Exodus: Bondage, Deliverance, and Passover: As Yet

Has A Live Coal Touched Your Lips?

Transcript: AI Transcript

Professor: John Weaver

Subject: Old Testament Studies

Genre: Sermon

Dictation Name:

Date: 2023-03-22

Synopsis: In this sermon, Pastor John Weaver examines Isaiah 6:1-11, focusing on the vision of God's holiness and the seraph touching Isaiah's lips with a live coal from the altar. He argues that the coal represents Jesus Christ and His atoning work, which alone can cleanse sin. Weaver emphasizes that seeing God's holiness reveals human depravity, that salvation is entirely God's initiative, and that believers need continual cleansing for service. The message calls for personal examination: 'Has a live coal touched your lips?'

[John Weaver] You would please to the book of Isaiah chapter 6 Isaiah chapter 6 and we're going to be reading probably the first 11 verses and We'll come back and take care of a context just momentarily but the title of the message is Has a live coal touched your lips? Has a live coal touched your lips? So notice verse one. And the year the king Uzziah died, I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne high and lifted up and his train filled the temple and above it stood the seraphims. Each one had six wings with 20 covered his face and with 20 covered his feet with 20 did fly. And one cried into another and said, holy, holy, holy. the Lord of hosts the whole earth is full of his glory and The post of the door moved at the voice of him that cried and the house was filled with smoke Then said I woe is me for I'm undone Because I'm a man of unclean lips and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips for mine eyes I've seen the king the Lord of hosts Then flew one of the seraphims unto me having a live coal in his hand which he had taken with tongs from off the altar And he laid it upon my mouth, and said, Lo, this hath touched

[John Weaver] thy lips, and thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin purged. Also I heard the voice of the Lord saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I, send me. And he said, Go and tell this people, Hear ye indeed, but understand not, and see ye indeed, but perceive not. Make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes, lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and convert, and be healed. Then said I, Lord, how long?

[John Weaver] And he answered, until the cities be wasted without inhabitant, and the houses without man, and the land be utterly desolate. I have no idea how many times I've read through the book of Isaiah. I have no idea how many times I've read Isaiah chapter six. I've also used this passage in a multitude of messages from time to time. But just recently, I was reading through the book of Isaiah again, and a truth jumped out before my eyes that I had not even contemplated before, and I had not even questioned the verse probably as I should have. Actually, it's two verses.

[John Weaver] So if you look at verses 6 and 7, Then flew one of the seraphims unto me, having a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with the tongs from off the altar. And he laid it upon my mouth, and said, Lo, this hath touched thy lips, and thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin purged." So the question I ask myself is simply this. Is it possible for a live coal to take away sins and purges from all iniquity?

[John Weaver] We're taught very clearly in the book of Hebrews chapter 9 and verse 22 and almost all things are by the law purged with blood and about the shedding of blood there is no remission and then when you get to the book of Leviticus chapter 17 and verse 11 where God was giving all of the sacrifices he said this For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls. For it is the blood that maketh atonement for the soul." So, since without the shedding of blood there is no remission of sins, we must ask this question, how then can a live coal purge away our sins?

[John Weaver] Now, the Hebrew word that forms the basis of the phrase, a live coal, is the word ritzpah, which literally means a live or glowing coal. It is one that is hot. It is one that is fiery. It is one basically that is red hot. And this is obvious because even the seraphim had to use tongs to take it from the altar. So it was a very live coal and glowing coal as well.

[John Weaver] Now, before I try to give you the answer to the questions that I've asked, I want you to look at the context with me, because there are a number of truths we must see. In verse 1, the Lord has given Isaiah a vision of himself in his high, holy, majestic person, and in his sovereignty, I might add. It was a memorable event, and it took place in the year that King Uzziah died. He saw the Lord high, lifted up, seated upon the throne, and the Bible says His train filled the temple. So the train would be the long-flowing robe, or at least the hymn of that robe.

[John Weaver] So he sees God in His holiness. He sees God in His majesty in this vision. Now, in the same vision at the same time, he also sees the seraphim and their ministry in proclaiming the holiness of God. I hope you understand that when you read through the Bible, there are seraphim, there are cherubim, and there are angels, and they're not one and the same creatures. Seraphims evidently are more concerned with God's holiness. Cherubim are more concerned with God's justice, because it was cherubim that covered the ark, if you will remember, of the covenant. And, of course, angels, the Bible tells us, are spirit beings, and they are ministering spirits. And they wait upon God, hearkening to His command. And the Bible says also that He sent them to minister unto those who are to be the heirs of salvation.

[John Weaver] So you have the seraphim, and the Bible tells us they have six wings, with twain they cover their face, with twain they cover their feet, with twain they do fly, and they cease not saying, Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord of hosts, the whole earth is full of His glory. So what Isaiah sees and what Isaiah hears in verses 2 and 3 is the fact of a declaration and a revelation of God's holiness as well of his greatness, his majesty, and it had a very most revealing effect upon Isaiah. In fact, it was so powerful, if you look in verse 4, and the posts of the door moved at the voice of him that cried, and the house was filled with smoke. Now, when Isaiah saw this, if you look in verse 5, then said I, woe is me, for I am undone.

[John Weaver] Because I'm 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." So when Isaiah then saw the majesty, the sovereignty, and the holiness of God, he immediately perceived and knew his own wickedness, depravity, uncleanness, and pollution. He understood that he had fallen short, that he had transgressed, that he had not measured up, And therefore he was willing to confess and acknowledge that he was a sinner. But however, I want you to note very clearly, it was not just Isaiah that was the problem. God showed him the nation was the problem because he said in verse five, then said, I was me, I'm undone. Because I'm a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips. So I want to point out something. There is such a thing as individual wickedness, which we all understand. But there's also such a thing as national wickedness. So it's not just Isaiah who was wicked.

[John Weaver] It was the entire nation. And of course, God judged them under the ministry of Isaiah as well. So he cries out, I am undone.

[John Weaver] Now, before I go any further, there are three truths that we must see from verse five. I think these truths are extremely applicable to our lives today. The first one is this. We will never see and understand the greatness of our sins and depravity until we see the greatness of God in His majesty, sovereignty, and His holiness. So let me put it to you several different ways. Number one, when we see God in truth for what He is, we see ourselves in truth for what we are. Stated another way, when God shows us himself, we see ourselves. We will never fully understand the depth and the breadth of our depravity without an understanding of God's infinite holiness.

[John Weaver] That is why in 1 Samuel 2 and verse 2, the Bible says, There is none holy as the Lord, for there is none beside thee, neither is there any rock like our God. So he said, There is none holy as the Lord. So God is infinitely holy. And when we see His holiness, when we see His majesty, when we see His sovereignty, we're going to immediately understand our depravity and our wickedness.

[John Weaver] Now, here's the second truth that's connected with that. It may sound like I'm saying the same thing, but I'm not. I will explain it. Here it is. The more we see and understand His holiness, greatness, and righteousness, the more we see our own depravity. Now, let me explain what I mean by that. I think if we really and truly saw the depth of our depravity at once, we would self-destruct. If we saw the greatness of God's holiness at once, we could not stand it. We understand that there is a vast chasm between an infinitely holy God and a wicked sinner. And the more God reveals to us through His Word and in His providence, His holiness, the more we see our own wickedness and our own depravity.

[John Weaver] Most of us committed immeasurable sins when we were young, and that's why David prayed in Psalm 71, remember not against me the sins of my youth. But you know, the truth of the matter is most people forget about their sins. until they begin to get older. And then all of a sudden, some of these things come back in their minds to haunt them. And they're reminded of what they've done.

[John Weaver] And then each one of us actually begins confessing. And we see how wicked we really were when we were young, in our middle age, and even up to our old age as well. So the point I'm trying to make is this. God does not show us the depth of our depravity all at one time. neither does God show us His infinite holiness all at one time. Let me show you what I'm trying to say. I want you to hold Isaiah 6, but turn in your Bibles to the book of Exodus, chapter 33, Exodus chapter 33, because Moses now has asked God to show him His glory. I want you to see what God says, Exodus chapter 33, and let's begin reading there. with verse 17, Exodus 33 and verse 17. Watch this. And the Lord said unto Moses, I will do this thing also that thou hast spoken, for thou hast found grace in my sight, and I know thee by name. And he said, that is Moses, I beseech thee, show me thy glory.

[John Weaver] That was Moses' request. And he said, this is God speaking now, I will make all my goodness pass before thee, and I will proclaim the name of the Lord before thee, and will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy to whom I will show mercy. And he said, look what God says to Moses, thou canst not see my face, for there shall no man see me and live. And the Lord said, behold, there's a place by me and thou shalt stand upon a rock, and it shall come to pass, while my glory passeth by, that I will put thee in a cliff of the rock, and will cover thee with my hand while I pass by, and I will take away mine hand, and thou shalt see my back parts, but my face shalt thou not see." So God told Moses, you can't see me in all of my glory, in all of my majesty at once.

[John Weaver] If you do, You will die. So he says, I will pass by you. I'll put my hand over you. I'll remove it after I pass by and you can see my back parts. So in light of this, let me tell you the two prayer requests that we should make often. And at the same time, we must understand that these two prayer requests go together. I'm going to repeat that. we must make sure that we understand that these two prayer requests go together.

[John Weaver] The first one is this, Lord, show me myself. And the second one is, Lord, show me thyself. So if God opened our eyes and allowed us to see the depth of our depravity, and the depth of our wickedness, we would indeed self-destruct. But what we need to see is not just our sin and our wickedness and our depravity, but we must also see His holiness, His righteousness, His sovereignty, and we must understand that He, therefore, is the answer to our guilt, our pollution, and our every need. So that is why I'm saying these two prayer requests need to go together. Lord, show me myself, and Lord, show me thyself, because you are the answer to all of my guilt and all of my pollution." Now, there's a third truth that we need to see in Isaiah chapter 6 and verse 5, and that is this. When you see what has happened to Isaiah in his cleansing and in his calling, we must take note of the fact and the reality that the initiative was from the divine side.

[John Weaver] In other words, it was God who first moved. It was God who revealed himself to Isaiah in verses 1 through 4. It was God who opened his eyes. It was God who allowed him to see the seraphim. It was God who allowed him to hear them cry, holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty. It was God who allowed him to see the posts being moved and the house filled with smoke. The initiative is always with God. We never first seek Him.

[John Weaver] He seeks us and finds us. And then we seek him. That's why the scripture says in Luke chapter 19 in verse 10, for the son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost. So the initiative is always God's. Moreover, it was God in this instance that revealed to Isaiah the desperate wickedness of his heart. It was God who revealed to him the wickedness of the people. It was God who revealed to Isaiah his own uncleanness and the state of the nation. That's why Isaiah cried, Woe is me, for I'm undone. I'm a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips, for mine eyes have seen the Lord of hosts. So it was also the Lord who sent the seraph with the cold, to touch Isaiah's lips and cleanse him, salvation and deliverance is always from God alone. That's why in Jonah 2 and verse 9, Jonah proclaimed, salvation is of the Lord. Now, understanding these three truths should enable us then to ascertain the truth concerning the coal that touched Isaiah's mouth.

[John Weaver] The starting point should also be the source of the altar and the fire that created the coal. Now, the altar from which the coal was taken was undoubtedly that which was known as the altar of burnt offering, sometimes referred to as the brazen altar. This brazen altar was always at the door of the tabernacle and or at the door of the temple. So it's called the Brass Altar, the Burn Offering Altar, or the Brazen Altar.

[John Weaver] We must understand that this altar was made at God's command, at God's directions, with God's divinely ordained materials, according to the pattern that God gave Moses. Everything was to be made exactly The way God determined it should be made. So if you would hold Isaiah, but look in your Bibles, first of all, to the book of Exodus chapter 25 and look at verse nine, Exodus 25 and verse nine. This is in reference not only to the tabernacle, but to everything in the tabernacle. So Exodus chapter 25 in verse 9, God says, according to all that I show thee, after the pattern of the tabernacle and the pattern of all the instruments thereof, even so shall you make it. So God gave Moses the pattern. Look, if you would, in the same chapter at verse 40, Exodus 25 in verse 40. Again, God says, and look that thou make them after the pattern which was showed thee in the mount. Now, the point I'm trying to make is this. Moses did not come along one day and just decide, I think I'm going to make an altar.

[John Weaver] Here's what I'm going to do. Here's how I'm going to build it. No, no, no. God directed that altar to be made. He gave Moses the directions, the pattern, and He told him the materials to use.

[John Weaver] Now, if you will turn over in your Bibles to the book of Hebrews chapter 8, and look, if you would please, at verse 5, you'll see this truth again. Hebrews chapter 8 and verse 5. There the Bible says this, Hebrews 8 verse 5, Who serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things, We're talking about the tabernacle in the temple now. Watch this."...who serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things. As Moses was admonished of God when he was about to make the tabernacle, for seeth he that thou make all things according to the pattern showed to thee in the mount." So Moses then was obligated to follow every detail that God commanded and every detail that God outlined.

[John Weaver] Now, if you want to read about this brazen altar, you may do so in Exodus chapter 27, verses 1 through 8, and also Exodus 38, verses 1 through 7. You have there the building of this brazen altar, and it's made of acacia wood, and then, of course, it's covered with brass. I'm going to get some of that a little bit later.

[John Weaver] Now, here's a problem, and I want to try to deal with this problem. The problem is, Isaiah is seeing a heavenly vision. And the coal is taken from off the altar and touches his lips. So here's my question. How could the seraphim reach down to the tabernacle and or the temple, the temple at that time, and take a coal from that altar and then touch Isaiah's mouth. Someone would say, well, the altar was a physical altar. Isaiah is seeing this in a vision, in a dream. So how could that happen? Well, there's an answer. I want you to look in Hebrews chapter nine. I just emphasized it. Hebrews chapter 8 when I read that passage, but if you look in Hebrews chapter 9 verses 23 and 24 in fact Let's go back and begin reading verse 21 Okay Hebrews 9 verse 21 watch this moreover.

[John Weaver] He sprinkled with blood both the tabernacle and all the vessels of the ministry So Moses when he dedicated that tabernacle Sprinkled everything with blood now watch Almost all things are by law purged with blood and without the shedding of blood is no remission Here we go It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in heaven should be purified with these that is the tabernacle the temple and Those were the patterns. Those were the types. Those were the emblems. Those were the shadows. Those were the pictures. So they were purified with the blood of animals. Watch. But the heavenly things, that it would be the heavenly altars, themselves with better sacrifices than these, for Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, that is the tabernacle and the temple, which are the figures or types or emblems of the true, but in heaven itself, now to appear in

[John Weaver] the presence of God for us." So the true tabernacle, the true altar, heaven. Everything that we see in the tabernacle, everything that we see in the temple were nothing more than pictures. That's all there was to it. It was a pattern. It was a type. So the true altar is in heaven. Okay?

