Knowing God by Name: Names of God That Bring Hope and Healing

Author:David Wilkerson [Wilkerson, David]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Theology, Reference, Religion, Christian Life, Christianity, Spirituality, Inspirational, Christian Living, Religion & Spirituality, Spiritual Growth, Christian Books & Bibles
ISBN: 9780800795757
Google: nekbnQEACAAJ
Amazon: B004HO50A0
Barnesnoble: B004HO50A0
Goodreads: 313807
Publisher: Chosen Books
Published: 2003-10-01T00:00:00+00:00

Coals from the Altar

Isaiah was another witness. He wrote, "Surely, shall one say, in the LORD have I righteousness and strength: even to him shall men come; and all that are incensed against him shall be ashamed. In the LORD shall all the seed of Israel be justified, and shall glory" (Isaiah 45:24-25).

How did Isaiah receive this revelation of Jehovah Tsidhenu, the Lord our righteousness? It came to him the hard way-through a deep, trying personal experience.

In the first five chapters of Isaiah, we see the prophet preaching faithfully and walking closely with the Lord. I am convinced that if we had sat under this devoted man's ministry, we would have received the very mind of God. Our souls would have been pierced by sharp arrows of conviction, our lifestyles challenged and changed. By every indication, Isaiah sought God's righteousness with all his heart.

Yet the Lord gave this godly prophet an incredible vision that changed his entire view of righteousness. In this vivid revelation, Isaiah saw the Lord sitting on His throne, high and holy, lifted up above everything in heaven. The vision was so awesome, so filled with God's holiness and glory, that even the heavenly seraphim surrounding the throne had to cover their eyes and bow in humility. They cried in otherworldly voices, "Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts" (Isaiah 6:3).

The scene was so heavy with God's holy presence that it drove Isaiah to his knees. He fell face-down, unable to see anything except his own sinfulness. Keep in mind, this was the same man who sought God's righteousness more diligently, and preached His word more faithfully, than perhaps any other person on earth. Yet now this godly prophet found himself crying, "Woe is me! for I am undone" (verse 5). The Hebrew meaning of this phrase is, "I have failed-I perish."

Isaiah then makes an incredible statement. He says, "I am a man of unclean lips" (verse 5). How could this be? Isaiah had been preaching, prophesying-delivering a pure word from heaven with convicting power. Yet now he was so awed by what he witnessed, he called his own words unclean.

Do you get the picture? Isaiah, among the godliest of all the Lord's servants, was stating, "I can't be holy, I can't be righteous. I will never be able to attain that. I have done the best I couldyet, at the end of it all, I have discovered I'm nothing. After all my preaching, all my seeking and searching, I am absolutely undone by the Lord's awesome righteousness. I see clearly now, there is no good thing in me."

Isaiah realized that there was no way he could ever attain true righteousness on his own. Even if he could, it would never stand in the light of God's holiness. So, what could he do? How would he ever be able to enter into God's presence with his head lifted up? It became clear to Isaiah that he would never be accepted in the Lord's eyes unless God Himself took the initiative.

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