vi. 5-7. _Then said I, &c._
Visions of the throne of God were given to Isaiah, Ezekiel, and
Daniel among the prophets, and to John among the Apostles.[1] +I. The
distinguished privilege.+ "I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high
and lifted up, and His train filled the temple." "Mine eyes have seen
the King, the LORD of hosts." The invisible and unapproachable God
revealed Himself to the bewildered seer through the glory of the
afterwards incarnate Christ (John xii. 41). May we behold God?
Certainly we may. 1. _In His Son Jesus Christ_ (Heb. i. 3; 2 Cor.
iv. 4; Col. i. 15; John xiv. 8, 9). 2. _In His works and Word._ The
works are the embodied words of God. In the Scriptures we may see the
mind, the heart, the purposes, the character of God. 3. _In His
sanctuary._ In the act of worship, while in the temple, Isaiah beheld
the glory of the Lord (Ps. lxiii. 1, 2, lxviii. 24). +II. The
profound abasement.+ It is true that "before honour is humility." The
converse is also true. Isaiah's humility was the effect of
overwhelming honour. A sight of God brought self-revelation;
depravity was revealed by the dazzling whiteness of Divine purity.
1. _There was consternation._ "Woe is me; for I am undone." 2. _There
was self-loathing._ "I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the
midst of a people of unclean lips." The vision of God results in a
vivid and painful sense of sin (Job xlii. 5, 6; Luke v. 8). +III. The
Divine cleansing.+ Absolution is connected with confession (1 John
i. 9). 1. _The cleansing_ _was efficacious._ 2. _The purification was
by means of sacrifice._ 3. _The removal of defilement was immediate._
A man so prepared is made ready for any ministry of testimony, toil,
or tribulation.--_Matthew Braithwaite._