[John Weaver] Now, let's consider just for a moment another concept. Because this altar had a fire. And there were burning coals upon this fire. Do you realize that even the brazen altar was divinely lit by God and it was to be continually burning and never to be put out? Let me show you. Look back in your Bibles, first of all, to the book of Leviticus, chapter 9, Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus. Look at Leviticus chapter 9 in verses 23 and 24. Leviticus chapter 9. Look, if you would, please, verse 23 and 24.

[John Weaver] The tabernacle has been set up. Here's what happens. And Moses and Aaron went into the tabernacle of the congregation and came out and blessed the people, and the glory of the Lord appeared unto all the people. And there came a fire out from before the Lord, and consumed upon the altar the burnt offering and the fat, which when all the people saw, they shouted and fell on their faces." So that initial fire was sent by God. Moses did not like that fire. God lit that fire. Now, if you would look back in Leviticus chapter 6, because God is giving directions to Moses on How to make this sacrifice and he's going to start the fire But the Leviticus chapter 6 if you look at verses 12 and 13 God says this and the fire upon the altar shall be burning

[John Weaver] in it It shall not be put out and the priest shall burn wood on it every morning and lay the burn offering in order upon it and And he shall burn thereof the fat of the peace offerings. The fire shall ever be burning upon the altar. It shall never go out. So God is saying that once I light this fire, the purity of the fire must be maintained. Because this is God's fire. This is not man's fire. Nadab and Abihu got into trouble because they took strange fire, fire that they initiated, fire that they began and put in their censers before the Lord and God sent fire and killed both of them. Which is teaching us that anytime God does something and man adds to it, it is a profanation. It is a perversion. And so God immediately struck Nadab and Abihu dead because they offered strange fire.

[John Weaver] Now, fire, of course, speaks of wrath and it speaks of judgment as well. God rained down fire upon Sodom and Gomorrah. Fire is consumed or fire is involved in the final destruction. in the final condemnation, in the final damnation, however you want to say it. Fire is always a sign of wrath and judgment. It is the wrath of the Father against sin and wickedness and everything that is impure and unholy and contrary to God. And let me say this again. It's a picture of the Father's wrath and anger. It's a picture of the Father's judgment.

[John Weaver] So let me show you this. I want you to turn in your Bibles to the book of Genesis chapter 22. Here is a perfect picture of that truth which I'm about to share with you. Look at it. In Genesis chapter 22, this is the passage where God commands Abraham to offer his son Isaac as a burnt offering. Look at it. Verse one. And it came to pass after these things that God did tempt or test Abraham and said of him, Abraham.

[John Weaver] And he said, behold, here I am. And he said, take now thy son, thine only son, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah and offer him therefore a burnt offering upon one of the mountains, which I will tell thee of.

[John Weaver] Now, I want you to note this. God has just told Abraham To offer his only son Isaac. Now, he was an only child by Sarah. It is true Abraham had other children. He had Ishmael. But Isaac is the son of promise. Look in verse 3. And Abraham rose up early in the morning. Most of us would have slept in. Our alarm clock would not have gone off, I can assure you.

[John Weaver] We would have tarried and drug our feet as long as we could have. But Abraham rose up early in the morning, and saddled his ass, and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son.

[John Weaver] Now watch, and claimed the wood for the burnt offering. Who cut the wood? The father, Abraham. He claimed the wood for the burnt offering, and rose up, and went into the place of which God had called him, or told him. Then on the third day, Abraham lifted up his eyes, and saw the place afar off. And Abraham said unto the young men, Abide you here with the ass, and I and the lad will go yonder and worship and come again unto you. Isn't that amazing? See, he believed that if he offered Isaac as a sacrifice, that God would raise him up because of God's promise. Therefore, he said, I and the lad will come again to you. Now watch verse six. Here it is. And Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it upon Isaac his son. And he, Abraham, took the fire in his hand and a knife. The father carried the fire and the knife. And they went, both of them, together. And Isaac spake unto Abraham his father, and said, My father.

[John Weaver] And he said, Here am I, my son. And he said, Behold the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for the burnt offering? And Abraham said, My son, watch it, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering. So that both of them together, he did not say God will provide for himself, but God will provide himself. God will be the sacrifice. But note, if you would, true to this picture, the father is carrying the fire and the knife and the son, Isaac was carrying the wood just as Jesus Christ carried the cross.

[John Weaver] You know, I got to thinking even this afternoon. It was Jesus Christ who created that tree and grew that tree. And now he's carrying that tree, true to the picture of Genesis chapter 22. So just as that wood was laid upon Isaac and the father carried the knife and the fire, So likewise, it was the Father's wrath that fell upon the Lord Jesus Christ when He was crucified in our stead.

[John Weaver] Now, you have to remember that everything in the tabernacle, everything in the temple was a picture, was a shadow, was a type. And each one of these things pictured the Lord Jesus Christ in one way or the other. In fact, the entire tabernacle pictured the Lord Jesus Christ. And then each of these specific Instruments in there pictured also the Lord Jesus Christ. All of the sacrifices picture the Lord Jesus Christ. You remember that Passover lamb?

[John Weaver] There is no idea how many lambs were sacrificed, even on that first night in Exodus chapter 12. And thereafter, every lamb that was ever slain pictured the Lord Jesus Christ. That is why in 1 Corinthians 5 and verse 7, the Bible says, for even Christ, our Passover, is sacrifice for us. So Jesus Christ is the true Paschal Lamb. Jesus Christ is the true Passover. All of those lambs were just pictures of the Lord Jesus Christ.

[John Weaver] Now, let me show you something. I want you to turn in your Bibles to the book of Hebrews chapter 13. Hebrews chapter 13. Please remember this, that the problem in the book of Hebrews is some of these people wanted to go back to the Old Testament types and shadows. You know, we get confused so many times. We think, wow, think about that temple. Think about that tabernacle. You could see it. You could hear it. You could smell it. You could taste it.

[John Weaver] I mean, look at the smoke. Look at the sacrifice. It was all there. You say, now that's reality. No, it was not reality. That was just a picture. Now watch this. Look in verse 13. I'm sorry, verse 10 it is, of Hebrews 13. Watch this. We have an altar where if they have no right to eat, we serve the tabernacle. Jesus Christ is our altar. If you want that old physical fleshly altar back in the Old Testament, He says you have no right to our altar. You have no right to Jesus Christ. I had a young man ask me not too long ago, He's been married about a year and a half now, but when he's married about two or three months, he asked me about these Old Testament types because there were some people at work warning him to go back to some of these types

[John Weaver] since he was a professing Christian. He's asking me about this. And so I asked him, I said, do you have a picture of your wife in your billfold? He said, of course I do. I said, may I see it? Of course, I was at his wedding because I knew his wife, and so he showed me the picture. I said, now here's what I want you to do. When you go home tonight and you get ready for bed, I want you to take this picture out of your billfold, and I want you to give it a big old long loving smack right on the lips. He looked at me and said, why would I do that when my wife is sitting right by me?

[John Weaver] I said, you mean you prefer reality to the type in the shadow? You see what I'm saying? We now have the reality. We have the truth. Whereas in the Old Testament, all they had was the picture. So Jesus Christ is our altar. You got that?

[John Weaver] Now, I want to read something to you. It's about three or four paragraphs long. I'll even quote the Scriptures. This is an excellent analysis of the brazen altar. And it's showing how it perfectly pictured the Lord Jesus Christ. Remember now, it's a picture. The reality is in heaven. Here we go. The author states, for the Christian, the altar is full of symbolic meaning and spiritual teaching. The Shittim, or acacia wood, which it was made of originally, before it was covered with brass, The acacia wood was a hard, incorruptible, and indestructible wood which grows in the Sinai desert. It beautifully portrays the humanity of Christ, who came from a root out of dry ground, Isaiah 53.2, and was sinless in His nature, Hebrews 4.15. The indestructibility of the wood speaks of Christ in his humanity, withstanding the fire of crucifixion, John 10, 18, the decaying effect of the grave, Acts 2, 31, and his body, which was victoriously resurrected, Matthew 28. The brass covering of the acacia wood typifies the divine righteousness and judgment of Christ.

[John Weaver] Christ, the righteous one, 1 John 3, 5, took the divine judgment of God upon himself, bearing our judgment on the cross by becoming sin for us. 2 Corinthians 5. As all were saved from death when they looked upon the brass serpent which Moses held up in the wilderness, so shall all who trust in Jesus Christ, who was lifted up on the cross as a sacrifice for sin, be saved from damnation. John 3, 14, 15. Finally, Christ's appearance to John on the Isle of Patmos with feet of fine brass, as if it burned in a furnace, Revelation 115, speaks of His judicial character in judging His enemies at the Second Coming. It was at the altar that an innocent lamb would bear the judgment of the guilty. Christ our Lamb, John 129, died upon the altar of the cross to bear the judgment of God's wrath against the sin on our behalf, Isaiah 53. The sacrifice being burned upon the altar as a sweet savor to God, Leviticus 1.9, typifies Christ who was offered up as a sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling savor.

[John Weaver] Wow. So everything about this altar just simply pictured the Lord Jesus Christ. So the Apostle says we have an altar where they who serve the tabernacle have no right to eat. That perpetual fire that we read about in Leviticus chapter 6 went beyond symbolizing the divine wrath for the altar was also the place where the holy righteous God accepted a sacrifice. In other words, it was the place of atonement. It was a place of propitiation. It was a place of reconciliation. And all of this was achieved through a substitute, which was the Lord Jesus Christ. So the Lord Jesus Christ and all of His work is encapsulated for us under the picture of a living coal taken from the altar. It was Jesus Christ who purchased our salvation, who cleansed us from all sin.

[John Weaver] And here's an interesting thing. This altar, this brazen altar, was also, in one sense of the word, a place of fear and trepidation. How can I say that? Well, let's say you were alive in Old Testament days while the tabernacle was standing. And you wanted to bring an offering to God and you brought your animal. Let's say it was a lamb or an ox. When you brought it to the door of the tabernacle, you had to put your hand upon his head, confessing the sin, and then either you or the priest or both kill the animal. When that animal was dying, you had to understand that it was you who should have died because it was you that animal was a substitute for. So in that sense, the word, it was a place of fear and trepidation because you realize you deserve to die and you deserve death.

[John Weaver] But at the same time, It was also a place of grace and mercy because that sacrifice then was placed upon this altar and it covered the sins until the Lord Jesus Christ, the true sacrifice, came and took away those sins. So salvation and reconciliation, propitiation, purity, all of these come from God alone. And so this is why that coal from Isaiah chapter 6 was taken from the altar. Touched Isaiah's lips now. I want to hasten and give you another truth right quickly The Bible says look at it if you would please in Isaiah chapter 6 The seraphim has taken the coal from the altar Jesus Christ is our altar Watch this in verse 7 and he laid it upon my mouth Isaiah said and said lo This has touched thy lips, and thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sins purged.

[John Weaver] Now, I want you to pay close attention to this part. Lo, this has touched thy lips, and thine iniquity is taken away. Now, I want to give you one quote. It's a paragraph long from the eclectic notes of the Bible, and this is very, very instructive. The author says, the Bible does not deal in dumb signs. Application leads to explanation. He laid it upon my mouth and said, now watch, the touching of the lips with the live coal shows how God ministers to the sinner at the point of confessed needs. What did Isaiah say? Woe is me, I'm a man of unclean lips. And I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips. And so the seraphim came and took the coal with the tongs and touched his lips."

[John Weaver] Now, listen, the effect is instantaneous. The two verbs, has touched and is taken away, are coordinate perfects, stressing that as soon as the one happened, the other happened also. That is, they were simultaneous. Isaiah contributes nothing. All is of God. This touched your lips and your iniquity went. A comprehensive work of dealing with sin takes place. Isaiah confessed what he knows, that is, with his lips, but God deals also with his guilt and iniquity, the inner reality of the deviant or depraved nature, and with his sin, the specific instances of shortcomings.

[John Weaver] All of this arises from the payment of a price, the verb atoned for means to affect a culper or a ransom price, the price which justice requires. The Hebrew considered for itself leads to cover as the original meaning. God covers guilt out of free grace, but it's acting, this is less than the pardon of a father than the releasing by a judge. As we speak of a sum of money is sufficient to cover a debt. So the word copper is the payment of whatever divine justice sees as sufficient to cover the sinner's debt.

[John Weaver] The death of the substitute sacrifice on the altar, which would be the Lord Jesus Christ. So he said as soon as the cold touched his lips, then everything else happened instantaneously.

[John Weaver] Now, let me show you. Here's a good picture and a good illustration. if you will turn in your Bibles to the book of Luke chapter 8. Luke chapter 8. And I want you to begin looking at this at verse 40. Luke 8 and verse 40. This is a wonderful, wonderful passage. Luke 8 verse 40. And behold, And it came to pass that when Jesus was returned, the people gladly received him, for they were all waiting for him. And behold, there came a man named Jairus, and he was a ruler of the synagogue. And he fell down at Jesus' feet, and it saw him that he would come into his house.

[John Weaver] For he had one only daughter, about 12 years of age, and she lay dying. But as he went, the people thronged him. And a woman having an issue of blood twelve years, which had spent all her living upon physicians, neither could be healed of any, came behind him and touched the border or the hem of his garment, and immediately her issue of blood stanched. And Jesus said, Who touched me? When all denied, Peter and they that were with him said, Master, The multitude throng thee, and press thee, and sayest thou, Who touched me? Jesus said, Somebody hath touched me, for I perceive that virtue is gone out of me. And when the woman saw that she was not hid, she came trembling and falling down before him. She declared unto him before all the people for what cause she had touched him, and how she was healed immediately. Note, if you would, And he said in her daughter, be of good comfort, thy faith hath made thee whole, go in peace. She touched him, and instantly, immediately, she was healed.

[John Weaver] The touch of God, or to touch God, is salvation, is healing, is deliverance. When the coal touched the mouth of Isaiah, he was immediately delivered from all guilt and pollution. The glowing coal then is our Lord Jesus Christ, not on the throne high and lifted up, but on the cross lifted up. Jesus Christ is our atonement. Jesus Christ is our reconciliation. Jesus Christ is our propitiation. Jesus Christ is our glowing living coal that purges from sin and death.

[John Weaver] He is the lamb that was slain before the foundation of the world. He is God in the flesh.

[John Weaver] Now, here's why I titled this message like I did, and here is my question to you, and I want you to think about this with me. I want you to go back in your Bibles. Isaiah chapter 6, if you would. But here's my question. Has a cold touched your lips? Have you been cleansed by the Lord Jesus Christ, who is our sacrifice? And here is the impact, I believe, of Isaiah chapter 6. The truth is, even if we have been saved, even if we are saved, There is still a need to be touched for cleansing. Isaiah was saved before Isaiah six. Isaiah was a prophet before Isaiah six. He was already saved and called of God to be a prophet.

