Isaiah 6:7, commentary and pictures

In the temple Isaiah beholds the Lord high and lifted up with seraphim crying Holy, holy, holy, and feeling undone by that holiness he confesses himself a man of unclean lips among a people of unclean lips. One of the seraphim then flies to him with a live coal from the altar and presses it upon his mouth with the assurance that his iniquity is taken away and his sin purged. The touch signifies cleansing and sanctification, the full and free removal of guilt and expiation of sin received through Jesus the sin-bearer when the sinner beholds God, repents and confesses in humiliation. It is the purifying fire of the Holy Spirit upon heart and lips, transforming the whole person and tuning speech to pure, wise, kind and truthful words that praise God and build others up. Only so cleansed is he fitted and empowered to answer God's call to go, with lips touched by heavenly fire to proclaim Christ and present truth with power that convicts and converts.

Vision Setting and Action

In the temple Isaiah sees the Lord sitting upon a throne high and lifted up, with His train filling the temple. Seraphim fly before Him, covering their faces and their feet with their wings as they cry Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts and declare the whole earth full of His glory. As they cry the posts of the door shake and the house is filled with smoke.

Beholding that purity and holiness and majesty and glory, Isaiah feels undone. He confesses that he is a man of unclean lips dwelling in the midst of a people of unclean lips, because his eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts. In that light he knows his own unworthiness and his imperfection and inefficiency, and that left to himself he would be utterly unable to do the work he is called to do.

Then one of the seraphim flies to him with a live coal taken with tongs from off the altar. He lays it upon Isaiah's mouth and presses it to his lips. The touch is accompanied by the declaration, Lo, this hath touched thy lips, and thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin purged.

That vision is given to assure Isaiah as he undertakes his prophetic mission. It shows heaven closely connected with events upon the earth, and God caring for those who are loyal to Him.

Cleansing and Pardon Given

The touch of the coal upon the lips signifies cleansing and sanctification, the taking away of iniquity, the purging of sin, the removal of guilt and its expiation. It comes after confession, answering the recognition of uncleanness before the holy Lord. That recognition is of being a man of unclean lips dwelling among a people of unclean lips in the presence of divine glory, with a sense of imperfection and inefficiency for the work called to do. The cleansing relieves distress over that uncleanness and prepares for mission and service.

The touch is the refining Spirit coming upon the man, the Holy Spirit purifying by fire. It is the baptism of the Holy Spirit upon the human mind, bringing deep and thorough transformation of heart needed for God's work. By it blind, faltering, misunderstanding disciples are renewed and converted and enabled to see the living oracles in a new light. Prayer opens the worker to that renewing influence, and Christ's living principles thus touch the soul while the live coal touches the lips to fit for service.

Forgiveness given in the touch is full and free. It comes as the sinner beholds God, sees His character, recognizes unworthiness, and is humbled. In that beholding pardon and peace are found, revealing divine compassion. The one pardoned rises changed, longing for Israel to be freed from sin and its penalty.

The live coal of pardon placed on the lips is forgiveness received through Jesus the sin-bearer and all-sufficient sacrifice from the altar of atonement. When sinners look intently and undividedly to Him, earnestly seek the living God, repent and confess with true remorse while hid in the cleft of the rock and sensing His sacrifice, the coal is transferred to touch defiled lips. It is pledge and fulfillment of the promise of pardon, with iniquity taken away. It gives more distinct views of Jesus, imparts the greatest and truest joy, tunes defiled lips broken out in gladness to the highest praise, and reveals God's wonderful love in giving His only begotten Son.

The cleansing reaches both lips and soul, refining and purifying speech and heart. It cleanses the tongue and the voice and the whole person, sanctifying them for holy speech so the mouth can offer praise. Those handling God's work without light from heaven need this before judgment and words can be right, and those confessing sin need support and encouragement in it rather than humiliation by others.

Fitted to Answer Call

The touch of the live coal taken with tongs from the altar upon the mouth takes away iniquity and purges sin after confession of uncleanness before God's glory, and that cleansing is what fits a person to be sent. Seeing the Lord high and lifted up with the seraphim crying Holy, holy, holy makes Isaiah feel undone as a man of unclean lips dwelling among a people of unclean lips, and every worker chosen of God feels the same unfitness and inability for the work. The seraph's declaration that iniquity is taken away and sin purged is the refining Spirit coming upon him, relieving his distress and strengthening him, and only after it does he feel fit to answer when God asks whom to send by offering himself to go as a heaven-sent messenger entrusted with God's message. The same pattern is seen when Peter was called after renouncing self-reliance, and the lesson of the chapter is to be taken to heart in service for God.

