JULY 27

No Old Testament book gives such a full picture of Jesus
Christ as the Book of Isaiah does. We see His birth (chapter 7:14),
which can be paralleled with Matthew 1:23; we see the ministry of
John the Baptist (chapter 40); Christ anointed by the Holy Spirit
(chapter 62); Christ the Servant (chapter 42); Israel’s rejection of
Christ (chapter 66); and many other things paralleled with New
Testament Scriptures.

John 12:38-41 tells us that Isaiah saw Jesus Christ in His
glory. After seeing Christ, Isaiah looked at himself, and saw his
own sinful condition and failures. A true vision of God and His
holiness always makes us realize our shortcomings. Job saw God and
repented. Peter cried out, “I am a sinful man!” when he saw Christ’s
glory and power. Self-righteous Saul saw that his own righteousness
was but “garbage” compared to the glory of Christ. When a believer
has a true experience with the Lord, it does not make him proud; it
humbles and breaks him.

When Isaiah confessed his sins, he mentioned especially his
unclean lips. Unclean lips are the products of unclean hearts. The
prophet knew that he could not faithfully preach for the Lord unless
he was prepared and cleansed. How different from some Christians who
rush out to win souls to Christ before taking time to meet the Lord
and be cleansed. God did meet Isaiah’s need. He sent a seraphim to
cleanse him with a coal off the altar. Note that it was more
important for the seraphim to equip Isaiah to be a soul-winner than
to praise God! True worship ought to lead to witnessing and soul-
winning. Too many Christians want to hold on to a “spiritual
experience” with the Lord, rather than be prepared to go out to
share the Lord with others. The times of prayer and rejoicing with
the Lord are precious, but Proverbs 11:30 says, “He that winneth
souls is wise.” The Lord commissioned each of His redeemed to be
soul-winners.