[John Weaver] I want to give you two quick quotes, one by John Calvin, one by Matthew Henry. John Calvin said it like this, We must not conclude, therefore, that Isaiah's lips were impure, because they are now cleansed, but we ought to inquire why it is done. It was because the Lord intended to enlarge and extend His favor toward him, and to raise him to a higher dignity, that he might have a greater influence over the people, And this was rendered necessary by the character of the times and the change which had taken place in the state.

[John Weaver] Now, let me just stop right there. It is true that there had to be some uncleanness in Isaiah, but that does not mean that he was unsaved. This is what he's saying. And that is why later on, as you read this passage, God asked. Who shall go for us? And Isaiah said, Here am I, Lord, send me now. Here's what Matthew Henry said. Listen carefully. Those only who are thus purged from an evil conscience are prepared to serve the living God. The taking away of sin is necessary to our speaking with confidence and comfort, either to God in prayer or from God in preaching.

[John Weaver] nor are any so fit to display to others the riches and power of the gospel as those that have themselves tasted the sweetness and felt the influence of that grace. Those that shall have their sin taken away who complain of it as a burden and see themselves in danger as being undone by it." In other words, what he's saying is this. God is not going to use filthy people. God is not going to use dirty, wicked, transgressing people. In other words, if we want to be used by God, there must be not only an original and initial cleansing, there must be constant and continual cleansing.

[John Weaver] So, let me give you another picture. I want you to turn in your Bibles to the book of John, chapter 13. John, chapter 13. Here it is. John, chapter 13. And let's begin reading there with verse 4. John 13. Look, if you would please. beginning there with verse 4. John 13, verse 4. He riseth from supper, this is the Lord Jesus, he riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments, and took a towel, and girded himself. After that he poured water into a basin, and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded. Then cometh he to Simon Peter, and Peter said unto him, Lord, Does thou wash my feet? Jesus entered and said unto him, What I do, thou knowest not now, but thou shalt know hereafter. Peter said unto him, Lord, thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me. Simon Peter said unto him, Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head.

[John Weaver] Give me a bath, is what he's saying. Jesus said unto him, He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean everywith. And you were clean, but not all. For he knew who should betray him. Therefore said he, You are not all clean." So here's this picture. Jesus Christ comes to wash Peter's feet. And Peter said, Lord, You're never going to wash my feet. Well, the Lord said, If I don't wash you, you don't have any part with me. Well, Peter said, In that case, Lord, I want You to give me a whole bath, head, body, hands, everything. No, our Lord said, once you're clean, all you need is your feet clean. Now, the picture would be from those times. So, you could take a bath in your home, in your tent, wherever you were.

[John Weaver] And let's suppose, let's suppose you and Mary are invited, Gary and Donna's house for dinner, but it just is only 100 yards away. But you're in the desert and you take a bath. And guess what? You put on your sandals and you walk 100 yards. And now when you get to their house, you've got dirty feet. Most of those homes had a bowl of water and a towel at the door, and by custom, you washed your feet when you went in or your feet was washed by them. You were clean, except your feet.

[John Weaver] And so what our Lord is teaching us here is that we need daily cleansing. We have been cleansed by the blood, but look at the daily frustrations, the daily temptations, the daily incidents that happen and things that upset us and things that tear us apart. He said, look, these things need to be dealt with. And so our Lord is telling us We need a daily cleansing. This, I believe, is the same thing that Isaiah had when that cold touched his lips, and now he's clean.

[John Weaver] God is using him for service. If you and I want to be used of God, we must be clean, and we must keep ourselves clean. And the only thing that you and I can do is say, Here I am, Lord. Use me as you will and as you please. God is not obligated to use any of us. But the very fact that we are available to Him means that if He chooses to use us, He may. So the truth of the matter is, we need a coal to touch our lips, and that coal is the Lord Jesus Christ. It was David who said and prayed, keep the door of my lips. You remember that prayer? And may I tell you something else? The way we stay clean is through the word. Our Lord said in John 17, now you're clean through the word, which I've spoken unto you. And what did David say in Psalm 119, beginning there in verse 11?

[John Weaver] Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way by taking heed thereto according to thy word with my whole heart have I sought thee. Oh, let me not wonder from thy commandments. Thy word have I hid in mine heart that I might not sin against thee. So we need the living water, the Lord Jesus. The living coal, the Lord Jesus, and we need the written water, the word of God. And the written fire, Jeremiah, what did God say is not my word like as a fire, saith the Lord. We need it for daily cleansing. If we're going to present our bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is our reasonable service. So, has your lips been touched with a coal? The Lord Jesus, has he cleansed you?

[John Weaver] Has he washed your feet? Are you clean? Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, we ask you to make us pure, to keep us pure, to make us holy, to make us godly, May we see how desperately we need thee. And Father, may we follow after righteousness, follow after holiness. And Father, may we follow after a godly cleanliness. We thank you for being the living sacrifice, the living altar, the living coal, the living water, the living word, Lord God, and beside Thee there is none other. Give us grace, we pray, to serve Thee. In the name of Jesus Christ, we ask. Amen.

[John Weaver] so so

Has A Live Coal Touched Your Lips?

John Weaver | YouTube

Lecture Metadata	Details
Speaker	John Weaver
Source	YouTube
Media ID	zkmSjIairIE
Subject	Old Testament Studies
Course	Exodus: Bondage, Deliverance, and Passover: As Yet
Genre	Sermon
Date	2023-03-22
Dictation Name
Book	Book 079: Exodus: Bondage, Deliverance, and Passover - Volume 2 — Chapter 39
Source Timed Segments	71

Formatted Transcript

Introduction and Reading of Isaiah 6:1-11

Weaver introduces the passage and reads the vision of God's throne, the seraphim, Isaiah's confession, the coal touching his lips, and the commissioning.

You would please to the book of Isaiah chapter 6. Isaiah chapter 6, and we're going to be reading probably the first 11 verses. We'll come back and take care of a context just momentarily, but the title of the message is "Has a Live Coal Touched Your Lips?" So notice verse 1:

Scripture Reading — Isaiah 6:1-11

"In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple. Above it 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. And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory. And the posts of the door moved at the voice of him that cried, and the house was filled with smoke. 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, the Lord of hosts. 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: And he laid it upon my mouth, and said, Lo, this hath touched thy lips, and thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin purged. Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me. And he said, Go, and tell this people, Hear ye indeed, but understand not; and see ye indeed, but perceive not. Make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and convert, and be healed. Then said I, Lord, how long?

The Question: How Can a Live Coal Purge Sin?

Weaver raises the central question: since Scripture says without shedding of blood there is no remission, how can a live coal take away sin?

So if you look at verses 6 and 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. And he laid it upon my mouth, and said, Lo, this hath touched thy lips, and thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin purged." So the question I ask myself is simply this: Is it possible for a live coal to take away sins and purge from all iniquity? We're taught very clearly in the book of Hebrews chapter 9 and verse 22,

Scripture Reading — Hebrews 9:22

"And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission."

And then when you get to the book of Leviticus chapter 17 and verse 11, where God was giving all of the sacrifices, He said this: "For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul." So, since without the shedding of blood there is no remission of sins, we must ask this question: How then can a live coal purge away our sins?

Now, the Hebrew word that forms the basis of the phrase "a live coal" is the word ritzpah, which literally means a live or glowing coal. It is one that is hot. It is one that is fiery. It is one basically that is red hot. And this is obvious because even the seraphim had to use tongs to take it from the altar. So it was a very live coal and glowing coal as well.

The Context: Isaiah's Vision of God's Holiness

Isaiah sees the Lord high and lifted up, the seraphim proclaiming God's holiness, and the temple shaking, leading to his confession of uncleanness.

Now, before I try to give you the answer to the questions that I've asked, I want you to look at the context with me, because there are a number of truths we must see. In verse 1, the Lord has given Isaiah a vision of Himself in His high, holy, majestic person, and in His sovereignty, I might add. It was a memorable event, and it took place in the year that King Uzziah died. He saw the Lord high, lifted up, seated upon the throne, and the Bible says His train filled the temple. So the train would be the long-flowing robe, or at least the hem of that robe.

So he sees God in His holiness. He sees God in His majesty in this vision. Now, in the same vision at the same time, he also sees the seraphim and their ministry in proclaiming the holiness of God. I hope you understand that when you read through the Bible, there are seraphim, there are cherubim, and there are angels, and they're not one and the same creatures. Seraphim evidently are more concerned with God's holiness. Cherubim are more concerned with God's justice, because it was cherubim that covered the ark, if you will remember, of the covenant. And, of course, angels, the Bible tells us, are spirit beings, and they are ministering spirits. And they wait upon God, hearkening to His command. And the Bible says also that He sent them to minister unto those who are to be the heirs of salvation.

So you have the seraphim, and the Bible tells us they have six wings: with twain they cover their face, with twain they cover their feet, with twain they do fly. And they cease not saying, "Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory." So what Isaiah sees and what Isaiah hears in verses 2 and 3 is the fact of a declaration and a revelation of God's holiness as well as His greatness, His majesty, and it had a very most revealing effect upon Isaiah. In fact, it was so powerful, if you look in verse 4, "And the posts of the door moved at the voice of him that cried, and the house was filled with smoke." Now, when Isaiah saw this, if you look in verse 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, the Lord of hosts." So when Isaiah then saw the majesty, the sovereignty, and the holiness of God, he immediately perceived and knew his own wickedness, depravity, uncleanness, and pollution. He understood that he had fallen short, that he had transgressed, that he had not measured up, and therefore he was willing to confess and acknowledge that he was a sinner. But however, I want you to note very clearly, it was not just Isaiah that was the problem. God showed him the nation was the problem because he said in verse 5, "Then said I, Woe is me! I'm undone. Because I'm a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips." So I want to point out something. There is such a thing as individual wickedness, which we all understand. But there's also such a thing as national wickedness. So it's not just Isaiah who was wicked.

Three Truths from Isaiah's Confession

Weaver draws three truths: we see our sin only when we see God's holiness; God reveals our depravity progressively; and the initiative in salvation is always God's.

Now, before I go any further, there are three truths that we must see from verse 5. I think these truths are extremely applicable to our lives today. The first one is this: We will never see and understand the greatness of our sins and depravity until we see the greatness of God in His majesty, sovereignty, and His holiness. So let me put it to you several different ways. Number one, when we see God in truth for what He is, we see ourselves in truth for what we are. Stated another way, when God shows us Himself, we see ourselves. We will never fully understand the depth and the breadth of our depravity without an understanding of God's infinite holiness.

That is why in 1 Samuel 2 and verse 2, the Bible says, "There is none holy as the Lord: for there is none beside thee: neither is there any rock like our God." So he said, "There is none holy as the Lord." So God is infinitely holy. And when we see His holiness, when we see His majesty, when we see His sovereignty, we're going to immediately understand our depravity and our wickedness. Now, here's the second truth that's connected with that. It may sound like I'm saying the same thing, but I'm not. I will explain it. Here it is: The more we see and understand His holiness, greatness, and righteousness, the more we see our own depravity. Now, let me explain what I mean by that. I think if we really and truly saw the depth of our depravity at once, we would self-destruct. If we saw the greatness of God's holiness at once, we could not stand it. We understand that there is a vast chasm between an infinitely holy God and a wicked sinner. And the more God reveals to us through His Word and in His providence, His holiness, the more we see our own wickedness and our own depravity.

Most of us committed immeasurable sins when we were young, and that's why David prayed in Psalm 71, "Remember not against me the sins of my youth." But you know, the truth of the matter is most people forget about their sins until they begin to get older. And then all of a sudden, some of these things come back in their minds to haunt them. And they're reminded of what they've done. And then each one of us actually begins confessing. And we see how wicked we really were when we were young, in our middle age, and even up to our old age as well. So the point I'm trying to make is this: God does not show us the depth of our depravity all at one time. Neither does God show us His infinite holiness all at one time. Let me show you what I'm trying to say. I want you to hold Isaiah 6, but turn in your Bibles to the book of Exodus, chapter 33. Exodus chapter 33, because Moses now has asked God to show him His glory. I want you to see what God says. Exodus chapter 33, and let's begin reading there with verse 17. Exodus 33 and verse 17. Watch this. "And the Lord said unto Moses, I will do this thing also that thou hast spoken: for thou hast found grace in my sight, and I know thee by name. And he said," that is Moses, "I beseech thee, show me thy glory."

That was Moses' request. "And he said," this is God speaking now, "I will make all my goodness pass before thee, and I will proclaim the name of the Lord before thee; and will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy to whom I will show mercy. And he said," look what God says to Moses, "Thou canst not see my face: for there shall no man see me, and live. And the Lord said, Behold, there is a place by me, and thou shalt stand upon a rock: and it shall come to pass, while my glory passeth by, that I will put thee in a clift of the rock, and will cover thee with my hand while I pass by: and I will take away mine hand, and thou shalt see my back parts: but my face shall not be seen." So God told Moses, you can't see me in all of my glory, in all of my majesty at once.

If you do, you will die. So he says, I will pass by you. I'll put my hand over you. I'll remove it after I pass by and you can see my back parts. So in light of this, let me tell you the two prayer requests that we should make often. And at the same time, we must understand that these two prayer requests go together. I'm going to repeat that: we must make sure that we understand that these two prayer requests go together.

The first one is this: Lord, show me myself. And the second one is: Lord, show me Thyself. So if God opened our eyes and allowed us to see the depth of our depravity, and the depth of our wickedness, we would indeed self-destruct. But what we need to see is not just our sin and our wickedness and our depravity, but we must also see His holiness, His righteousness, His sovereignty, and we must understand that He, therefore, is the answer to our guilt, our pollution, and our every need. So that is why I'm saying these two prayer requests need to go together. "Lord, show me myself," and "Lord, show me Thyself, because You are the answer to all of my guilt and all of my pollution." Now, there's a third truth that we need to see in Isaiah chapter 6 and verse 5, and that is this: When you see what has happened to Isaiah in his cleansing and in his calling, we must take note of the fact and the reality that the initiative was from the divine side.

In other words, it was God who first moved. It was God who revealed Himself to Isaiah in verses 1 through 4. It was God who opened his eyes. It was God who allowed him to see the seraphim. It was God who allowed him to hear them cry, "Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty." It was God who allowed him to see the posts being moved and the house filled with smoke. The initiative is always with God. We never first seek Him.

He seeks us and finds us. And then we seek Him. That's why the Scripture says in Luke chapter 19 in verse 10,

Scripture Reading — Luke 19:10

"For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost."

