:1 Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands. 2 Serve the Lord with gladness: come before his presence with singing. 3 Know ye that the Lord he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. 4 Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name. 5 For the Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.
May God add His blessing to the study and practice of His word. "Good night" and God bless!