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The Living Coal, August 16
Isaiah 6:1-10
Then flew one of the seraphims unto me, having a live coal in his hand,
which he had taken with the tongs from off the altar: and he laid it upon
my mouth, and said, Lo, this hath touched thy lips; and thine iniquity is
taken away, and thy sin purged.
Isaiah 6:6, 7
.
Isaiah had denounced the sin of others; but now he sees himself exposed to
the same condemnation he had pronounced upon them. He had been satisfied
with a cold, lifeless ceremony in his worship of God. He had not known this
until the vision was given him of the Lord. How little now appeared his wisdom
and talents as he looked upon the sacredness and majesty of the sanctuary. How
unworthy he was! how unfitted for sacred service! ...
The vision given to Isaiah represents the condition of God’s people in the
last days. They are privileged to see by faith the work that is going forward in
the heavenly sanctuary. “And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and
there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament.” As they look by faith into
the holy of holies, and see the work of Christ in the heavenly sanctuary, they
perceive that they are a people of unclean lips,—a people whose lips have often
spoken vanity, and whose talents have not been sanctified and employed to the
glory of God. Well may they despair as they contrast their own weakness and
unworthiness with the purity and loveliness of the glorious character of Christ.
But if they, like Isaiah, will receive the impression the Lord designs shall be
made upon the heart, if they will humble their souls before God, there is hope
for them. The bow of promise is above the throne, and the work done for Isaiah
will be performed in them. God will respond to the petitions coming from the
contrite heart
We want the living coal from off the altar placed upon our lips. We want to
hear the word spoken, “Thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin purged.
The live coal is symbolical of purification. If it touches the lips, no impure
word will fall from them
[235]
22
Ibid., 1139
.
23
Ibid
.
24
Ibid., 1141
.
243