So the initiative is always God's. Moreover, it was God in this instance that revealed to Isaiah the desperate wickedness of his heart. It was God who revealed to him the wickedness of the people. It was God who revealed to Isaiah his own uncleanness and the state of the nation. That's why Isaiah cried, "Woe is me! for I am undone. 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 Lord of hosts." So it was also the Lord who sent the seraph with the coal, to touch Isaiah's lips and cleanse him. Salvation and deliverance is always from God alone. That's why in Jonah 2 and verse 9, Jonah proclaimed, "Salvation is of the Lord." Now, understanding these three truths should enable us then to ascertain the truth concerning the coal that touched Isaiah's mouth.

The Altar and Its Typology

The altar from which the coal was taken is the brazen altar, made according to God's pattern, picturing Christ. The true altar is in heaven.

The starting point should also be the source of the altar and the fire that created the coal. Now, the altar from which the coal was taken was undoubtedly that which was known as the altar of burnt offering, sometimes referred to as the brazen altar. This brazen altar was always at the door of the tabernacle and/or at the door of the temple. So it's called the brass altar, the burnt offering altar, or the brazen altar. We must understand that this altar was made at God's command, at God's directions, with God's divinely ordained materials, according to the pattern that God gave Moses. Everything was to be made exactly the way God determined it should be made. So if you would hold Isaiah, but look in your Bibles, first of all, to the book of Exodus chapter 25 and look at verse 9. Exodus 25 and verse 9. This is in reference not only to the tabernacle, but to everything in the tabernacle. So Exodus chapter 25 in verse 9, God says,

Scripture Reading — Exodus 25:9, 40

"According to all that I show thee, after the pattern of the tabernacle, and the pattern of all the instruments thereof, even so shall ye make it."

So God gave Moses the pattern. Look, if you would, in the same chapter at verse 40, Exodus 25 in verse 40. Again, God says, "And look that thou make them after their pattern, which was showed thee in the mount." Now, the point I'm trying to make is this: Moses did not come along one day and just decide, "I think I'm going to make an altar.

Here's what I'm going to do. Here's how I'm going to build it." No, no, no. God directed that altar to be made. He gave Moses the directions, the pattern, and He told him the materials to use.

Now, if you will turn over in your Bibles to the book of Hebrews chapter 8, and look, if you would please, at verse 5, you'll see this truth again. Hebrews chapter 8 and verse 5. There the Bible says this, Hebrews 8 verse 5,

Scripture Reading — Hebrews 8:5

"Who serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things,"

we're talking about the tabernacle and the temple now. Watch this.

Scripture Reading — Hebrews 8:5

"...who serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was admonished of God when he was about to make the tabernacle: for, See, saith he, that thou make all things according to the pattern showed to thee in the mount."

So Moses then was obligated to follow every detail that God commanded and every detail that God outlined.

Now, if you want to read about this brazen altar, you may do so in Exodus chapter 27, verses 1 through 8, and also Exodus 38, verses 1 through 7. You have there the building of this brazen altar, and it's made of acacia wood, and then, of course, it's covered with brass. I'm going to get to some of that a little bit later. Now, here's a problem, and I want to try to deal with this problem. The problem is, Isaiah is seeing a heavenly vision. And the coal is taken from off the altar and touches his lips. So here's my question: How could the seraphim reach down to the tabernacle and/or the temple, the temple at that time, and take a coal from that altar and then touch Isaiah's mouth? Someone would say, "Well, the altar was a physical altar. Isaiah is seeing this in a vision, in a dream. So how could that happen?" Well, there's an answer. I want you to look in Hebrews chapter 9. I just emphasized it. Hebrews chapter 8 when I read that passage, but if you look in Hebrews chapter 9 verses 23 and 24, in fact, let's go back and begin reading verse 21. Okay, Hebrews 9 verse 21, watch this: "Moreover

he sprinkled with blood both the tabernacle, and all the vessels of the ministry." So Moses, when he dedicated that tabernacle, sprinkled everything with blood. Now watch: "And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission." Here we go: "It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these;" that is the tabernacle, the temple, and those were the patterns. Those were the types. Those were the emblems. Those were the shadows. Those were the pictures. So they were purified with the blood of animals. Watch: "But the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands," that is the tabernacle and the temple, "which are the figures" or types or emblems "of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in

the presence of God for us." So the true tabernacle, the true altar, is in heaven. Everything that we see in the tabernacle, everything that we see in the temple were nothing more than pictures. That's all there was to it. It was a pattern. It was a type. So the true altar is in heaven. Okay?

The Fire: Divine Wrath and Atonement

The fire on the altar was divinely lit and perpetual, symbolizing God's wrath against sin. The sacrifice on the altar points to Christ bearing that wrath.

Now, let's consider just for a moment another concept. Because this altar had a fire. And there were burning coals upon this fire. Do you realize that even the brazen altar was divinely lit by God and it was to be continually burning and never to be put out? Let me show you. Look back in your Bibles, first of all, to the book of Leviticus, chapter 9. Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus. Look at Leviticus chapter 9 in verses 23 and 24. Leviticus chapter 9. Look, if you would, please, verse 23 and 24.

The tabernacle has been set up. Here's what happens:

Scripture Reading — Leviticus 9:23-24

"And Moses and Aaron went into the tabernacle of the congregation, and came out, and blessed the people: and the glory of the Lord appeared unto all the people. And there came a fire out from before the Lord, and consumed upon the altar the burnt offering and the fat: which when all the people saw, they shouted, and fell on their faces."

So that initial fire was sent by God. Moses did not light that fire. God lit that fire. Now, if you would look back in Leviticus chapter 6, because God is giving directions to Moses on how to make this sacrifice and He's going to start the fire. But Leviticus chapter 6, if you look at verses 12 and 13, God says this: "And the fire upon the altar shall be burning

in it; it shall not be put out: and the priest shall burn wood on it every morning, and lay the burnt offering in order upon it; and he shall burn thereon the fat of the peace offerings. The fire shall ever be burning upon the altar; it shall never go out." So God is saying that once I light this fire, the purity of the fire must be maintained. Because this is God's fire. This is not man's fire. Nadab and Abihu got into trouble because they took strange fire, fire that they initiated, fire that they began and put in their censers before the Lord, and God sent fire and killed both of them. Which is teaching us that anytime God does something and man adds to it, it is a profanation. It is a perversion. And so God immediately struck Nadab and Abihu dead because they offered strange fire.

Now, fire, of course, speaks of wrath and it speaks of judgment as well. God rained down fire upon Sodom and Gomorrah. Fire is consumed or fire is involved in the final destruction, in the final condemnation, in the final damnation, however you want to say it. Fire is always a sign of wrath and judgment. It is the wrath of the Father against sin and wickedness and everything that is impure and unholy and contrary to God. And let me say this again: It's a picture of the Father's wrath and anger. It's a picture of the Father's judgment.

So let me show you this. I want you to turn in your Bibles to the book of Genesis chapter 22. Here is a perfect picture of that truth which I'm about to share with you. Look at it. In Genesis chapter 22, this is the passage where God commands Abraham to offer his son Isaac as a burnt offering. Look at it. Verse 1: "And it came to pass after these things, that God did tempt" or test "Abraham, and said unto him, Abraham.

And he said, Behold, here I am. And he said, Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of." Now, I want you to note this. God has just told Abraham to offer his only son Isaac. Now, he was an only child by Sarah. It is true Abraham had other children. He had Ishmael. But Isaac is the son of promise. Look in verse 3: "And Abraham rose up early in the morning." Most of us would have slept in. Our alarm clock would not have gone off, I can assure you.

We would have tarried and drug our feet as long as we could have. But Abraham rose up early in the morning, and saddled his ass, and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son. Now watch: "and clave the wood for the burnt offering." Who cut the wood? The father, Abraham. "He clave the wood for the burnt offering, and rose up, and went unto the place of which God had told him. Then on the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes, and saw the place afar off. And Abraham said unto his young men, Abide ye here with the ass; and I and the lad will go yonder and worship, and come again to you." Isn't that amazing? See, he believed that if he offered Isaac as a sacrifice, that God would raise him up because of God's promise. Therefore, he said, "I and the lad will come again to you." Now watch verse 6. Here it is: "And Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering, and laid it upon Isaac his son; and he," Abraham, "took the fire in his hand, and a knife." The father carried the fire and the knife. "And they went both of them together. And Isaac spake unto Abraham his father, and said, My father.

And he said, Here am I, my son. And he said, Behold the fire and the wood: but where is the lamb for a burnt offering? And Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering." So they went both of them together. He did not say "God will provide for himself," but "God will provide himself." God will be the sacrifice. But note, if you would, true to this picture, the father is carrying the fire and the knife and the son, Isaac, was carrying the wood just as Jesus Christ carried the cross. You know, I got to thinking even this afternoon. It was Jesus Christ who created that tree and grew that tree. And now He's carrying that tree, true to the picture of Genesis chapter 22. So just as that wood was laid upon Isaac and the father carried the knife and the fire, so likewise, it was the Father's wrath that fell upon the Lord Jesus Christ when He was crucified in our stead.

Now, you have to remember that everything in the tabernacle, everything in the temple was a picture, was a shadow, was a type. And each one of these things pictured the Lord Jesus Christ in one way or the other. In fact, the entire tabernacle pictured the Lord Jesus Christ. And then each of these specific instruments in there pictured also the Lord Jesus Christ. All of the sacrifices picture the Lord Jesus Christ. You remember that Passover lamb?

Christ Our Altar and the Coal

Jesus Christ is the true altar (Hebrews 13:10). The live coal represents Christ's atoning work, cleansing sin instantly when applied.

There is no idea how many lambs were sacrificed, even on that first night in Exodus chapter 12. And thereafter, every lamb that was ever slain pictured the Lord Jesus Christ. That is why in 1 Corinthians 5 and verse 7, the Bible says,

Scripture Reading — 1 Corinthians 5:7

"For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us."

So Jesus Christ is the true Paschal Lamb. Jesus Christ is the true Passover. All of those lambs were just pictures of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Now, let me show you something. I want you to turn in your Bibles to the book of Hebrews chapter 13. Hebrews chapter 13. Please remember this, that the problem in the book of Hebrews is some of these people wanted to go back to the Old Testament types and shadows. You know, we get confused so many times. We think, "Wow, think about that temple. Think about that tabernacle. You could see it. You could hear it. You could smell it. You could taste it.

I mean, look at the smoke. Look at the sacrifice. It was all there." You say, "Now that's reality." No, it was not reality. That was just a picture. Now watch this. Look in verse 13—I'm sorry, verse 10 it is, of Hebrews 13. Watch this: "We have an altar, whereof they have no right to eat which serve the tabernacle.

Scripture Reading — Hebrews 13:10

" Jesus Christ is our altar. If you want that old physical fleshly altar back in the Old Testament, He says you have no right to our altar. You have no right to Jesus Christ. I had a young man ask me not too long ago—he's been married about a year and a half now, but when he was married about two or three months, he asked me about these Old Testament types because there were some people at work warning him to go back to some of these types

since he was a professing Christian. He was asking me about this. And so I asked him, I said, "Do you have a picture of your wife in your billfold?" He said, "Of course I do." I said, "May I see it?" Of course, I was at his wedding because I knew his wife, and so he showed me the picture. I said, "Now here's what I want you to do. When you go home tonight and you get ready for bed, I want you to take this picture out of your billfold, and I want you to give it a big old long loving smack right on the lips." He looked at me and said, "Why would I do that when my wife is sitting right by me?" I said, "You mean you prefer reality to the type and the shadow?" You see what I'm saying? We now have the reality. We have the truth. Whereas in the Old Testament, all they had was the picture. So Jesus Christ is our altar. You got that?

Now, I want to read something to you. It's about three or four paragraphs long. I'll even quote the Scriptures. This is an excellent analysis of the brazen altar. And it's showing how it perfectly pictured the Lord Jesus Christ. Remember now, it's a picture. The reality is in heaven. Here we go. The author states: "For the Christian, the altar is full of symbolic meaning and spiritual teaching. The shittim, or acacia wood, which it was made of originally, before it was covered with brass—the acacia wood was a hard, incorruptible, and indestructible wood which grows in the Sinai desert. It beautifully portrays the humanity of Christ, who came from a root out of dry ground (Isaiah 53:2), and was sinless in His nature (Hebrews 4:15). The indestructibility of the wood speaks of Christ in His humanity, withstanding the fire of crucifixion (John 10:18), the decaying effect of the grave (Acts 2:31), and His body, which was victoriously resurrected (Matthew 28). The brass covering of the acacia wood typifies the divine righteousness and judgment of Christ.

Christ, the righteous one (1 John 3:5), took the divine judgment of God upon Himself, bearing our judgment on the cross by becoming sin for us (2 Corinthians 5:21). As all were saved from death when they looked upon the brass serpent which Moses held up in the wilderness, so shall all who trust in Jesus Christ, who was lifted up on the cross as a sacrifice for sin, be saved from damnation (John 3:14-15). Finally, Christ's appearance to John on the Isle of Patmos with feet of fine brass, as if it burned in a furnace (Revelation 1:15), speaks of His judicial character in judging His enemies at the Second Coming. It was at the altar that an innocent lamb would bear the judgment of the guilty. Christ our Lamb (John 1:29) died upon the altar of the cross to bear the judgment of God's wrath against sin on our behalf (Isaiah 53). The sacrifice being burned upon the altar as a sweet savor to God (Leviticus 1:9) typifies Christ who was offered up as a sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling savor.

Wow. So everything about this altar just simply pictured the Lord Jesus Christ. So the Apostle says we have an altar where they who serve the tabernacle have no right to eat. That perpetual fire that we read about in Leviticus chapter 6 went beyond symbolizing the divine wrath, for the altar was also the place where the holy righteous God accepted a sacrifice. In other words, it was the place of atonement. It was a place of propitiation. It was a place of reconciliation. And all of this was achieved through a substitute, which was the Lord Jesus Christ. So the Lord Jesus Christ and all of His work is encapsulated for us under the picture of a living coal taken from the altar. It was Jesus Christ who purchased our salvation, who cleansed us from all sin.

And here's an interesting thing. This altar, this brazen altar, was also, in one sense of the word, a place of fear and trepidation. How can I say that? Well, let's say you were alive in Old Testament days while the tabernacle was standing. And you wanted to bring an offering to God and you brought your animal. Let's say it was a lamb or an ox. When you brought it to the door of the tabernacle, you had to put your hand upon his head, confessing the sin, and then either you or the priest or both kill the animal. When that animal was dying, you had to understand that it was you who should have died because it was you that animal was a substitute for. So in that sense of the word, it was a place of fear and trepidation because you realize you deserve to die and you deserve death.

