Chapter 2 really reinforced the idea that the closer we come to God’s holiness, the more clearly we see ourselves. Isaiah was a man of integrity and was considered by his peers to be the most righteous man in the nation. Yet even he, after catching a glimpse of the holy God, was shattered. His view of himself was lofty when compared to other people, but when compared to God, he was completely overwhelmed.
Isaiah’s realization centered on his unclean lips. This reminded me of Jesus’ teaching that what comes out of a person reveals the condition of the heart. Isaiah came to see that the problem was not only his own sin but also the sin of the people around him. As Sproul explains, Isaiah gained a new understanding of how pervasive sin is.
What encouraged me most was that God did not leave Isaiah in his guilt. After revealing his sin, God provided cleansing before calling him into service. That reminded me that God’s grace draws us closer to Him and prepares us to serve Him.
I am reminded of the old adage, “comparison is the thief of joy.” Have we become too comfortable comparing ourselves to others instead of measuring ourselves against God’s holiness? I wonder how different the world would be if we kept Isaiah’s vision in mind more often.
