Day Forty

During this week we dwelling in Isaiah 6 and the call of the prophet. We are specifically examining the pattern of worship found in Isaiah’s encounter which also shapes the way many Christians and churches understand worship.

We are in the midst of exploring six distinct movements in Isaiah 6 that model a flow of worship for us. So far this week we have noted three:

We are invited into God’s presence. (Isaiah 6:1)
We sing praise to God (Isaiah 6:2-4)
We are made aware of our own sinfulness (Isaiah 6:5)

As we examined yesterday, some may not find that third step very worshipful. And if Isaiah’s vision ended there, it would be depressing indeed—it would mean that we come into God’s presence and see our own sinfulness, and there is nothing that can be done about it.

But something has been done about it.

Isaiah, in the presence of the holy one, immediately feels overwhelmed by his sinfulness and the sinfulness of his people, and he cries out to God:

‘“Woe to me!’ I cried. ‘I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the Lord Almighty.’”—Isaiah 6:5 (NIV)

And just as immediately, God answers his cry:

“Then one of the seraphim flew to me with a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with tongs from the altar. With it he touched my mouth and said, ‘See, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for.’”—Isaiah 6:6-7 (NIV)

The altar Isaiah sees is likely the altar we read about in 1 Chronicles, describing the priestly responsibilities of Aaron’s line:

“But Aaron and his descendants were the ones who presented offerings on the altar of burnt offering and on the altar of incense in connection with all that was done in the Most Holy Place, making atonement for Israel, in accordance with all that Moses the servant of God had commanded.”—1 Chronicles 6:49 (NIV)

The altar is the place of atonement, where offerings were presented to be consumed by fire as a sacrifice to God. The imagery would have been clear to Isaiah: the coal represents purification, drawn from the fires of atonement. His sin is burned away and he is cleansed in the fire of God’s mercy. It does not happen because of anything Isaiah does. It is a servant of God who comes to Isaiah with the means of forgiveness, and it is that servant who proclaims Isaiah’s guilt absolved and his sins atoned for.

This is the fourth movement in the Isaiah 6 pattern of worship:

We are invited into God’s presence. (Isaiah 6:1)
We sing praise to God (Isaiah 6:2-4)
We are made aware of our own sinfulness (Isaiah 6:5)
God assures us of his mercy and forgiveness (Isaiah 6:6-7)

In churches that use a weekly prayer of confession, this is often called the Assurance of Pardon, where a pastor or worship leader speaks a word (usually from Scripture) declaring our sins forgiven. For many this is a standard part of the service that sometimes can seem rote and familiar…a necessary stepping stone to the real “meat” of worship, which is usually the sermon.

But if we glance over this part of worship with too casual an attitude we miss the absolutely profound and powerful experience of being reminded that we are a forgiven people, washed clean because of the sacrifice of Jesus. That isn’t a mere formality in our experience of worship—it is the very essence of why Jesus came to earth. The Apostle Paul made that clear in his first letter to Timothy:

“The saying is sure and worthy of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners,—of whom I am the foremost.”—1 Timothy 1:15 (NRSV)

We receive forgiveness in a way that echoes Isaiah’s vision. It does not happen because of anything we do. It is the servant of God, this time his only Son, who comes to us with the means of forgiveness, in this case drawn from the altar of his own willing sacrifice. And it is that same servant who proclaims our guilt absolved and our sins atoned for. How amazing is it that the same words Jesus spoke to the woman who anointed his feet and washed them with her tears, he now offers to us:

“Your sins are forgiven.”—Luke 7:48 (NIV)

There is always a danger in our Christian walk that we will begin to take God’s mercy for granted. This is not a new phenomenon…the Apostle Paul even saw it in the early church. In Romans 2 he warns Christians about “despising the riches of God’s kindness,” and in 2 Corinthians 6 he urges believers to guard against accepting God’s grace “in vain.”

I remember hearing a story about a professor at a Bible college who extended grace for late papers twice during the semester, and each time the students responded with great thankfulness and appreciation. But then at the end of the semester, when the final paper was due, he had a number of students who not only didn’t turn it in on time, they didn’t acknowledge that it was late. When he confronted them about it, they would reply with something like, “Don’t worry, teach, I’ll get it to you in a couple of days.”

They had gone from being appreciative and thankful for his grace to taking his grace and forgiveness for granted (and in turn received an “F” as he told it).

Friends, let’s not do that in our Christian walk. Let’s return each day to a worshipful response of awe, wonder, gratitude, and praise for the mercy God has extended to us. Let’s pray that we never despise the riches of God’s kindness of accept his grace in vain.

Our sins are forgiven. This is cause for worship.

Oh what a Savior
Isn't He wonderful?
Sing Hallelujah, Christ is risen
Bow down before Him
For He is Lord of all
Sing Hallelujah, Christ is risen

O come to the altar
The Father's arms are open wide
Forgiveness was bought with
The precious blood of Jesus Christ

Read the rest of the lyrics here.

Time of Reflection

For today’s time of reflection you are invited to read passages of Scripture that are often used as an Assurance of Pardon in worship services. Sit with the truth they proclaim. Let it bring you to a place of worship and gratitude, renewing your trust in God’s mercy and your appreciation of Christ’s sacrifice.

Joel 2:12-13 (NRSV)

Yet even now, says the Lord,
return to me with all your heart,
with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning;
rend your hearts and not your clothing.
Return to the Lord, your God,
for he is gracious and merciful,
slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love,
and relents from punishing.

1 John 1:5-9 (NRSV)

This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light and in him there is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with him while we are walking in darkness, we lie and do not do what is true; but if we walk in the light as he himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he who is faithful and just will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Titus 3:4-7 (NRSV)

But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of any works of righteousness that we had done, but according to his mercy, through the water of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit. This Spirit he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

Psalm 103:8-12 (NRSV)

The Lord is merciful and gracious,
slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
He will not always accuse,
nor will he keep his anger forever.
He does not deal with us according to our sins,
nor repay us according to our iniquities.
For as the heavens are high above the earth,
so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him;
as far as the east is from the west,
so far he removes our transgressions from us.