Instantaneous Cleansing and the Need for Continual Cleansing

The coal's touch brought immediate cleansing. Weaver uses John 13 to show believers need daily cleansing for service, just as Isaiah was cleansed for his prophetic calling.

Now, I want you to pay close attention to this part. "Lo, this hath touched thy lips; and thine iniquity is taken away." Now, I want to give you one quote. It's a paragraph long from the eclectic notes of the Bible, and this is very, very instructive. The author says: "The Bible does not deal in dumb signs. Application leads to explanation. He laid it upon my mouth and said," now watch, "the touching of the lips with the live coal shows how God ministers to the sinner at the point of confessed needs. What did Isaiah say? 'Woe is me, I'm a man of unclean lips. And I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips.' And so the seraphim came and took the coal with the tongs and touched his lips."

Now, listen: "The effect is instantaneous. The two verbs, 'has touched' and 'is taken away,' are coordinate perfects, stressing that as soon as the one happened, the other happened also. That is, they were simultaneous. Isaiah contributes nothing. All is of God. 'This touched your lips and your iniquity went.' A comprehensive work of dealing with sin takes place. Isaiah confessed what he knows, that is, with his lips, but God deals also with his guilt and iniquity, the inner reality of the deviant or depraved nature, and with his sin, the specific instances of shortcomings.

All of this arises from the payment of a price. The verb 'atoned for' means to effect a kopher or a ransom price, the price which justice requires. The Hebrew considered for itself leads to 'cover' as the original meaning. God covers guilt out of free grace, but it's acting—this is less than the pardon of a father than the releasing by a judge. As we speak of a sum of money is sufficient to cover a debt, so the word kopher is the payment of whatever divine justice sees as sufficient to cover the sinner's debt. The death of the substitute sacrifice on the altar, which would be the Lord Jesus Christ. So he said as soon as the coal touched his lips, then everything else happened instantaneously.

Now, let me show you. Here's a good picture and a good illustration. If you will turn in your Bibles to the book of Luke chapter 8. Luke chapter 8. And I want you to begin looking at this at verse 40. Luke 8 and verse 40. This is a wonderful, wonderful passage. Luke 8 verse 40: "And it came to pass, that, when Jesus was returned, the people gladly received him: for they were all waiting for him. And, behold, there came a man named Jairus, and he was a ruler of the synagogue: and he fell down at Jesus' feet, and besought him that he would come into his house.

For he had one only daughter, about twelve years of age, and she lay a dying. But as he went the people thronged him. And a woman having an issue of blood twelve years, which had spent all her living upon physicians, neither could be healed of any, came behind him, and touched the border of his garment: and immediately her issue of blood stanched. And Jesus said, Who touched me? When all denied, Peter and they that were with him said, Master, the multitude throng thee and press thee, and sayest thou, Who touched me? And Jesus said, Somebody hath touched me: for I perceive that virtue is gone out of me. And when the woman saw that she was not hid, she came trembling, and falling down before him, she declared unto him before all the people for what cause she had touched him, and how she was healed immediately. Note, if you would: And he said unto her, Daughter, be of good comfort: thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace. She touched him, and instantly, immediately, she was healed.

The touch of God, or to touch God, is salvation, is healing, is deliverance. When the coal touched the mouth of Isaiah, he was immediately delivered from all guilt and pollution. The glowing coal then is our Lord Jesus Christ, not on the throne high and lifted up, but on the cross lifted up. Jesus Christ is our atonement. Jesus Christ is our reconciliation. Jesus Christ is our propitiation. Jesus Christ is our glowing living coal that purges from sin and death.

He is the Lamb that was slain before the foundation of the world. He is God in the flesh. Now, here's why I titled this message like I did, and here is my question to you, and I want you to think about this with me. I want you to go back in your Bibles. Isaiah chapter 6, if you would. But here's my question: Has a coal touched your lips? Have you been cleansed by the Lord Jesus Christ, who is our sacrifice? And here is the impact, I believe, of Isaiah chapter 6. The truth is, even if we have been saved, even if we are saved, there is still a need to be touched for cleansing. Isaiah was saved before Isaiah 6. Isaiah was a prophet before Isaiah 6. He was already saved and called of God to be a prophet.

I want to give you two quick quotes, one by John Calvin, one by Matthew Henry. John Calvin said it like this: "We must not conclude, therefore, that Isaiah's lips were impure, because they are now cleansed, but we ought to inquire why it is done. It was because the Lord intended to enlarge and extend His favor toward him, and to raise him to a higher dignity, that he might have a greater influence over the people. And this was rendered necessary by the character of the times and the change which had taken place in the state."

Now, let me just stop right there. It is true that there had to be some uncleanness in Isaiah, but that does not mean that he was unsaved. This is what he's saying. And that is why later on, as you read this passage, God asked, "Who shall go for us?" And Isaiah said, "Here am I, Lord, send me." Now here's what Matthew Henry said. Listen carefully: "Those only who are thus purged from an evil conscience are prepared to serve the living God. The taking away of sin is necessary to our speaking with confidence and comfort, either to God in prayer or from God in preaching. Nor are any so fit to display to others the riches and power of the gospel as those that have themselves tasted the sweetness and felt the influence of that grace. Those that shall have their sin taken away who complain of it as a burden and see themselves in danger as being undone by it." In other words, what he's saying is this: God is not going to use filthy people. God is not going to use dirty, wicked, transgressing people. In other words, if we want to be used by God, there must be not only an original and initial cleansing, there must be constant and continual cleansing.

So, let me give you another picture. I want you to turn in your Bibles to the book of John, chapter 13. John, chapter 13. Here it is. John, chapter 13. And let's begin reading there with verse 4. John 13. Look, if you would please, beginning there with verse 4. John 13, verse 4:

Scripture Reading — John 13:4-11

"He riseth from supper,"

this is the Lord Jesus,

Scripture Reading — John 13:4-11

"He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself. After that he poureth water into a bason, and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded. Then cometh he to Simon Peter: and Peter saith unto him, Lord, dost thou wash my feet? Jesus answered and said unto him, What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter. Peter saith unto him, Thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me. Simon Peter saith unto him, Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head.

Give me a bath," is what he's saying. "Jesus saith to him, He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit: and ye are clean, but not all. For he knew who should betray him; therefore said he, Ye are not all clean." So here's this picture. Jesus Christ comes to wash Peter's feet. And Peter said, "Lord, You're never going to wash my feet." Well, the Lord said, "If I don't wash you, you don't have any part with Me." Well, Peter said, "In that case, Lord, I want You to give me a whole bath, head, body, hands, everything." No, our Lord said, "Once you're clean, all you need is your feet clean." Now, the picture would be from those times. So, you could take a bath in your home, in your tent, wherever you were.

And let's suppose, let's suppose you and Mary are invited to Gary and Donna's house for dinner, but it just is only 100 yards away. But you're in the desert and you take a bath. And guess what? You put on your sandals and you walk 100 yards. And now when you get to their house, you've got dirty feet. Most of those homes had a bowl of water and a towel at the door, and by custom, you washed your feet when you went in or your feet was washed by them. You were clean, except your feet.

And so what our Lord is teaching us here is that we need daily cleansing. We have been cleansed by the blood, but look at the daily frustrations, the daily temptations, the daily incidents that happen and things that upset us and things that tear us apart. He said, "Look, these things need to be dealt with." And so our Lord is telling us we need a daily cleansing. This, I believe, is the same thing that Isaiah had when that coal touched his lips, and now he's clean.

Application: Has a Coal Touched Your Lips?

Weaver challenges listeners to examine if they have been cleansed by Christ and to seek daily cleansing through the Word for holy service.

God is using him for service. If you and I want to be used of God, we must be clean, and we must keep ourselves clean. And the only thing that you and I can do is say, "Here I am, Lord. Use me as You will and as You please." God is not obligated to use any of us. But the very fact that we are available to Him means that if He chooses to use us, He may. So the truth of the matter is, we need a coal to touch our lips, and that coal is the Lord Jesus Christ. It was David who said and prayed, "Keep the door of my lips." You remember that prayer? And may I tell you something else? The way we stay clean is through the Word. Our Lord said in John 17, "Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you." And what did David say in Psalm 119, beginning there in verse 11?

"Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word. With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments. Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee." So we need the living water, the Lord Jesus. The living coal, the Lord Jesus, and we need the written water, the Word of God. And the written fire—Jeremiah, what did God say? "Is not my word like as a fire? saith the Lord." We need it for daily cleansing. If we're going to present our bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is our reasonable service. So, has your lips been touched with a coal? The Lord Jesus, has He cleansed you?

Has He washed your feet? Are you clean? Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, we ask You to make us pure, to keep us pure, to make us holy, to make us godly. May we see how desperately we need Thee. And Father, may we follow after righteousness, follow after holiness. And Father, may we follow after a godly cleanliness. We thank You for being the living sacrifice, the living altar, the living coal, the living water, the living Word, Lord God, and beside Thee there is none other. Give us grace, we pray, to serve Thee. In the name of Jesus Christ, we ask. Amen.

Study Guide

Major Themes

The Holiness of God

Summary: God's infinite holiness is revealed in Isaiah's vision, causing him to recognize his own sinfulness.

Evidence: Weaver states: 'When we see God in truth for what He is, we see ourselves in truth for what we are.'

Human Depravity and Confession

Summary: Isaiah's cry 'Woe is me!' shows that seeing God's holiness leads to a deep awareness of personal and national sin.

Evidence: Isaiah said, 'I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips.'

Divine Initiative in Salvation

Summary: God is the one who reveals Himself, convicts of sin, and provides cleansing; salvation is entirely from the Lord.

Evidence: Weaver says: 'The initiative is always with God. We never first seek Him. He seeks us and finds us.'

Christ as the Fulfillment of Old Testament Types

Summary: The brazen altar, the fire, and the coal all picture Jesus Christ and His atoning sacrifice.

Evidence: Weaver explains: 'Jesus Christ is our altar... The glowing coal then is our Lord Jesus Christ, not on the throne high and lifted up, but on the cross lifted up.'

Instantaneous and Continual Cleansing

Summary: The coal's touch brought immediate cleansing, but believers also need daily cleansing (foot washing) for ongoing service.

Evidence: Weaver uses John 13: 'He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit.'

The Necessity of Cleansing for Service

Summary: God uses clean vessels; Isaiah's cleansing prepared him to say 'Here am I; send me.'

Evidence: Weaver quotes Matthew Henry: 'Those only who are thus purged from an evil conscience are prepared to serve the living God.'

Key Arguments

A live coal cannot literally purge sin; it must symbolize Christ's atoning work.

Summary: Since Scripture requires blood for remission, the coal represents Jesus Christ, the true sacrifice.

Evidence: Weaver asks: 'How then can a live coal purge away our sins?' and answers by linking the altar to Christ.

The brazen altar was a divinely ordained picture of Christ.

Summary: Every detail of the altar—its materials, construction, and fire—typifies Christ's humanity, righteousness, and judgment-bearing.

Evidence: Weaver reads an analysis: 'The brass covering of the acacia wood typifies the divine righteousness and judgment of Christ.'

The fire on the altar represents God's wrath against sin, which Christ bore.

Summary: The perpetual fire was lit by God and symbolizes judgment; Christ endured that fire on the cross.

Evidence: Weaver states: 'Fire is always a sign of wrath and judgment... It is the wrath of the Father against sin.'

Cleansing is instantaneous and complete when applied.

Summary: The Hebrew verbs show that as soon as the coal touched, iniquity was taken away—a simultaneous, finished work.

Evidence: Weaver quotes: 'The two verbs, 'has touched' and 'is taken away,' are coordinate perfects, stressing that as soon as the one happened, the other happened also.'

Believers need ongoing cleansing for effective service.

Summary: Even saved people like Isaiah and the disciples need daily cleansing from sin to be used by God.

Evidence: Weaver says: 'If we want to be used by God, there must be not only an original and initial cleansing, there must be constant and continual cleansing.'

Scripture References

Isaiah 6:1-11

Context: The primary text of the sermon, describing Isaiah's vision and cleansing.

Hebrews 9:22

Context: Cited to show that without shedding of blood there is no remission, raising the question of how a coal can purge sin.

Leviticus 17:11

Context: Used to emphasize that atonement is by blood, not by a coal.

1 Samuel 2:2

Context: Quoted to affirm God's unique holiness: 'There is none holy as the Lord.'

Exodus 33:17-23

Context: Moses' request to see God's glory and God's response that no one can see His face and live, illustrating progressive revelation of holiness.

Luke 19:10

Context: Used to support divine initiative: 'The Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.'

Jonah 2:9

Context: Cited to affirm that salvation is of the Lord.

Exodus 25:9, 40

Context: God's command to make the tabernacle and its instruments according to the pattern shown on the mount.

Hebrews 8:5

Context: Reinforces that the earthly tabernacle was a shadow of heavenly things, made according to the pattern.

Hebrews 9:21-24

Context: Explains that the earthly tabernacle was a figure of the true heavenly reality, and Christ entered heaven itself.

Leviticus 9:23-24

Context: The fire on the altar was sent by God, not kindled by man.

Leviticus 6:12-13

Context: The fire on the altar was to be kept burning continually and never go out.

Genesis 22:1-8

Context: Abraham offering Isaac as a burnt offering, with the father carrying fire and knife, picturing the Father's wrath on Christ.

1 Corinthians 5:7

Context: Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us, showing all lambs pictured Christ.

Hebrews 13:10

Context: We have an altar (Christ) from which those who serve the tabernacle have no right to eat.

Luke 8:40-48

Context: The woman with the issue of blood touched Jesus and was healed immediately, illustrating instantaneous cleansing.

John 13:4-11

Context: Jesus washing the disciples' feet, teaching that those who are bathed need only to wash their feet, symbolizing daily cleansing.

Psalm 119:9-11

Context: The Word of God cleanses and keeps from sin; quoted to show the means of daily cleansing.

John 17:17

Context: Jesus said, 'Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.'

Jeremiah 23:29

Context: God's word is like a fire, connecting to the theme of cleansing fire.

Historical References

King Uzziah's death

Context: The vision occurred in the year King Uzziah died, marking a historical transition in Judah.

Nadab and Abihu offering strange fire

Context: They were killed by God for offering unauthorized fire, illustrating the danger of adding to God's commands.

Destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah by fire

Context: Mentioned as an example of fire representing God's wrath and judgment.

John Calvin's commentary on Isaiah 6

Context: Calvin argued that Isaiah was already saved; the cleansing was for greater service, not initial salvation.

Matthew Henry's commentary on Isaiah 6

Context: Henry emphasized that only those purged from an evil conscience are prepared to serve God.

Important Quotes

When we see God in truth for what He is, we see ourselves in truth for what we are.

Significance: Summarizes the principle that a true vision of God's holiness reveals human sinfulness.

Jesus Christ is our altar.

