The worship experience of Isaiah in Chapter 6 of his prophecy sheds great light upon the
meaning and value of worship for us today. Set in about 742 B.C., these events occurred “in the
year that King Uzziah died,” (6:1). Throughout the experience, Isaiah’s attention is focused in four
directions, each of which is instructive for us as we attempt to worship God in a manner pleasing
and acceptable to him. “Worship” may be defined as “acts of reverence paid to God.” It involves
both packs authorized by God, and a proper attitude or frame of heart, (cf. Jn. 4:24). Notice the
four views involved in worship:
Looking Upward (vs. 1-3): In the year that king Uzziah died I saw the Lord sitting upon
a throne, high and lifted up; and his train filled the temple. 2 Above him stood the seraphim: each
one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with
twain he did fly. 3 And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is Jehovah of hosts: the
whole earth is full of his glory. Worship directs our reverent attention upward toward God. God is
the audience of our worship. Although worship is pleasant to the Christian, it is not an exercise in
entertainment or an attempt to please ourselves.
There are times we do not feel as much like worshipping as at other times. We may be
sorrowful, or sad, distracted, full of care. But the worship experience, if properly done, helps us
through those times. We always benefit when we worship God acceptably. Going through the acts
of worship is therapeutic to the worshiper, and this is as God intended. We notice that when the
early church continued in praising and worshiping God, they were a happy and glad people, (Acts
2:46-47).
Looking Inward (vs. 4-5): And the foundations of the thresholds shook at the voice of him
that cried, and the house was filled with smoke. 5 Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because
I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have
seen the King, Jehovah of hosts. Isaiah immediately recognized his own unworthiness. They
worship experience humbled him, as it should us. As beautifully expressed in the old song, Beneath
the Cross of Jesus, “And from my stricken heart with tears two wonders I confess, the wonders of
redeeming love and my unworthiness.”
To the Christian, worship is a time of introspection. It presents a stark contrast between
Almighty God and ourselves. It causes us to review our lives and make necessary adjustments.
“But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread, and drink of the cup,” (1 Cor.
11:28). In worship, we are faced with gods call to do better, to rise to the challenge he sets before
us, to conform our lives to that of his Son.
Looking Outward (vs. 6-7): Then flew one of the seraphim unto me, having a live coal in
his hand, which he had taken with the tongs from off the altar: 7 and he touched my mouth with it,
and said, Lo, this hath touched thy lips; and thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin forgiven.
Christian worship is a release, a catharsis, a healing. It gives us the ability to go on in life, to make
a difference in this world. It purifies us so that we can help others.
A clear understanding of God’s grace, and the cleansing of our own sins, is necessary for
us to have a correct view of the world in which we live. It allows us to see things as they are. Such
a view is not always pleasant, because it reminds us of the desperate need of the sinful people all
around us. It reminds us that they are lost in sin. It causes us to be thankful that we have been
cleansed, and it makes evangelism possible.
Looking Forward (vs. 8ff): And I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I
send, and who will go for us? Then I said, Here am I; send me. 9 And he said, Go, and tell this
people… When we leave the assembly, Christian duty and service is not left behind. We leave
renewed, refreshed, and ready to serve. Worship reminds us that we live in a sinful world,
desperately in need of Jesus Christ and the gospel. We go forth with a renewed determination, to
spread the gospel to others, to invite them to truly worship God!
Four Views in Worship
