Chapter 91—God’s Care for His Work
It was under circumstances of difficulty and discouragement that
Isaiah, while yet a young man, was called to the prophetic mission.
Disaster was threatening his country. By their transgression of God’s
law the people of Judah had forfeited His protection, and the Assyrian
forces were about to come against the kingdom of Judah. But the
danger from their enemies was not the greatest trouble. It was the
perversity of the people that brought upon the Lord’s servant the
deepest depression. By their apostasy and rebellion they were inviting
the judgments of God. The youthful prophet had been called to bear
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to them a message of warning, and he knew that he would meet with
obstinate resistance. He trembled as he viewed himself and thought
of the stubbornness and unbelief of the people for whom he was to
labor. His task seemed to him almost hopeless. Should he in despair
relinquish his mission and leave Israel undisturbed to their idolatry?
Were the gods of Nineveh to rule the earth in defiance of the God of
heaven?
Such thoughts as these were crowding upon his mind as he stood
under the portico of the holy temple. Suddenly the gate and the inner
veil of the temple seemed to be uplifted or withdrawn, and he was
permitted to gaze within, upon the holy of holies, where even the
prophet’s feet might not enter. There rose up before him a vision
of Jehovah sitting upon a throne high and lifted up, while His train
filled the temple. On each side the throne hovered the seraphim, two
wings bearing them up, two veiling their faces in adoration, and two
covering their feet. These angel ministers lifted up their voices in
solemn invocation, “Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord of hosts: the whole
earth is full of His glory,” until post and pillar and cedar gate seemed
to tremble at the sound, and the house was filled with their praise.
Never before had Isaiah realized so fully the greatness of Jeho-
vah or His perfect holiness; and he felt that in his human frailty and
unworthiness he must perish in that divine presence. “Woe is me!”
he cried; “for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and
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