Significance: A concise statement of the typological fulfillment in Christ.

The glowing coal then is our Lord Jesus Christ, not on the throne high and lifted up, but on the cross lifted up.

Significance: Identifies the coal as Christ in His atoning death.

If we want to be used by God, there must be not only an original and initial cleansing, there must be constant and continual cleansing.

Significance: Highlights the need for ongoing sanctification for service.

Has a coal touched your lips?

Significance: The central applicatory question of the sermon, calling for personal examination.

Discussion Questions

Why does seeing God's holiness lead to a deeper awareness of our own sin?

Context: Weaver explains that Isaiah's vision of God's majesty caused him to cry 'Woe is me!'

How does the brazen altar and its fire picture the work of Christ?

Context: Weaver details the typology of the altar's materials and the perpetual fire.

What does it mean that the cleansing was instantaneous when the coal touched Isaiah's lips?

Context: Weaver discusses the Hebrew perfect verbs indicating simultaneous action.

Why do believers need daily cleansing even after initial salvation?

Context: Weaver uses John 13 and the foot washing to illustrate ongoing cleansing.

How can we keep ourselves clean for God's service?

Context: Weaver points to the Word of God and prayer as means of daily cleansing.

Applications

Pray for a true vision of God's holiness and our sinfulness.

Summary: Weaver urges the prayers 'Lord, show me myself' and 'Lord, show me Thyself' together, so that we see our need and God's provision.

Evidence: Weaver says: 'These two prayer requests need to go together. Lord, show me myself, and Lord, show me Thyself, because You are the answer to all of my guilt.'

Trust in Christ alone for cleansing from sin.

Summary: The live coal represents Jesus Christ; only His atoning work can purge sin.

Evidence: Weaver states: 'The glowing coal then is our Lord Jesus Christ... Jesus Christ is our atonement.'

Seek daily cleansing through the Word.

Summary: Believers need continual cleansing, which comes through Scripture and confession.

Evidence: Weaver says: 'The way we stay clean is through the Word... Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.'

Make yourself available for God's service.

Summary: After cleansing, Isaiah said 'Here am I; send me.' We should offer ourselves to God.

Evidence: Weaver says: 'The very fact that we are available to Him means that if He chooses to use us, He may.'

deepseek | deepseek-v4-pro | clean_readable_transcript | 2026-06-05T19:15:23Z

deepseek | deepseek-v4-pro | weaver_study | 2026-06-06T12:20:43Z

Clean Transcript

Has A Live Coal Touched Your Lips?

Clean readable transcript. This view follows the Commentary.net cleaned segment text while preserving timestamps for audio follow-along.

