The Presence of Seraphim and Holiness of God

Part 4
Author: BJ Isaacs

Thirdly, the presence of Seraphim angels can have visible effect in the visible world. Isaiah the prophet was at the temple when he had this vision. Now I know that the question can arise, "was the temple he saw the earthly temple or the heavenly one?" I really do not know, but my opinion is that it was the earthly one (Solomon's temple). The reason why, is that in verse three the seraphim angels had just finished crying, " the whole earth is full of His glory". Therefore, when we come into verse 4 it seems logical to assume that we are still talking about the earth being filled with His glory. If that is the case then we see the presence of the Seraphim having a visible effect in the earthly realm when they cry. For Isaiah 6:4 says, "And the posts of the door moved at the voice of him who cried, and the house was filled with smoke." So then, the ministry of the Seraphim angels can manifest in the physical world. It is important to note that these visible manifestations came when the seraphim pointed out the holiness of God. The house being filled with smoke is an indication of the presence of God. We know that from the dedication of King Solomon's temple which can be read about in the book of first Kings 8:10-11. There we read: "And it came to pass, when the priests came out of the holy place, that the cloud filled the house of the LORD, so that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud; for the glory of the LORD had filled the house of the LORD." It is the awareness of the holiness of God that prepares the way for the temple to be filled with the glory of God. If this house of God (the church) or this house of God (our bodies) is to be filled with the glory of the LORD then we must hear the cry of the seraphim. We must become acutely aware of the holiness of God.

The Humbling of God's People

A by-product of the Seraphim's work is a humbling of God's people. When God's people hear the cry of the seraphim and the house of God is filled with the glory of God. God's people became aware of their sinfulness. When the prophet Isaiah stood in the presence of the seraphim's work he became acutely aware of his sinfulness and cried out "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, the LORD of hosts" (Isaiah 6:5)/ When the Seraphim cry men become aware of their sinfulness, not because the seraphim cry but because their cry points to a HOLY God.

Seraphim Play a Role in Ministering

If I am rightly dividing the word of truth, Seraphim play a role in ministering the application of the blood of the Lamb for the cleansing of God's saints. In particular, the cleansing in this passage has to do with the cleansing of the words that come from our mouths. Please notice that Isaiah is already a servant of the LORD before this event in chapter six occurs. As a servant of God when he was made aware of the holiness of God he cried out about his unclean lips. It is entirely possible to be a servant of God and yet to be unaware of His holiness. Because we are unaware of his holiness we do not recognize the garbage that comes across our lips. Jesus said that out of the abundance of the heart a man speaks. When cursing and complaints and bitterness are all that comes across our lips it is because we do not have an awareness of the holiness of God. It is because we can no longer hear the cry of the seraphim. For when we hear the seraphim cry we will be aware of our unclean lips. When Isaiah became aware of his unclean lips, he cried out in repentance about them. The moment that Isaiah cried out about his unclean lips, notice the response of the seraphim. The seraph immediately flies to the altar and takes tongs and lifts one hot coal from the altar to purge the lips of Isaiah. The coals on the altar is where the blood that remained in the sacrificial lamb would drop onto the not coals. It was the blood of the lamb upon the coal to touch his lips. My friend there was a coal upon that altar for the lips of Isaiah and there is a coal upon the altar for your lips and mine. But the seraphim will only come with the coal to cleanse your lips once you have recognized the holiness of God and have cried out about the uncleanness of your lips. Until the seraphim have cleansed your lips, out of your mouth will continue to come the bitterness, filth, grumbling, complaining, and dissatisfaction about what is happening in your life.

The Ministry of the Seraphim to the Saints

Finally, it appears to me that the ministry of the Seraphim to the saints of God is when we are emotionally drained. It is at times of sorrow that the seraphim may be dispatched to minister to us. Isaiah recorded in this chapter that this vision occurred in the year of King Uzziah died, Isaiah was a friend and a minister to King Uzziah, we know from scripture that Uzziah had reigned in Jerusalem for 52 years and had been a godly king up until the end of his life. In 2 Chronicles 26:16, we are told that Uzziah decided that he could enter the temple and offer incense upon the altar. God immediately struck him with leprosy. He remained a leper until the day of his death. What a horrible end for a life that had been lived so gloriously for the LORD. When Uzziah died, more than likely Isaiah's heart was filled with sorrow. It is at this point that he heard the seraphim cry. When we are at our lowest points God often allows us to see eternity in contrast to the temporariness of time. Uzziah the earthly king was dead but God was still on his throne.

Today, as the Spirit of God is tugging at your heart, you may need to once again hear the cry of Seraphim.
1. You may be a child of God but you are not keenly aware of the holiness of God and you need to hear the cry of the Seraphim. I want you to come to the altar today.
2. You may be here today and you are full of bitterness and complaints and your lips are unclean, you need that coal from the alter to cleanse your lips with the blood of the Lamb, Jesus Christ. I want you to come today.
3. You may be reading this and need the cry of the seraphim to humble you as they point you to the Holy God.
4. Satan right now may be offering you a glory that is not his to offer, you need the cry of the seraphim to re-focus your eyes on the fact that the whole earth is filled with the glory of the LORD.

For whatever reason you need to hear the cry of the Seraphim, I want you to open your heart, God will meet you where you stand, If you have never given your life to Christ Jesus, come and be washed in the blood of the Lamb.