41These things said Esaias , when he saw his glory , and spake of him . 42Nevertheless among the chief rulers also many believed on him ; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue : 43For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God . John 12:41: 37-43 Observe the method of conversion implied here. Sinners are brought to see the reality of Divine things, and to have some knowledge of them. To be converted, and truly turned from sin to Christ, as their Happiness and Portion. God will heal them, will justify and sanctify them; will pardon their sins, which are as bleeding wounds, and mortify their corruptions, which are as lurking diseases. See the power of the world in smothering convictions, from regard to the applause or censure of men. Love of the praise of men, as a by-end in that which is good, will make a man a hypocrite when religion is in fashion, and credit is to be got by it; and love of the praise of men, as a base principle in that which is evil, will make a man an apostate, when religion is in disgrace, and credit is to be lost for it. 1HNV: In the year that king `Uzziyah died, I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lifted up; and his train filled the temple. _______ 1KJV: 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 . 2HNV: Above him stood the serafim. Each one had six wings. With two he covered his face. With two he covered his feet. With two he flew. _______ 2KJV: 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 . 3HNV: One called to another, and said, “Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of Hosts! The whole eretz is full of his glory!” _______ 3KJV: And one cried unto another, and said , Holy , holy , holy , is THE LORD of hosts : the whole earth is full of his glory . 4HNV: The foundations of the thresholds shook at the voice of him who called, and the house was filled with smoke. _______ 4KJV: And the posts of the door moved at the voice of him that cried , and the house was filled with smoke . 5HNV: Then 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!” _______ 5KJV: Then said I, 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 mine eyes have seen the King , THE LORD of hosts . 6HNV: Then one of the serafim flew to me, having a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with the tongs from off the altar. _______ 6KJV: Then flew one of the seraphims unto me, having a live coal in his hand , which he had taken with the tongs from off the altar : 7HNV: He touched my mouth with it, and said, “Behold, this has touched your lips; and your iniquity is taken away, and your sin forgiven.” _______ 7KJV: And he laid it upon my mouth , and said , Lo, this hath touched thy lips ; and thine iniquity is taken away , and thy sin purged . 8HNV: I heard the Lord’s voice, saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” Then I said, “Here I am. Send me!” _______ 8KJV: Also I heard the voice of the Lord , saying , Whom shall I send , and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me. 9HNV: He said, “Go, and tell this people, ‘You hear indeed, But don’t understand; And you see indeed, But don’t perceive.’ _______ 9KJV: And he said , Go , and tell this people , Hear ye indeed , but understand not; and see ye indeed , but perceive not. 10HNV: Make the heart of this people fat; Make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; Lest they see with their eyes, And hear with their ears, And understand with their heart, And turn again, and be healed.” _______ 10KJV: Make the heart of this people fat , and make their ears heavy , and shut their eyes ; lest they see with their eyes , and hear with their ears , and understand with their heart , and convert , and be healed . 11HNV: Then I said, “Lord, how long?” He answered, “Until cities are waste without inhabitant, And houses without man, And the land becomes utterly waste, _______ 11KJV: Then said I, Lord , how long? And he answered , Until the cities be wasted without inhabitant , and the houses without man , and the land be utterly desolate , 12HNV: And the LORD has removed men far away, And the forsaken places are many in the midst of the land. _______ 12KJV: AND THE LORD have removed men far away , and there be a great forsaking in the midst of the land . 13HNV: If there are yet a tenth in it, It also shall in turn be eaten up: As a terebinth, and as an oak, whose stock remains, when they are felled; So the holy seed is its stock.” _______ 13KJV: But yet in it shall be a tenth , and it shall return , and shall be eaten : as a teil tree , and as an oak , whose substance is in them, when they cast their leaves: so the holy seed shall be the substance thereof. Isaiah 6:1: 1-8 In this figurative vision, the temple is thrown open to view, even to the most holy place. The prophet, standing outside the temple, sees the Divine Presence seated on the mercy-seat, raised over the ark of the covenant, between the cherubim and seraphim, and the Divine glory filled the whole temple. See God upon his throne. This vision is explained, Joh 12:41|, that Isaiah now saw Christs glory, and spake of Him, which is a full proof that our Saviour is God. In Christ Jesus, God is seated on a throne of grace; and through him the way into the holiest is laid open. See Gods temple, his church on earth, filled with his glory. His train, the skirts of his robes, filled the temple, the whole world, for it is all Gods temple. And yet he dwells in every contrite heart. See the blessed attendants by whom his government is served. Above the throne stood the holy angels, called seraphim, which means burners; they burn in love to God, and zeal for his glory against sin. The seraphim showing their faces veiled, declares that they are ready to yield obedience to all Gods commands, though they do not understand the secret reasons of his counsels, government, or promises. All vain-glory, ambition, ignorance, and pride, would be done away by one view of Christ in his glory. This awful vision of the Divine Majesty overwhelmed the prophet with a sense of his own vileness. We are undone if there is not a Mediator between us and this holy God. A glimpse of heavenly glory is enough to convince us that all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags. Nor is there a man that would dare to speak to the Lord, if he saw the justice, holiness, and majesty of God, without discerning his glorious mercy and grace in Jesus Christ. The live coal may denote the assurance given to the prophet, of pardon, and acceptance in his work, through the atonement of Christ. Nothing is powerful to cleanse and comfort the soul, but what is taken from Christs satisfaction and intercession. The taking away sin is necessary to our speaking with confidence and comfort, either to God in prayer, or from God in preaching; and those shall have their sin taken away who complain of it as a burden, and see themselves in danger of being undone by it. It is great comfort to those whom God sends, that they go for God, and may therefore speak in his name, assured that he will bear them out.
Posted on: Sun, 27 Oct 2013 03:26:23 +0000