The Need To Speak

In the year King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord. He was sitting on a lofty throne, and the train of his robe filled the Temple. Isaiah 6:1

Isaiah saw the Lord. What he saw was spectacular! The train of God’s robe filled the temple. Angels flew about shouting praises: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty! The whole earth is filled with his glory!” they sang over and over (Isaiah 6:3). The glory of the Lord filled the whole sanctuary.

Isaiah’s first reaction was to admit his inadequacy. “My destruction is sealed, for I am a sinful man and a member of a sinful race,” was his personal summary of his life (v. 5). But in the midst of this wondrous, awesome experience, one of the angels touched his tongue with a burning coal and pronounced him clean and forgiven before God.

Then Isaiah could no longer remain quiet. Once he had seen the glory of God, he had to speak. He had no choice but to speak about God’s glory and grace. He had to speak about God’s judgment. He had to speak about the blindness of mankind. He had to speak about eternity. He had to speak about his own amazement that God had chosen him.

When the glory of God becomes a reality for you, when God himself pronounces you forgiven, you cannot keep quiet. You have to tell someone your story. You are compelled to describe to others the wonderful works of God so that they will not miss out on the glory.

Lord, keep me quiet about the things that don’t matter and keep me talking about your glory.