You would please to the book of Isaiah chapter 6. Isaiah chapter 6, and we're going to be reading probably the first 11 verses. We'll come back and take care of a context just momentarily, but the title of the message is "Has a Live Coal Touched Your Lips?" So notice verse 1: "In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple. Above it 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. And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory. And the posts of the door moved at the voice of him that cried, and the house was filled with smoke. 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, the Lord of hosts. 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: And he laid it upon my mouth, and said, Lo, this hath touched
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thy lips, and thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin purged. Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me. And he said, Go, and tell this people, Hear ye indeed, but understand not; and see ye indeed, but perceive not. Make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and convert, and be healed. Then said I, Lord, how long?
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And he answered, Until the cities be wasted without inhabitant, and the houses without man, and the land be utterly desolate. I have no idea how many times I've read through the book of Isaiah. I have no idea how many times I've read Isaiah chapter 6. I've also used this passage in a multitude of messages from time to time. But just recently, I was reading through the book of Isaiah again, and a truth jumped out before my eyes that I had not even contemplated before, and I had not even questioned the verse probably as I should have. Actually, it's two verses.
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So if you look at verses 6 and 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. And he laid it upon my mouth, and said, Lo, this hath touched thy lips, and thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin purged." So the question I ask myself is simply this: Is it possible for a live coal to take away sins and purge from all iniquity?
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We're taught very clearly in the book of Hebrews chapter 9 and verse 22, "And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission." And then when you get to the book of Leviticus chapter 17 and verse 11, where God was giving all of the sacrifices, He said this: "For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul." So, since without the shedding of blood there is no remission of sins, we must ask this question: How then can a live coal purge away our sins?
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Now, the Hebrew word that forms the basis of the phrase "a live coal" is the word ritzpah, which literally means a live or glowing coal. It is one that is hot. It is one that is fiery. It is one basically that is red hot. And this is obvious because even the seraphim had to use tongs to take it from the altar. So it was a very live coal and glowing coal as well.
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Now, before I try to give you the answer to the questions that I've asked, I want you to look at the context with me, because there are a number of truths we must see. In verse 1, the Lord has given Isaiah a vision of Himself in His high, holy, majestic person, and in His sovereignty, I might add. It was a memorable event, and it took place in the year that King Uzziah died. He saw the Lord high, lifted up, seated upon the throne, and the Bible says His train filled the temple. So the train would be the long-flowing robe, or at least the hem of that robe.
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So he sees God in His holiness. He sees God in His majesty in this vision. Now, in the same vision at the same time, he also sees the seraphim and their ministry in proclaiming the holiness of God. I hope you understand that when you read through the Bible, there are seraphim, there are cherubim, and there are angels, and they're not one and the same creatures. Seraphim evidently are more concerned with God's holiness. Cherubim are more concerned with God's justice, because it was cherubim that covered the ark, if you will remember, of the covenant. And, of course, angels, the Bible tells us, are spirit beings, and they are ministering spirits. And they wait upon God, hearkening to His command. And the Bible says also that He sent them to minister unto those who are to be the heirs of salvation.
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So you have the seraphim, and the Bible tells us they have six wings: with twain they cover their face, with twain they cover their feet, with twain they do fly. And they cease not saying, "Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory." So what Isaiah sees and what Isaiah hears in verses 2 and 3 is the fact of a declaration and a revelation of God's holiness as well as His greatness, His majesty, and it had a very most revealing effect upon Isaiah. In fact, it was so powerful, if you look in verse 4, "And the posts of the door moved at the voice of him that cried, and the house was filled with smoke." Now, when Isaiah saw this, if you look in verse 5, "Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone."
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"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." So when Isaiah then saw the majesty, the sovereignty, and the holiness of God, he immediately perceived and knew his own wickedness, depravity, uncleanness, and pollution. He understood that he had fallen short, that he had transgressed, that he had not measured up, and therefore he was willing to confess and acknowledge that he was a sinner. But however, I want you to note very clearly, it was not just Isaiah that was the problem. God showed him the nation was the problem because he said in verse 5, "Then said I, Woe is me! I'm undone. Because I'm a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips." So I want to point out something. There is such a thing as individual wickedness, which we all understand. But there's also such a thing as national wickedness. So it's not just Isaiah who was wicked.
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It was the entire nation. And of course, God judged them under the ministry of Isaiah as well. So he cries out, "I am undone."
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Now, before I go any further, there are three truths that we must see from verse 5. I think these truths are extremely applicable to our lives today. The first one is this: We will never see and understand the greatness of our sins and depravity until we see the greatness of God in His majesty, sovereignty, and His holiness. So let me put it to you several different ways. Number one, when we see God in truth for what He is, we see ourselves in truth for what we are. Stated another way, when God shows us Himself, we see ourselves. We will never fully understand the depth and the breadth of our depravity without an understanding of God's infinite holiness.
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That is why in 1 Samuel 2 and verse 2, the Bible says, "There is none holy as the Lord: for there is none beside thee: neither is there any rock like our God." So he said, "There is none holy as the Lord." So God is infinitely holy. And when we see His holiness, when we see His majesty, when we see His sovereignty, we're going to immediately understand our depravity and our wickedness.
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Now, here's the second truth that's connected with that. It may sound like I'm saying the same thing, but I'm not. I will explain it. Here it is: The more we see and understand His holiness, greatness, and righteousness, the more we see our own depravity. Now, let me explain what I mean by that. I think if we really and truly saw the depth of our depravity at once, we would self-destruct. If we saw the greatness of God's holiness at once, we could not stand it. We understand that there is a vast chasm between an infinitely holy God and a wicked sinner. And the more God reveals to us through His Word and in His providence, His holiness, the more we see our own wickedness and our own depravity.
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Most of us committed immeasurable sins when we were young, and that's why David prayed in Psalm 71, "Remember not against me the sins of my youth." But you know, the truth of the matter is most people forget about their sins until they begin to get older. And then all of a sudden, some of these things come back in their minds to haunt them. And they're reminded of what they've done.
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And then each one of us actually begins confessing. And we see how wicked we really were when we were young, in our middle age, and even up to our old age as well. So the point I'm trying to make is this: God does not show us the depth of our depravity all at one time. Neither does God show us His infinite holiness all at one time. Let me show you what I'm trying to say. I want you to hold Isaiah 6, but turn in your Bibles to the book of Exodus, chapter 33. Exodus chapter 33, because Moses now has asked God to show him His glory. I want you to see what God says. Exodus chapter 33, and let's begin reading there with verse 17. Exodus 33 and verse 17. Watch this. "And the Lord said unto Moses, I will do this thing also that thou hast spoken: for thou hast found grace in my sight, and I know thee by name. And he said," that is Moses, "I beseech thee, show me thy glory."
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That was Moses' request. "And he said," this is God speaking now, "I will make all my goodness pass before thee, and I will proclaim the name of the Lord before thee; and will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy to whom I will show mercy. And he said," look what God says to Moses, "Thou canst not see my face: for there shall no man see me, and live. And the Lord said, Behold, there is a place by me, and thou shalt stand upon a rock: and it shall come to pass, while my glory passeth by, that I will put thee in a clift of the rock, and will cover thee with my hand while I pass by: and I will take away mine hand, and thou shalt see my back parts: but my face shall not be seen." So God told Moses, you can't see me in all of my glory, in all of my majesty at once.
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If you do, you will die. So he says, I will pass by you. I'll put my hand over you. I'll remove it after I pass by and you can see my back parts. So in light of this, let me tell you the two prayer requests that we should make often. And at the same time, we must understand that these two prayer requests go together. I'm going to repeat that: we must make sure that we understand that these two prayer requests go together.
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The first one is this: Lord, show me myself. And the second one is: Lord, show me Thyself. So if God opened our eyes and allowed us to see the depth of our depravity, and the depth of our wickedness, we would indeed self-destruct. But what we need to see is not just our sin and our wickedness and our depravity, but we must also see His holiness, His righteousness, His sovereignty, and we must understand that He, therefore, is the answer to our guilt, our pollution, and our every need. So that is why I'm saying these two prayer requests need to go together. "Lord, show me myself," and "Lord, show me Thyself, because You are the answer to all of my guilt and all of my pollution." Now, there's a third truth that we need to see in Isaiah chapter 6 and verse 5, and that is this: When you see what has happened to Isaiah in his cleansing and in his calling, we must take note of the fact and the reality that the initiative was from the divine side.
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In other words, it was God who first moved. It was God who revealed Himself to Isaiah in verses 1 through 4. It was God who opened his eyes. It was God who allowed him to see the seraphim. It was God who allowed him to hear them cry, "Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty." It was God who allowed him to see the posts being moved and the house filled with smoke. The initiative is always with God. We never first seek Him.
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He seeks us and finds us. And then we seek Him. That's why the Scripture says in Luke chapter 19 in verse 10, "For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost." So the initiative is always God's. Moreover, it was God in this instance that revealed to Isaiah the desperate wickedness of his heart. It was God who revealed to him the wickedness of the people. It was God who revealed to Isaiah his own uncleanness and the state of the nation. That's why Isaiah cried, "Woe is me! for I am undone. 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 Lord of hosts." So it was also the Lord who sent the seraph with the coal, to touch Isaiah's lips and cleanse him. Salvation and deliverance is always from God alone. That's why in Jonah 2 and verse 9, Jonah proclaimed, "Salvation is of the Lord." Now, understanding these three truths should enable us then to ascertain the truth concerning the coal that touched Isaiah's mouth.
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The starting point should also be the source of the altar and the fire that created the coal. Now, the altar from which the coal was taken was undoubtedly that which was known as the altar of burnt offering, sometimes referred to as the brazen altar. This brazen altar was always at the door of the tabernacle and/or at the door of the temple. So it's called the brass altar, the burnt offering altar, or the brazen altar.
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We must understand that this altar was made at God's command, at God's directions, with God's divinely ordained materials, according to the pattern that God gave Moses. Everything was to be made exactly the way God determined it should be made. So if you would hold Isaiah, but look in your Bibles, first of all, to the book of Exodus chapter 25 and look at verse 9. Exodus 25 and verse 9. This is in reference not only to the tabernacle, but to everything in the tabernacle. So Exodus chapter 25 in verse 9, God says, "According to all that I show thee, after the pattern of the tabernacle, and the pattern of all the instruments thereof, even so shall ye make it." So God gave Moses the pattern. Look, if you would, in the same chapter at verse 40, Exodus 25 in verse 40. Again, God says, "And look that thou make them after their pattern, which was showed thee in the mount." Now, the point I'm trying to make is this: Moses did not come along one day and just decide, "I think I'm going to make an altar.
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Here's what I'm going to do. Here's how I'm going to build it." No, no, no. God directed that altar to be made. He gave Moses the directions, the pattern, and He told him the materials to use.
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Now, if you will turn over in your Bibles to the book of Hebrews chapter 8, and look, if you would please, at verse 5, you'll see this truth again. Hebrews chapter 8 and verse 5. There the Bible says this, Hebrews 8 verse 5, "Who serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things," we're talking about the tabernacle and the temple now. Watch this. "...who serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was admonished of God when he was about to make the tabernacle: for, See, saith he, that thou make all things according to the pattern showed to thee in the mount." So Moses then was obligated to follow every detail that God commanded and every detail that God outlined.
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Now, if you want to read about this brazen altar, you may do so in Exodus chapter 27, verses 1 through 8, and also Exodus 38, verses 1 through 7. You have there the building of this brazen altar, and it's made of acacia wood, and then, of course, it's covered with brass. I'm going to get to some of that a little bit later.
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Now, here's a problem, and I want to try to deal with this problem. The problem is, Isaiah is seeing a heavenly vision. And the coal is taken from off the altar and touches his lips. So here's my question: How could the seraphim reach down to the tabernacle and/or the temple, the temple at that time, and take a coal from that altar and then touch Isaiah's mouth? Someone would say, "Well, the altar was a physical altar. Isaiah is seeing this in a vision, in a dream. So how could that happen?" Well, there's an answer. I want you to look in Hebrews chapter 9. I just emphasized it. Hebrews chapter 8 when I read that passage, but if you look in Hebrews chapter 9 verses 23 and 24, in fact, let's go back and begin reading verse 21. Okay, Hebrews 9 verse 21, watch this: "Moreover
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he sprinkled with blood both the tabernacle, and all the vessels of the ministry." So Moses, when he dedicated that tabernacle, sprinkled everything with blood. Now watch: "And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission." Here we go: "It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these;" that is the tabernacle, the temple, and those were the patterns. Those were the types. Those were the emblems. Those were the shadows. Those were the pictures. So they were purified with the blood of animals. Watch: "But the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands," that is the tabernacle and the temple, "which are the figures" or types or emblems "of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in
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the presence of God for us." So the true tabernacle, the true altar, is in heaven. Everything that we see in the tabernacle, everything that we see in the temple were nothing more than pictures. That's all there was to it. It was a pattern. It was a type. So the true altar is in heaven. Okay?
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Now, let's consider just for a moment another concept. Because this altar had a fire. And there were burning coals upon this fire. Do you realize that even the brazen altar was divinely lit by God and it was to be continually burning and never to be put out? Let me show you. Look back in your Bibles, first of all, to the book of Leviticus, chapter 9. Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus. Look at Leviticus chapter 9 in verses 23 and 24. Leviticus chapter 9. Look, if you would, please, verse 23 and 24.
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The tabernacle has been set up. Here's what happens: "And Moses and Aaron went into the tabernacle of the congregation, and came out, and blessed the people: and the glory of the Lord appeared unto all the people. And there came a fire out from before the Lord, and consumed upon the altar the burnt offering and the fat: which when all the people saw, they shouted, and fell on their faces." So that initial fire was sent by God. Moses did not light that fire. God lit that fire. Now, if you would look back in Leviticus chapter 6, because God is giving directions to Moses on how to make this sacrifice and He's going to start the fire. But Leviticus chapter 6, if you look at verses 12 and 13, God says this: "And the fire upon the altar shall be burning
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in it; it shall not be put out: and the priest shall burn wood on it every morning, and lay the burnt offering in order upon it; and he shall burn thereon the fat of the peace offerings. The fire shall ever be burning upon the altar; it shall never go out." So God is saying that once I light this fire, the purity of the fire must be maintained. Because this is God's fire. This is not man's fire. Nadab and Abihu got into trouble because they took strange fire, fire that they initiated, fire that they began and put in their censers before the Lord, and God sent fire and killed both of them. Which is teaching us that anytime God does something and man adds to it, it is a profanation. It is a perversion. And so God immediately struck Nadab and Abihu dead because they offered strange fire.
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Now, fire, of course, speaks of wrath and it speaks of judgment as well. God rained down fire upon Sodom and Gomorrah. Fire is consumed or fire is involved in the final destruction, in the final condemnation, in the final damnation, however you want to say it. Fire is always a sign of wrath and judgment. It is the wrath of the Father against sin and wickedness and everything that is impure and unholy and contrary to God. And let me say this again: It's a picture of the Father's wrath and anger. It's a picture of the Father's judgment.
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So let me show you this. I want you to turn in your Bibles to the book of Genesis chapter 22. Here is a perfect picture of that truth which I'm about to share with you. Look at it. In Genesis chapter 22, this is the passage where God commands Abraham to offer his son Isaac as a burnt offering. Look at it. Verse 1: "And it came to pass after these things, that God did tempt" or test "Abraham, and said unto him, Abraham.
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And he said, Behold, here I am. And he said, Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of."
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Now, I want you to note this. God has just told Abraham to offer his only son Isaac. Now, he was an only child by Sarah. It is true Abraham had other children. He had Ishmael. But Isaac is the son of promise. Look in verse 3: "And Abraham rose up early in the morning." Most of us would have slept in. Our alarm clock would not have gone off, I can assure you.
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We would have tarried and drug our feet as long as we could have. But Abraham rose up early in the morning, and saddled his ass, and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son.
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Now watch: "and clave the wood for the burnt offering." Who cut the wood? The father, Abraham. "He clave the wood for the burnt offering, and rose up, and went unto the place of which God had told him. Then on the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes, and saw the place afar off. And Abraham said unto his young men, Abide ye here with the ass; and I and the lad will go yonder and worship, and come again to you." Isn't that amazing? See, he believed that if he offered Isaac as a sacrifice, that God would raise him up because of God's promise. Therefore, he said, "I and the lad will come again to you." Now watch verse 6. Here it is: "And Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering, and laid it upon Isaac his son; and he," Abraham, "took the fire in his hand, and a knife." The father carried the fire and the knife. "And they went both of them together. And Isaac spake unto Abraham his father, and said, My father.
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And he said, Here am I, my son. And he said, Behold the fire and the wood: but where is the lamb for a burnt offering? And Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering." So they went both of them together. He did not say "God will provide for himself," but "God will provide himself." God will be the sacrifice. But note, if you would, true to this picture, the father is carrying the fire and the knife and the son, Isaac, was carrying the wood just as Jesus Christ carried the cross.
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You know, I got to thinking even this afternoon. It was Jesus Christ who created that tree and grew that tree. And now He's carrying that tree, true to the picture of Genesis chapter 22. So just as that wood was laid upon Isaac and the father carried the knife and the fire, so likewise, it was the Father's wrath that fell upon the Lord Jesus Christ when He was crucified in our stead.
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Now, you have to remember that everything in the tabernacle, everything in the temple was a picture, was a shadow, was a type. And each one of these things pictured the Lord Jesus Christ in one way or the other. In fact, the entire tabernacle pictured the Lord Jesus Christ. And then each of these specific instruments in there pictured also the Lord Jesus Christ. All of the sacrifices picture the Lord Jesus Christ. You remember that Passover lamb?
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There is no idea how many lambs were sacrificed, even on that first night in Exodus chapter 12. And thereafter, every lamb that was ever slain pictured the Lord Jesus Christ. That is why in 1 Corinthians 5 and verse 7, the Bible says, "For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us." So Jesus Christ is the true Paschal Lamb. Jesus Christ is the true Passover. All of those lambs were just pictures of the Lord Jesus Christ.
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Now, let me show you something. I want you to turn in your Bibles to the book of Hebrews chapter 13. Hebrews chapter 13. Please remember this, that the problem in the book of Hebrews is some of these people wanted to go back to the Old Testament types and shadows. You know, we get confused so many times. We think, "Wow, think about that temple. Think about that tabernacle. You could see it. You could hear it. You could smell it. You could taste it.
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I mean, look at the smoke. Look at the sacrifice. It was all there." You say, "Now that's reality." No, it was not reality. That was just a picture. Now watch this. Look in verse 13—I'm sorry, verse 10 it is, of Hebrews 13. Watch this: "We have an altar, whereof they have no right to eat which serve the tabernacle." Jesus Christ is our altar. If you want that old physical fleshly altar back in the Old Testament, He says you have no right to our altar. You have no right to Jesus Christ. I had a young man ask me not too long ago—he's been married about a year and a half now, but when he was married about two or three months, he asked me about these Old Testament types because there were some people at work warning him to go back to some of these types
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since he was a professing Christian. He was asking me about this. And so I asked him, I said, "Do you have a picture of your wife in your billfold?" He said, "Of course I do." I said, "May I see it?" Of course, I was at his wedding because I knew his wife, and so he showed me the picture. I said, "Now here's what I want you to do. When you go home tonight and you get ready for bed, I want you to take this picture out of your billfold, and I want you to give it a big old long loving smack right on the lips." He looked at me and said, "Why would I do that when my wife is sitting right by me?"
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I said, "You mean you prefer reality to the type and the shadow?" You see what I'm saying? We now have the reality. We have the truth. Whereas in the Old Testament, all they had was the picture. So Jesus Christ is our altar. You got that?
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Now, I want to read something to you. It's about three or four paragraphs long. I'll even quote the Scriptures. This is an excellent analysis of the brazen altar. And it's showing how it perfectly pictured the Lord Jesus Christ. Remember now, it's a picture. The reality is in heaven. Here we go. The author states: "For the Christian, the altar is full of symbolic meaning and spiritual teaching. The shittim, or acacia wood, which it was made of originally, before it was covered with brass—the acacia wood was a hard, incorruptible, and indestructible wood which grows in the Sinai desert. It beautifully portrays the humanity of Christ, who came from a root out of dry ground (Isaiah 53:2), and was sinless in His nature (Hebrews 4:15). The indestructibility of the wood speaks of Christ in His humanity, withstanding the fire of crucifixion (John 10:18), the decaying effect of the grave (Acts 2:31), and His body, which was victoriously resurrected (Matthew 28). The brass covering of the acacia wood typifies the divine righteousness and judgment of Christ.
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Christ, the righteous one (1 John 3:5), took the divine judgment of God upon Himself, bearing our judgment on the cross by becoming sin for us (2 Corinthians 5:21). As all were saved from death when they looked upon the brass serpent which Moses held up in the wilderness, so shall all who trust in Jesus Christ, who was lifted up on the cross as a sacrifice for sin, be saved from damnation (John 3:14-15). Finally, Christ's appearance to John on the Isle of Patmos with feet of fine brass, as if it burned in a furnace (Revelation 1:15), speaks of His judicial character in judging His enemies at the Second Coming. It was at the altar that an innocent lamb would bear the judgment of the guilty. Christ our Lamb (John 1:29) died upon the altar of the cross to bear the judgment of God's wrath against sin on our behalf (Isaiah 53). The sacrifice being burned upon the altar as a sweet savor to God (Leviticus 1:9) typifies Christ who was offered up as a sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling savor.
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Wow. So everything about this altar just simply pictured the Lord Jesus Christ. So the Apostle says we have an altar where they who serve the tabernacle have no right to eat. That perpetual fire that we read about in Leviticus chapter 6 went beyond symbolizing the divine wrath, for the altar was also the place where the holy righteous God accepted a sacrifice. In other words, it was the place of atonement. It was a place of propitiation. It was a place of reconciliation. And all of this was achieved through a substitute, which was the Lord Jesus Christ. So the Lord Jesus Christ and all of His work is encapsulated for us under the picture of a living coal taken from the altar. It was Jesus Christ who purchased our salvation, who cleansed us from all sin.
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And here's an interesting thing. This altar, this brazen altar, was also, in one sense of the word, a place of fear and trepidation. How can I say that? Well, let's say you were alive in Old Testament days while the tabernacle was standing. And you wanted to bring an offering to God and you brought your animal. Let's say it was a lamb or an ox. When you brought it to the door of the tabernacle, you had to put your hand upon his head, confessing the sin, and then either you or the priest or both kill the animal. When that animal was dying, you had to understand that it was you who should have died because it was you that animal was a substitute for. So in that sense of the word, it was a place of fear and trepidation because you realize you deserve to die and you deserve death.
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But at the same time, it was also a place of grace and mercy because that sacrifice then was placed upon this altar and it covered the sins until the Lord Jesus Christ, the true sacrifice, came and took away those sins. So salvation and reconciliation, propitiation, purity, all of these come from God alone. And so this is why that coal from Isaiah chapter 6 was taken from the altar, touched Isaiah's lips. Now, I want to hasten and give you another truth right quickly. The Bible says, look at it if you would please in Isaiah chapter 6. The seraphim has taken the coal from the altar. Jesus Christ is our altar. Watch this in verse 7: "And he laid it upon my mouth," Isaiah said, "and said, Lo, this hath touched thy lips; and thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin purged."
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Now, I want you to pay close attention to this part. "Lo, this hath touched thy lips; and thine iniquity is taken away." Now, I want to give you one quote. It's a paragraph long from the eclectic notes of the Bible, and this is very, very instructive. The author says: "The Bible does not deal in dumb signs. Application leads to explanation. He laid it upon my mouth and said," now watch, "the touching of the lips with the live coal shows how God ministers to the sinner at the point of confessed needs. What did Isaiah say? 'Woe is me, I'm a man of unclean lips. And I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips.' And so the seraphim came and took the coal with the tongs and touched his lips."
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Now, listen: "The effect is instantaneous. The two verbs, 'has touched' and 'is taken away,' are coordinate perfects, stressing that as soon as the one happened, the other happened also. That is, they were simultaneous. Isaiah contributes nothing. All is of God. 'This touched your lips and your iniquity went.' A comprehensive work of dealing with sin takes place. Isaiah confessed what he knows, that is, with his lips, but God deals also with his guilt and iniquity, the inner reality of the deviant or depraved nature, and with his sin, the specific instances of shortcomings.
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All of this arises from the payment of a price. The verb 'atoned for' means to effect a kopher or a ransom price, the price which justice requires. The Hebrew considered for itself leads to 'cover' as the original meaning. God covers guilt out of free grace, but it's acting—this is less than the pardon of a father than the releasing by a judge. As we speak of a sum of money is sufficient to cover a debt, so the word kopher is the payment of whatever divine justice sees as sufficient to cover the sinner's debt.
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The death of the substitute sacrifice on the altar, which would be the Lord Jesus Christ. So he said as soon as the coal touched his lips, then everything else happened instantaneously.
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Now, let me show you. Here's a good picture and a good illustration. If you will turn in your Bibles to the book of Luke chapter 8. Luke chapter 8. And I want you to begin looking at this at verse 40. Luke 8 and verse 40. This is a wonderful, wonderful passage. Luke 8 verse 40: "And it came to pass, that, when Jesus was returned, the people gladly received him: for they were all waiting for him. And, behold, there came a man named Jairus, and he was a ruler of the synagogue: and he fell down at Jesus' feet, and besought him that he would come into his house.
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For he had one only daughter, about twelve years of age, and she lay a dying. But as he went the people thronged him. And a woman having an issue of blood twelve years, which had spent all her living upon physicians, neither could be healed of any, came behind him, and touched the border of his garment: and immediately her issue of blood stanched. And Jesus said, Who touched me? When all denied, Peter and they that were with him said, Master, the multitude throng thee and press thee, and sayest thou, Who touched me? And Jesus said, Somebody hath touched me: for I perceive that virtue is gone out of me. And when the woman saw that she was not hid, she came trembling, and falling down before him, she declared unto him before all the people for what cause she had touched him, and how she was healed immediately. Note, if you would: And he said unto her, Daughter, be of good comfort: thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace. She touched him, and instantly, immediately, she was healed.
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The touch of God, or to touch God, is salvation, is healing, is deliverance. When the coal touched the mouth of Isaiah, he was immediately delivered from all guilt and pollution. The glowing coal then is our Lord Jesus Christ, not on the throne high and lifted up, but on the cross lifted up. Jesus Christ is our atonement. Jesus Christ is our reconciliation. Jesus Christ is our propitiation. Jesus Christ is our glowing living coal that purges from sin and death.
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He is the Lamb that was slain before the foundation of the world. He is God in the flesh.
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Now, here's why I titled this message like I did, and here is my question to you, and I want you to think about this with me. I want you to go back in your Bibles. Isaiah chapter 6, if you would. But here's my question: Has a coal touched your lips? Have you been cleansed by the Lord Jesus Christ, who is our sacrifice? And here is the impact, I believe, of Isaiah chapter 6. The truth is, even if we have been saved, even if we are saved, there is still a need to be touched for cleansing. Isaiah was saved before Isaiah 6. Isaiah was a prophet before Isaiah 6. He was already saved and called of God to be a prophet.
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I want to give you two quick quotes, one by John Calvin, one by Matthew Henry. John Calvin said it like this: "We must not conclude, therefore, that Isaiah's lips were impure, because they are now cleansed, but we ought to inquire why it is done. It was because the Lord intended to enlarge and extend His favor toward him, and to raise him to a higher dignity, that he might have a greater influence over the people. And this was rendered necessary by the character of the times and the change which had taken place in the state."
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Now, let me just stop right there. It is true that there had to be some uncleanness in Isaiah, but that does not mean that he was unsaved. This is what he's saying. And that is why later on, as you read this passage, God asked, "Who shall go for us?" And Isaiah said, "Here am I, Lord, send me." Now here's what Matthew Henry said. Listen carefully: "Those only who are thus purged from an evil conscience are prepared to serve the living God. The taking away of sin is necessary to our speaking with confidence and comfort, either to God in prayer or from God in preaching.
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Nor are any so fit to display to others the riches and power of the gospel as those that have themselves tasted the sweetness and felt the influence of that grace. Those that shall have their sin taken away who complain of it as a burden and see themselves in danger as being undone by it." In other words, what he's saying is this: God is not going to use filthy people. God is not going to use dirty, wicked, transgressing people. In other words, if we want to be used by God, there must be not only an original and initial cleansing, there must be constant and continual cleansing.
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So, let me give you another picture. I want you to turn in your Bibles to the book of John, chapter 13. John, chapter 13. Here it is. John, chapter 13. And let's begin reading there with verse 4. John 13. Look, if you would please, beginning there with verse 4. John 13, verse 4: "He riseth from supper," this is the Lord Jesus, "He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself. After that he poureth water into a bason, and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded. Then cometh he to Simon Peter: and Peter saith unto him, Lord, dost thou wash my feet? Jesus answered and said unto him, What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter. Peter saith unto him, Thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me. Simon Peter saith unto him, Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head.
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Give me a bath," is what he's saying. "Jesus saith to him, He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit: and ye are clean, but not all. For he knew who should betray him; therefore said he, Ye are not all clean." So here's this picture. Jesus Christ comes to wash Peter's feet. And Peter said, "Lord, You're never going to wash my feet." Well, the Lord said, "If I don't wash you, you don't have any part with Me." Well, Peter said, "In that case, Lord, I want You to give me a whole bath, head, body, hands, everything." No, our Lord said, "Once you're clean, all you need is your feet clean." Now, the picture would be from those times. So, you could take a bath in your home, in your tent, wherever you were.
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And let's suppose, let's suppose you and Mary are invited to Gary and Donna's house for dinner, but it just is only 100 yards away. But you're in the desert and you take a bath. And guess what? You put on your sandals and you walk 100 yards. And now when you get to their house, you've got dirty feet. Most of those homes had a bowl of water and a towel at the door, and by custom, you washed your feet when you went in or your feet was washed by them. You were clean, except your feet.
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And so what our Lord is teaching us here is that we need daily cleansing. We have been cleansed by the blood, but look at the daily frustrations, the daily temptations, the daily incidents that happen and things that upset us and things that tear us apart. He said, "Look, these things need to be dealt with." And so our Lord is telling us we need a daily cleansing. This, I believe, is the same thing that Isaiah had when that coal touched his lips, and now he's clean.
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God is using him for service. If you and I want to be used of God, we must be clean, and we must keep ourselves clean. And the only thing that you and I can do is say, "Here I am, Lord. Use me as You will and as You please." God is not obligated to use any of us. But the very fact that we are available to Him means that if He chooses to use us, He may. So the truth of the matter is, we need a coal to touch our lips, and that coal is the Lord Jesus Christ. It was David who said and prayed, "Keep the door of my lips." You remember that prayer? And may I tell you something else? The way we stay clean is through the Word. Our Lord said in John 17, "Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you." And what did David say in Psalm 119, beginning there in verse 11?
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"Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word. With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments. Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee." So we need the living water, the Lord Jesus. The living coal, the Lord Jesus, and we need the written water, the Word of God. And the written fire—Jeremiah, what did God say? "Is not my word like as a fire? saith the Lord." We need it for daily cleansing. If we're going to present our bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is our reasonable service. So, has your lips been touched with a coal? The Lord Jesus, has He cleansed you?
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Has He washed your feet? Are you clean? Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, we ask You to make us pure, to keep us pure, to make us holy, to make us godly. May we see how desperately we need Thee. And Father, may we follow after righteousness, follow after holiness. And Father, may we follow after a godly cleanliness. We thank You for being the living sacrifice, the living altar, the living coal, the living water, the living Word, Lord God, and beside Thee there is none other. Give us grace, we pray, to serve Thee. In the name of Jesus Christ, we ask. Amen.
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so so
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deepseek | deepseek-v4-pro | clean_readable_transcript | 2026-06-05T19:15:23Z

