A few months ago I posted this photo on Instagram...

No, I didn't get a tattoo, though I do want one. I'd come across a big bundle of faux tattoos at our local craft store (on clearance!) that day and finding enough spare change in my purse, I brought the pack home.

I've been wanting a wrist tattoo for years, but never knew what to get that I'd love forever and ever.

I want script, I want something meaningful, I want it to be beautiful and not trendy.

A few weeks after posting this photo, I was having my Quiet Time and it hit me all at once.

The perfect thing.

Words from Isaiah 6:8

It lines up so fully with what I want for my life, my entire everything.

I want Him to send me. I want to let go of fear and perfection and my plans.

So our lock screen this month is from this passage. To help remind us to be available to Him.

Our plans may be good, but His are always better. Right?!

We know it. But do we live it??

I actually have TWO lock screens for you this month. One is a quote from Anne Graham Lotz in reference to our verse. And the other is the verse itself.

So save both. Maybe use one as your wallpaper and the other for your lock screen. Or switch between the two all month.

I love them both. Hope you do, too.

The lock screen images will be emailed out tomorrow morning (Saturday April 11th). So if you haven't already subscribed to the blog via email, make sure you do today!

So let's learn a little context around this verse.

And a few things about Isaiah himself...

It appears that Isaiah came from a wealthy family. Historians believe that his father was a friend of King Uzziah’s father, and lived in Jerusalem, which was in Judah (the southern half of the kingdom).

God began speaking through Isaiah during the reign of King Uzziah. This King started out well and was faithful to the Lord, and the Lord helped him. He did many great things for his people and his fame spread, far and wide (2 Chronicles 26:15). The Bible says that Uzziah "did what was right in the sight of the Lord." But even with a godly king, the people strayed from God and were not faithful to Him (2 Chronicles 27:2). The prophet Isaiah spoke boldly against the wicked ways of God’s people. He said the people rebelled against the Lord. They gave offerings that were meaningless because they didn’t even care when they sinned. They lied and murdered. Their land was full of idols; they worshipped things they made with their own hands. Isaiah warned that punishment was coming for the people’s wicked deeds.

Sadly however, after Uzziah became powerful, his pride lead to his downfall. He was unfaithful to the Lord and entered the temple of the Lord to burn incense on the alter. Eighty one courageous priests of the Lord followed him, confronting King Uzziah and said, "It is not right for you, Uzziah, to burn incense to the Lord. That is for the priests, the descendants of Aaron, who have been consecrated to burn incense." (2 Chronicles 26:16-21). Immediately, leprosy appeared on the king's forehead. The priests rushed their king out of the temple as quickly as they could, everyone knowing it was God that afflicted Him because of his unfaithfulness and proud heart. Because the disease made him unclean, Uzziah was required to give up the kingdom and live in a separate house by himself, son Jotham becoming the next king to rule.

Isaiah’s Vision

In time, King Uzziah died from his disease. Since Isaiah's birth, Uzziah was the great King that he admired and served. It must have been difficult for Isaiah, first to see his King sin against the Lord, then to see him removed from the throne, and then pass away. During this difficult time, God gave Isaiah not a dream, but a vision. God allowed Isaiah to see something that truly exists, but is usually hidden from the human eye.

God allowed Isaiah to see into the very throne room of heaven.

In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord. He was seated on His throne. His long robe filled the temple. He was highly honored.

Above Him were seraphs. Each of them had six wings. With two wings they covered their faces. With two wings they covered their feet. And with two wings they were flying. They were calling out to one another. They were saying, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord who rules over all. The whole earth is full of his glory.”

The sound of their voices caused the stone doorframe to shake. The temple was filled with smoke (Isaiah 6:1-4).

Let’s look closely at the things Isaiah saw. First of all, he saw that God was alive. King Uzziah was dead, but God was alive! God is the everlasting God! He has always been alive, and He always will be alive (Psalm 90:2). The Israelites had begged for an earthly king, but every human king will die at some time. God though will never die!

