The Lutheran Seminary of Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States "God Pause Daily Devotion" For Tuesday, 26 May 2015 - Scripture: Isaiah 6:1-8

The Lutheran Seminary of Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States "God Pause Daily Devotion" For Tuesday, 26 May 2015 - Scripture: Isaiah 6:1 In the year of King ‘Uziyahu’s death I saw Adonai sitting on a high, lofty throne! The hem of his robe filled the temple. 2 S’rafim stood over him, each with six wings — two for covering his face, two for covering his feet and two for flying. 3 They were crying out to each other,

“More holy than the holiest holiness

is Adonai-Tzva’ot!

The whole earth is filled

with his glory!”

4 The doorposts shook at the sound of their shouting, and the house was filled with smoke. 5 Then I said,

“Woe to me! I [too] am doomed! —

because I, a man with unclean lips,

living among a people with unclean lips,

have seen with my own eyes

the King, Adonai-Tzva’ot!”

6 One of the s’rafim flew to me with a glowing coal in his hand, which he had taken with tongs from the altar. 7 He touched my mouth with it and said,

“Here! This has touched your lips.

Your iniquity is gone,

your sin is atoned for.”

8 Then I heard the voice of Adonai saying,

“Whom should I send?

Who will go for us?”

I answered, “I’m here, send me!”[Complete Jewish Bible]

"How can this be?" These words of our theme for this week might describe young Isaiah's response when he came into the temple at a time of deep national mourning for the death of the beloved king Uzziah. Transported by a vision of the King of Kings seated in glory upon the throne, the awe-struck Isaiah immediately signed up for service in the King's mission.

About two months ago, my oldest daughter, Laurie, received a double lung transplant. Over the past six years a mysterious lung disease had progressed ominously and the obstacles to receiving a transplant seemed monumental. Then, one Saturday night in February, Laurie and Steve received a call from the hospital. "Come to Ann Arbor immediately. We have located a match for you and are flying our surgical team to pick up lungs for you." After 13ݢ hours of surgery and two days of sedation with foggy eyes and hoarse voice she greeted her family. With her new lungs she had the promise of a new life. It was a miracle! It was a time to worship God in the spirit of Brandon, Nicodemus and Isaiah, "How can this be?" We cannot understand, but we can praise and thank our God.

We enter your temple with Isaiah, O God, and we are overjoyed that your throne is not empty. In the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Hub Nelson

Retired Pastor, Eden Prairie, Minn. 

Master of Divinity , 1962

Isaiah 6:1 In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lofty; and the hem of his robe filled the temple.

2 Seraphs were in attendance above him; each had six wings: with two they covered their faces, and with two they covered their feet, and with two they flew.

3 And one called to another and said: "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory."

4 The pivots on the thresholds shook at the voices of those who called, and the house filled with smoke.

5 And I said: "Woe is me! I am lost, for I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips; yet my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts!"

6 Then one of the seraphs flew to me, holding a live coal that had been taken from the altar with a pair of tongs.

7 The seraph touched my mouth with it and said: "Now that this has touched your lips, your guilt has departed and your sin is blotted out."

8 Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?" And I said, "Here am I; send me!"[New Revised Standard Version]

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