WEEKLY
SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON
An
international Sunday school lesson commentary
For
Sunday July 9, 2017
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ISAIAH
IN THE TEMPLE
(Responding
to a holy GOD with confession and obedience)
(Isaiah
6)
The Prophet
Isaiah was born in Jerusalem, into the family of Amoz, who was related to the
royal house of Judah. He spent his early years as an official of King Uzziah
(Azariah), who reigned over Judah for 52 years (2 Chronicles 26:3). In the year
that Uzziah died of leprosy, around 740 B.C. (2 Kings 15:5), Isaiah received
his calling from GOD one day in a stirring vision in the Temple at Jerusalem.
Isaiah was
married to a woman, who Scripture only describes as the “Prophetess” (Isaiah
8:3), and he was the father of two sons, who bore highly symbolical names. “Shear-jashub”
(Isaiah 7:3), his first son, whose name means “a remnant shall return”,
prophesies the return of the Jews to Judah, after their deportation and
captivity had ended in Assyria.
The second son, “Maher-shalal-hash-baz”, (the
longest word in the Bible), whose name means “swift spoil, speedy prey”,
prophesies the doom of Damascus and Samaria, and the destruction of Syria and
Israel, who had formed an alliance against Jerusalem.
Isaiah’s
connection with the royal family may explain why he was always able to enter
into the presence of the king, seemingly at will. His active career spanned
from around 738 B.C. until, at least, 701 B.C., and probably, even up until 690
B.C. He lived through a succession of political crises, including “the
intervention of Assyria” (2 kings 16:5), “the Syro-Ephraimitish War” which
began in 734 B.C. (2 kings 15:37-16:9), “the fall of Samaria” in 722 B.C. (2
Kings 17:5-6), “the siege of Ashdod by king Sargon” in 711 B.C. (Isaiah
20:1), and “the attempted invasion of Sennacherib” in 701 B.C (2
Kings 19).
Isaiah has well
been called “the Prince of Prophets” and “the Prophet of Faith”, and he went on
to become a sublime figure of Faith in the supremacy of the “Spiritual” over
the “Earthly”, and GODLY ideals from on High, over the brute force
and physical power of men on earth.
For Isaiah to
have combined such lofty faith with his practical statesmanship, shows that he
is essentially a man of action, and is worthy of being called one of the
greatest men of any age. To
Isaiah, GOD was first and foremost, a holy GOD. In fact, the holiness of GOD
was the first thing that impressed Isaiah when he saw GOD in all HIS glory in
the temple at Jerusalem here in Isaiah 6:1-8.
However, GOD’s
holiness also reminded Isaiah of his own sin and weaknesses, an effect that the
knowledge of GOD should have on us all. Isaiah’s humble cry shows no
resemblance to mere surface humility, but rather, it manifests a deep
realization by the prophet, of the overwhelming superiority of GOD’s holiness.
After confessing
his imperfections before the presence of the LORD, and being cleansed of his
sins by GOD through the placement of the hot coal upon his lips (symbolic of a
burnt offering on the altar), Isaiah now stands ready to, both, worship, and
serve the LORD completely.
This account of
Isaiah’s call to service, by GOD, is perhaps the classic prophetic summons of
the Old Testament. Isaiah’s answer to GOD’s request of “Who shall we send?” is
one of the most well-known statements of the Old Testament prophets. His
utterance of “Here I am, send me” shows a courageous willingness by Isaiah to
step into the unknown, armed only with faith.
However, it was
this faith that would allow him to overcome the perils and rigors of this
world, as he pressed on for decades, delivering GOD’s message to those, who,
for the most part, weren’t even willing to listen. It prompts one to recall the
Apostle John, as he wrapped up his colorful career and vivid account of JESUS’
ministry, during the final weeks of HIS divine life here on earth.
The “disciple
whom JESUS loved” cited the eighth century prophet, Isaiah’s written words in
Isaiah 6:10, which had resonated in his own heart and mind, down through the
years of his life. There the LORD tells Isaiah, “Harden the hearts of these
people. Close their ears, and shut their eyes. That way, they will not see with
their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts, and turn to ME
for healing” (NLT).
It was the
classic statement that would seem to explain why so few Jews had responded
favorably to Isaiah’s message in the eighth century B.C., or the MESSIAH’s
message in the first century A.D. In fact, it is indeed no different from “the
attitude of indifference” and unresponsive way that we are now responding to GOD’s
messengers here in this, the twenty-first century. Our GOD is a Holy GOD, and
in the hearts of those who love and fear HIM, HE still moves and inspires to
worship and service, all the day long.
A Sunday school lesson by,
Larry D. Alexander
LARRY
D. ALEXANDER- Official Website
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