The same touching of the lips with fire from the altar, taking away iniquity and purging sin, is acted over and over again for canvassers and all workers in God's grand work. It comes to those who press close to the side of Christ, wear His yoke, daily learn from Him, and are imbued with His own Spirit by Christ the great Teacher, who cleanses and prepares humble, consecrated workers willing to engage in any line of service. Thus fitted, they sound the note of warning in the byways and highways to prepare a people for the great day of God, ministering to souls who know not the truth for this time. They carry messages of peace and comfort to the sorrowing, disappointed, sad and brokenhearted, and carry tracts and books to all places of the earth, with the live coal first touching the lips and cleansing from all impurity so that the words spoken afterward are wise and holy words that reach the soul.

Fitted by the taking away of iniquity, Isaiah receives the plain duty to lift his voice in protest against prevailing evils and to deliver messages of warning and entreaty to rebellious Judah. Through his lifetime he must remain a patient, courageous teacher as a prophet of hope as well as doom, for evils multiplied through many generations could not be removed in his day and success is not immediate. His burden for erring Judah was not borne in vain and his mission was not wholly fruitless, for the divine purpose would finally be accomplished and the full fruit of his efforts with all faithful messengers would appear in a remnant saved. The experience represents cleansing and sanctification through connection with God, teaching reverence for God and holy things and the difference between what is sacred and what is common, needed by those who serve in God's institutions and explain Scripture. Lips and hearts not touched by God must not be entrusted with sacred work, and those who explain Scripture must first have their own lips cleansed from sin.

The cleansing requires deep humiliation and coming into close relationship with God, with spiritual vision to discern the things presented to Isaiah. It comes when a person makes haste to get ready, washes and becomes clean, and stops faultfinding, sarcastic words, and talk about others and their treatment, which does no good, for only God can break the spell and show the mass of rubbish accumulated about the soul. Approaching the mercy seat under the bow of promise with contrite heart and seeking the kingdom of heaven with forceful earnestness as Jacob did brings pardon that answers earnest prayer born of deep need. When the coal touches the lips God declares the person clean, gives a clear-cut, living testimony burning with holy fire that stirs hearts to conversion and awakening instead of tame, commonplace discourses that lull people to carnal security, puts pure words of love in the mouth, makes believers living channels of light whose message is God's power to save, empties the heart of self, fills it with praise and gratitude, and makes them sharp sickles in the harvest field.

Lips Empowered to Proclaim

The live coal is both cleansing and empowering, the sign of purification and of the strength given to true servants for their work. When they give themselves wholly and admit their unworthiness, their lips are touched and made clean, and then they are sent out to labor together with divine help. Their speech and conduct become pure, true, loving and helpful to others. They gain a clearer sight of divine greatness and willingness to aid, learn the sacredness of the task, and turn away from whatever would bring dishonor.

No one is ready to speak for God until that touch has first come upon the lips. The contact removes impurity and makes iniquity to be taken away and sin purged. Words then become wise and holy, spoken earnestly and with power so that they reach the heart and move the soul deeply. Through the Holy Spirit the speaker learns what to utter and what to withhold, and is made eloquent in praise and in declaring truth.

Lips so touched speak by heaven's power and inspiration, not from personal notions, set phrases, human wisdom, invented fables, or novel and strange conjectures offered as necessary truth. They do not fall into dull, lifeless, pointless discourse that conforms to the world, borrows the world's ideas, speaks smooth things, and sends hearers to sleep. In place of such tame sermonizing there is a living testimony with a certain trumpet sound. It is plain, loving witness that brings conviction of sin, sorrow for wrong, death to self, daily victory over defects of character, and the new birth.

The one whose lips are touched has a heart made holy by truth, has been with God, and has drawn near in earnest, effectual, fervent prayer. Vital heavenly fire has been felt, the Holy Spirit has fallen upon him, and he pleads to be touched and strengthened for duty and trial. He lifts up Jesus as the sinner's only hope from living experience, his words become living realities to himself and others, and he compares spiritual things with spiritual. Power is given to throw down Satan's strongholds, hearts are broken by the love of God set forth, and many are led to ask what they must do to be saved.

None can succeed by moving in his own spirit or bringing a human spirit into the work, but must meet Christ alone in private prayer, be filled with the Holy Spirit, and draw all efficiency from God. So cleansed, messengers carry a preciousness of truth like Moses coming down with shining face from communion, like the high priest coming forth from the holy of holies, like Isaiah fresh from seeing the Lord high and lifted up with His glory filling the temple. What they bear is the doctrine of the cross and the imputed righteousness of Christ, definite present truth, the last message of mercy given under a sense of coming judgment. It goes forth not in word only but in divine power to everyone who believes, and the divine utterance confirms and seals it as genuine truth that leads souls step by step out of the world into clear light.

The same touch rested on the disciples and on Paul, giving eloquence, power and new tongues, so that Bible truth from sanctified lips flashed light into darkened minds and converted thousands. It still fits ministers to speak words of life to those lacking wisdom from above, with hearts filled and imbued with the Holy Spirit. It makes missionaries earnest and pure in speech as they speak and intercede to draw sinners to the Saviour, makes canvassers fit to carry comfort, and makes every testimony life-giving. Hearts subdued by grace thus bear a clear message that attracts hearers and brings conviction and sanctification to receptive hearts.

