Tuesday, February 1, 2022

Wednesday prior to Epiphany 5

 

Isaiah 6:1-11 Isaiah chapter six is one of the grand chapters of the Old Testament. Here we have the call of Isaiah to be a prophet of God. Isaiah did not necessarily want to accept his call. He felt he was unqualified. He knew that he was a sinner and that he would be sent to a sinful nation who would not want to listen to him. What was he to do? God forgave his sin and used him in a mighty way. Can God use you to do His bidding? Of course, He can. No matter what "sin" might be prohibiting you, God in Christ has forgiven you to do His work for Him.

The account of God’s call to Isaiah is highly sensory: visual (an overwhelming sight of the Lord and His seraphim,) auditory (the exclamation of the angels which even caused the doorposts of the temple to shame and the voice of the Lord Himself), tactile (the trembling of the temple),, olfactory (the smell of smoke,) even gustatory (as the hot coals touched Isaiah’s tongue).  This would suggest a message that also engages more than the intellect, a dramatic and emotional message that seeks the replicate Isaiah’s vision. The goal is a response, “Here am I, send me![2]

This text is also the inspiration of Luther’s Hymn “Isaiah, Mighty Seer in Days of Old” LSB #960


Isaiah, mighty seer, in days of old
The Lord of all in Spirit did behold
High on a lofty throne, in splendor bright,
With flowing train that filled the Temple quite.
Above the throne were stately seraphim,
Six wings had they, these messengers of Him.
With twain they veiled their faces, as was meet,
With twain in reverent awe they hid their feet,
And with the other twain aloft they soared,
One to the other called and praised the Lord:
|: Holy is God, the Lord of Sabaoth! :|
Holy is God, the Lord of Sabaoth!
Behold, His glory filleth all the earth!
The beams and lintels trembled at the cry,
And clouds of smoke enwrapped the throne on high.    

  

Prayer for Epiphany 5 - O God, our Loving Father, through the grace of Your Holy Spirit You plant the gift of Your love into the hearts of Your faithful people. Grant to Your servants soundness of mind and body, so that they may love You with their whole strength and with the whole heart do these things that are pleasing in Your sight. Amen. [3]– 02 February, 2022


[1] Luther’s Seal copyright © Ed Riojas, Higher Things
[2] Homiletical Studies, Concordia Theological Quarterly © Concordia Theological Seminary, Ft. Wayne, IN
[3][3] Collect for Epiphany 5, Lutheran Service Book © 2006 Concordia Publishing House, St, Louis

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