Wednesday's Word: Adonai Tzva'ot: Lord Of Heaven's Armies

 

 

"Let them praise the name of the LORD, for His name alone is exalted;
His splendor is above the earth and the heavens."
(Psalm 148:13)

 "...I saw the Lord seated on a throne, high and exalted; and the train of
  His robe filled the temple. Above Him stood seraphim, each having six wings: 
With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet,  
and with two they were flying. And they were calling out to one another:
 "Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of Hosts; all the earth is full of His glory."
(Isaiah 6:1-3)
 

"Therefore, God exalted Him to the highest place and gave Him the name above all names,
that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in the heaven and on earth and under the
earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." 
(Philippians 2:9)

"...all the earth is full of His glory." 
(Isaiah 6:3)
Image courtesy/Freepik

 

 

 What The Prophet Isaiah Saw

"In this figurative vision, the temple is thrown open to view, even the most holy place.
The prophet, standing outside the temple, sees the Divine Presence seated on the
mercy-seat, raised over the Ark of the Covenant, between the cherubim and seraphim,
and the Divine glory filled the whole temple. 

See God upon His throne. The vision is explained:  

"Isaiah said these things because he saw Jesus' glory and spoke about Him."
(John 12:41)

which is a full proof that our Saviour is God.  In Christ Jesus, God is seated on
the throne of grace; and through Him the way into the holiest is laid open. See
God's temple, His church on earth, filled with His glory. His train, the skirts
of His robes, filled the temple, the whole world, for it is all God's temple.

And yet, He dwells in every contrite heart. See the blessed attendants by whom
His government is served. Above the throne stood the holy angels, called seraphim,
which means burners; they burn in love to God, and zeal for His glory against sin. 
The seraphim showing their faces veiled, declare that they are ready to yield 
obedience to all God's commands, though they do not understand the secret
reasons for His counsels, government, or promises.

All vain-glory, ambition, ignorance, and pride, would be done away by one view
of Christ in His glory.  The awful vision of the Divine Majesty overwhelmed the
prophet with a sense of his own vileness. We are undone if there is not a Mediator
between us and this holy God.  A glimpse of heavenly glory is enough to convince
us that all our righteousness are as filthy rags. Nor is there a man that would dare
to speak to the Lord, if he saw the justice, holiness, and majesty of God, without
discerning His glorious mercy and grace in Jesus Christ.

"Then one of the seraphim flew to me, and in his hand was a glowing coal that
he had taken with tongs from the altar. And with it he touched my mouth and said:
"Now that this has touched your lips, your iniquity is removed and your sin is atoned for." 
(Isaiah 6:6-7)

The live coal may denote the assurance given to the prophet, of pardon, and
acceptance in his work through the atonement of Christ.  Nothing is powerful 
to cleanse and comfort the soul, but what is taken from Christ's satisfaction
and intercession.  The taking away of sin is necessary to our speaking with
confidence and comfort, either to God in prayer, or from God in preaching;
and those shall have their sin taken away who complain of it as a burden,
and see themselves in danger of being undone by it. 

"Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send? Who will
go for Us? And I said, "Here am I. Send me." 
(Isaiah 6:8)

It is a great comfort to those whom God sends, that they go for God, and
may therefore speak His name assured that He will bear them out." 

-Matthew Henry's Commentary