Transformed Speech and Life

Cleansed lips mean sanctified speech, pure and Christlike, truthful, wise, kind, tender and encouraging, full of hope and cheer to revive the weary and distressed. The coal from the altar takes iniquity away and purges sin from speech, cleansing the heart from defilement and the tongue from hurtful words so the believer confesses Christ in word and deed and speaks only what is approved by God. Harsh, unjust, cruel, unadvised, self-assured and unkind talk, scandalous and hurtful words, extravagant condemnation, and evil thinking in thought, word and deed are sin and transgression that spoil souls, harm influence, damage God's work, and unfit teachers for service, and they must be removed by the Holy Spirit so the life is brought into conformity to the divine will.

Without this cleansing the lips utter surly, sharp, hasty, ungentlemanly words and severe denunciations even against those who err in ignorance, harming those under trust who should be treated as students in a school and patiently taught as learners. With it the mouth is made fit to build up the family and others in grace, speaking only truth with wisdom and purity.

The touch gives a converted tongue joined to converted character, mind, hands and feet with power from above, with conscientious conduct in every transaction, teachableness, and the fading of self-esteem and stubbornness as darkness gives way to light and hope. God gives this to self-sacrificing young and old, young men and women as well as older workers, called at the eleventh hour with the cooperation of heavenly intelligences to fill places made vacant by apostasy and death when the work grows harder and the people more hardened. These faithful workers receive their penny and replace those not fitted for a place in the heavenly temple, and by walking humbly before God and doing only what God appoints without inventing new plans they move steadily onward and upward and carry the work forward to completion.

The coal placed upon the lips makes clean, enlarges narrow piety, vitalizes, and enables humble walking with God. It takes away self-exaltation and rivalry and brings decided effort to harmonize with others, to wear Christ's yoke and learn obedience from Him with faith that works by love and purifies the soul, with self sunk out of sight and Christ exalted. By following His example of meekness and lowliness of heart the soul finds rest in the pure, holy love of God, with no strife for supremacy, no envy, and no evil surmising.

Cleansed lips pour forth songs, lifting the voice in Psalms 121, 125 and 126 with the spirit and with the understanding also, while the angelic host joins with those who sing in this way. The live coal of pardon is the Holy Spirit's work as sinners behold Jesus the sin-bearer and all-sufficient sacrifice from the altar of atonement, and awareness of that sacrifice tunes the lips to praise and reveals God's wonderful love in giving His only begotten Son. Lips defiled by sin, once touched, can then offer praise.

Coming up into the mount where the live coal touches heart and lips kindles holy fire within, giving new zeal and greater devotion to God and His work. It brings a higher state of consecration that ennobles, elevates, makes heavenly-minded in words, deportment and soul, enriches experience, increases prayer, and makes faith more perfect and known by its fruits as the true evidence of the work. That fire kindles the torch of truth to be carried into the sin-darkened field to rescue the downtrodden and degraded who because of past slavery cannot help themselves, and beginning at once the neglected rescue work redeems the neglect so that iniquity is taken away, sin is purged, and the dark stain on the record is wiped out.

No one can succeed moving in his own spirit or by driving and rushing matters, but must first have the lips touched, meeting Christ alone in private prayer whatever the duties may be, being imbued with the Holy Spirit, deriving efficiency from God, bringing no human spirit into the work, and doing only His work with sacred fire of His own kindling. So cleansed and empowered, messengers lay hold of power that will move the world, bearing the doctrine of the cross and imputed righteousness not in word only but in the power of God to everyone who believes, with a preciousness of truth like Moses descending with glorified face from communion, the high priest reappearing from the holy of holies, and Isaiah fresh from beholding the Lord high and lifted up. The cleansing prepares the true watchman to speak correct statements only and to give a clear, reliable trumpet sound, unlike speech shaped by pride, bitterness, or a spirit unlike Christ's.

Ministers and workers are to plead with God to sanctify their lips and strengthen them for duty and trial, and God touches them to take away iniquity and purge sin, making the heart full of the Holy Spirit and the lips fit to bear a plain, clear message of Bible truth with earnestness and power amid departing from the faith and delusions drawing away from definite present truth. Receiving a clearer view of God's greatness, purity, love, power and readiness to help changes the words that come from the heart, giving converted tongues that melt and subdue souls with the love of Jesus burning within, proclaiming plain standing truth supported by a converted life as a savor of life or death, speaking without blame with earnest prayers for pardon and blessing, and sending a solemn straightforward testimony sustained by self-denial and economy. Touched lips are made fit to answer God's call and point to the Lamb of God, so that Christ speaks through the messenger, words reach and deeply affect the soul, and are no longer empty.