Pelajaran 9 _Isnin 22 Ogos_

Monday
August 22
The Call of Isaiah
While Hosea, Amos, and Micah were warning Israel of their imminent danger, Judah seemed to be prospering under the reign of several good kings. King Uzziah (also known as Azariah) was known and respected among the nations for his wise leadership and accomplishments (see 2 Chron. 26:1–15). But, as often happens, his success became his downfall. Humility was replaced by pride and devotion by presumption (see vss. 16–21).
The people of Judah appeared to be prospering spiritually, as well. The temple services were well-attended with a formality of religious fervor. Yet, many of the same evils that afflicted the people of Israel were fast corrupting the kingdom of Judah. It is at this time that the Lord calls Isaiah to His special work.

Read Isaiah 6:1–8. Why do you think Isaiah would respond as he did (vs. 5) upon seeing a vision of the Lord? What important theological truth is revealed here?
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
Try to imagine Isaiah’s overwhelming reaction to this heavenly revelation of the glory of God. Suddenly he sees his own sins and the sins of his people standing out in bold relief against the spotless purity and the majestic holiness of Almighty God. No wonder he reacted as he did! It is hard to imagine anyone doing otherwise.
Here we see played out before us a crucial and foundational truth regarding the state of humanity, especially in contrast to the holiness and glory of God. We see an attitude of repentance, of a willingness to acknowledge one’s own sinfulness, one’s own need of grace.
Think for a moment of what our worship services would be like were leaders to elicit in the worshipers a sense that they have been in the presence of our Holy God, which in turn makes them deeply aware of their own sinfulness and need of His saving grace and cleansing power. Imagine if the singing, the liturgy, the prayer, and the preaching worked together in a way to lead us each time to faith, to repentance, to cleansing, and to a willingness to cry out, “Here I am; send me.” That is what worship should be about.

Imagine yourself standing in the physical presence of Jesus. That is, if He was standing in the flesh right before you. What would your reaction be? What would you say? Or do? What about His promise to us in Matthew 28:20? What does that promise mean to us now, on a practical level?

p/s. sorry, I'm a bit busy.. no time to type in malay version...