Next, Isaiah saw that God was on His throne. Though King Uzziah had lost his place on the earthly throne, God was in His rightful place - seated on the throne of heaven.

Isaiah saw God’s robe filling the temple. The best comparison we have to this is when a bride wears a beautiful gown with a long train. Just think of the famous dress, Princess Diana of Whales wore all those years ago...a wedding dress with a 25 foot train. Through history, a long flowing train was a symbol of importance. When Isaiah saw that God’s robe filled the temple, he knew it was a symbol of God’s importance and splendor.

In the vision, God was highly praised and honored. He was high and lifted up, because God is higher than anything else. There is nothing above God. He answers to no one. He deserves all praise, and in heaven He receives it.

Then Isaiah tells of the seraph, or seraphim, that he saw flying in the temple. We know these are some type of angels, though they're not mentioned anywhere else in the Bible. They seem to be caretakers of God's throne and are obviously not the sweet, chubby babies with wings like we see in so many frescoes and other famous works of art.

The very sound of their voices shook the doorframes! Each seraph had six wings. With two wings, they covered their faces. Even though they live in heaven, they hid their face from the holy God. These beings were much wiser than the men and women on the earth who lived their lives sinning against God. They knew that God is to be highly respected.

And what did Isaiah hear? He heard the seraphs calling out, “Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord!” Holy means, completely pure, 100% perfect, and set apart. God is holy and is unlike anything else in heaven or on earth.

Then these unusual angels said, “The whole earth is full of His glory.” Glory is God’s magnificence or greatness. Psalm 91:1 says the heavens declare His glory. Romans 1:20 tells us that when we look at God’s incredible creation, we can learn more about what God is really like. When we see the earth, the stars, the sun, the sunsets, the tiniest seashell, a newborn baby, and a flower beginning to bloom - we can see how powerful and brilliant and creative and caring God is.

Literally, the whole earth is full of His glory. The whole earth sings out how magnificent God is.

Isaiah’s Response

“How terrible it is for me!” I cried out. “I’m about to be destroyed! My mouth speaks sinful words. And I live among people who speak sinful words. Now I have seen the King with my own eyes. He is the Lord who rules over all.”

A seraph flew over to me. He was holding a hot coal. He had used tongs to take it from the altar. He touched my mouth with the coal. He said, “This has touched your lips. Your guilt has been taken away. Your sin has been paid for.” - Isaiah 6:5-7

Although Isaiah was better than most people, he knew that he was filthy compared to God’s pure holiness. Isaiah admitted that he was a sinner. He did not make excuses for his sinfulness. He did not blame anyone else, and he did not run and hide from God.

So what could Isaiah do about his sinful condition? Absolutely nothing, for Jesus would't arrive for generations to come. Instead, God’s messenger flew to Isaiah, took a burning coal from the altar, and touched his lips. Fire is often used in the Bible to purify things (Malachi 3:2-3). This burning coal from God’s altar was a symbol that God was the One who made Isaiah pure. Only God can save someone from his sins (Revelation 7:10). God did not just cover up Isaiah’s sin. God took Isaiah’s sins away! Isaiah’s sins would not be remembered or talked about ever again because God took them away!

Then I heard the voice of the Master. He said, “Who will I send? Who will go for us?”

I spoke up, “Here I am. Send me!” - Isaiah 6:8

God was looking for the person who would be His messenger. Isaiah did not hesitate. He wanted to be the one used by God. Isaiah had seen the amazing splendor, power, and holiness of God. God had wiped out his sin and made him pure. Now Isaiah would go anywhere and do anything for the Lord. He wanted to proclaim God’s message. The burning coal was touched to Isaiah’s lips because those lips, that were once sinful, would now be used to proclaim God’s truth! (study edited by me but, found here)

Life after this wasn't smooth sailing for Isaiah, but he knew his purpose. He knew the reason God had placed him on this earth, and carried out the plans our Father had for for his life. How fulfilling it must've been for Isaiah to know he was living the story the Creator of the universe had for him!

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