Has A Live Coal Touched Your Lips?

John Weaver | Freedom Ministries

In this sermon, Pastor John Weaver examines Isaiah 6:1-11, focusing on the vision of God's holiness and the seraph touching Isaiah's lips with a live coal from the altar. He argues that the coal represents Jesus Christ and His atoning work, which alone can cleanse sin. Weaver emphasizes that seeing God's holiness reveals human depravity, that salvation is entirely God's initiative, and that believers need continual cleansing for service. The message calls for personal examination: 'Has a live coal touched your lips?'

Introduction and Reading of Isaiah 6:1-11

Weaver introduces the passage and reads the vision of God's throne, the seraphim, Isaiah's confession, the coal touching his lips, and the commissioning.

Scripture Reading — Isaiah 6:1-11

"In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple. Above it 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. And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory. And the posts of the door moved at the voice of him that cried, and the house was filled with smoke. 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, the Lord of hosts. 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: And he laid it upon my mouth, and said, Lo, this hath touched thy lips, and thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin purged. Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me. And he said, Go, and tell this people, Hear ye indeed, but understand not; and see ye indeed, but perceive not. Make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and convert, and be healed. Then said I, Lord, how long?

The Question: How Can a Live Coal Purge Sin?

Weaver raises the central question: since Scripture says without shedding of blood there is no remission, how can a live coal take away sin?

Scripture Reading — Hebrews 9:22

"And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission."

The Context: Isaiah's Vision of God's Holiness

Isaiah sees the Lord high and lifted up, the seraphim proclaiming God's holiness, and the temple shaking, leading to his confession of uncleanness.

Three Truths from Isaiah's Confession

Weaver draws three truths: we see our sin only when we see God's holiness; God reveals our depravity progressively; and the initiative in salvation is always God's.

He seeks us and finds us. And then we seek Him. That's why the Scripture says in Luke chapter 19 in verse 10,

Scripture Reading — Luke 19:10

"For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost."

The Altar and Its Typology

The altar from which the coal was taken is the brazen altar, made according to God's pattern, picturing Christ. The true altar is in heaven.

Scripture Reading — Exodus 25:9, 40

"According to all that I show thee, after the pattern of the tabernacle, and the pattern of all the instruments thereof, even so shall ye make it."

Here's what I'm going to do. Here's how I'm going to build it." No, no, no. God directed that altar to be made. He gave Moses the directions, the pattern, and He told him the materials to use.

Scripture Reading — Hebrews 8:5

"Who serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things,"

we're talking about the tabernacle and the temple now. Watch this.

Scripture Reading — Hebrews 8:5

"...who serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was admonished of God when he was about to make the tabernacle: for, See, saith he, that thou make all things according to the pattern showed to thee in the mount."

So Moses then was obligated to follow every detail that God commanded and every detail that God outlined.

The Fire: Divine Wrath and Atonement

The fire on the altar was divinely lit and perpetual, symbolizing God's wrath against sin. The sacrifice on the altar points to Christ bearing that wrath.

The tabernacle has been set up. Here's what happens:

Scripture Reading — Leviticus 9:23-24

"And Moses and Aaron went into the tabernacle of the congregation, and came out, and blessed the people: and the glory of the Lord appeared unto all the people. And there came a fire out from before the Lord, and consumed upon the altar the burnt offering and the fat: which when all the people saw, they shouted, and fell on their faces."

Christ Our Altar and the Coal

Jesus Christ is the true altar (Hebrews 13:10). The live coal represents Christ's atoning work, cleansing sin instantly when applied.

Scripture Reading — 1 Corinthians 5:7

"For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us."

So Jesus Christ is the true Paschal Lamb. Jesus Christ is the true Passover. All of those lambs were just pictures of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Scripture Reading — Hebrews 13:10

" Jesus Christ is our altar. If you want that old physical fleshly altar back in the Old Testament, He says you have no right to our altar. You have no right to Jesus Christ. I had a young man ask me not too long ago—he's been married about a year and a half now, but when he was married about two or three months, he asked me about these Old Testament types because there were some people at work warning him to go back to some of these types

Instantaneous Cleansing and the Need for Continual Cleansing

The coal's touch brought immediate cleansing. Weaver uses John 13 to show believers need daily cleansing for service, just as Isaiah was cleansed for his prophetic calling.

Scripture Reading — John 13:4-11

"He riseth from supper,"

this is the Lord Jesus,

Scripture Reading — John 13:4-11

"He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself. After that he poureth water into a bason, and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded. Then cometh he to Simon Peter: and Peter saith unto him, Lord, dost thou wash my feet? Jesus answered and said unto him, What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter. Peter saith unto him, Thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me. Simon Peter saith unto him, Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head.

Application: Has a Coal Touched Your Lips?

Weaver challenges listeners to examine if they have been cleansed by Christ and to seek daily cleansing through the Word for holy service.

Has A Live Coal Touched Your Lips?

John Weaver | YouTube

Lecture Metadata	Details
Speaker	John Weaver
Source	YouTube
Media ID	zkmSjIairIE
Subject	Old Testament Studies
Course	Exodus: Bondage, Deliverance, and Passover: As Yet
Genre	Sermon
Date	2023-03-22
Dictation Name
Book	Book 079: Exodus: Bondage, Deliverance, and Passover - Volume 2 — Chapter 39
Source Timed Segments	71

Lecture Guide

Outline

Introduction and Reading of Isaiah 6:1-11: Weaver introduces the passage and reads the vision of God's throne, the seraphim, Isaiah's confession, the coal touching his lips, and the commissioning.
The Question: How Can a Live Coal Purge Sin?: Weaver raises the central question: since Scripture says without shedding of blood there is no remission, how can a live coal take away sin?
The Context: Isaiah's Vision of God's Holiness: Isaiah sees the Lord high and lifted up, the seraphim proclaiming God's holiness, and the temple shaking, leading to his confession of uncleanness.
Three Truths from Isaiah's Confession: Weaver draws three truths: we see our sin only when we see God's holiness; God reveals our depravity progressively; and the initiative in salvation is always God's.
The Altar and Its Typology: The altar from which the coal was taken is the brazen altar, made according to God's pattern, picturing Christ. The true altar is in heaven.
The Fire: Divine Wrath and Atonement: The fire on the altar was divinely lit and perpetual, symbolizing God's wrath against sin. The sacrifice on the altar points to Christ bearing that wrath.
Christ Our Altar and the Coal: Jesus Christ is the true altar (Hebrews 13:10). The live coal represents Christ's atoning work, cleansing sin instantly when applied.
Instantaneous Cleansing and the Need for Continual Cleansing: The coal's touch brought immediate cleansing. Weaver uses John 13 to show believers need daily cleansing for service, just as Isaiah was cleansed for his prophetic calling.
Application: Has a Coal Touched Your Lips?: Weaver challenges listeners to examine if they have been cleansed by Christ and to seek daily cleansing through the Word for holy service.

Major Themes

Key Arguments

A live coal cannot literally purge sin; it must symbolize Christ's atoning work.

Since Scripture requires blood for remission, the coal represents Jesus Christ, the true sacrifice.

Weaver asks: 'How then can a live coal purge away our sins?' and answers by linking the altar to Christ.

The brazen altar was a divinely ordained picture of Christ.

Every detail of the altar—its materials, construction, and fire—typifies Christ's humanity, righteousness, and judgment-bearing.

Weaver reads an analysis: 'The brass covering of the acacia wood typifies the divine righteousness and judgment of Christ.'

The fire on the altar represents God's wrath against sin, which Christ bore.

The perpetual fire was lit by God and symbolizes judgment; Christ endured that fire on the cross.

Weaver states: 'Fire is always a sign of wrath and judgment... It is the wrath of the Father against sin.'

Cleansing is instantaneous and complete when applied.

The Hebrew verbs show that as soon as the coal touched, iniquity was taken away—a simultaneous, finished work.

Weaver quotes: 'The two verbs, 'has touched' and 'is taken away,' are coordinate perfects, stressing that as soon as the one happened, the other happened also.'

Believers need ongoing cleansing for effective service.

Even saved people like Isaiah and the disciples need daily cleansing from sin to be used by God.

Weaver says: 'If we want to be used by God, there must be not only an original and initial cleansing, there must be constant and continual cleansing.'

Scripture References

Isaiah 6:1-11: The primary text of the sermon, describing Isaiah's vision and cleansing.
Hebrews 9:22: Cited to show that without shedding of blood there is no remission, raising the question of how a coal can purge sin.
Leviticus 17:11: Used to emphasize that atonement is by blood, not by a coal.
1 Samuel 2:2: Quoted to affirm God's unique holiness: 'There is none holy as the Lord.'
Exodus 33:17-23: Moses' request to see God's glory and God's response that no one can see His face and live, illustrating progressive revelation of holiness.
Luke 19:10: Used to support divine initiative: 'The Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.'
Jonah 2:9: Cited to affirm that salvation is of the Lord.
Exodus 25:9, 40: God's command to make the tabernacle and its instruments according to the pattern shown on the mount.
Hebrews 8:5: Reinforces that the earthly tabernacle was a shadow of heavenly things, made according to the pattern.
Hebrews 9:21-24: Explains that the earthly tabernacle was a figure of the true heavenly reality, and Christ entered heaven itself.
Leviticus 9:23-24: The fire on the altar was sent by God, not kindled by man.
Leviticus 6:12-13: The fire on the altar was to be kept burning continually and never go out.
Genesis 22:1-8: Abraham offering Isaac as a burnt offering, with the father carrying fire and knife, picturing the Father's wrath on Christ.
1 Corinthians 5:7: Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us, showing all lambs pictured Christ.
Hebrews 13:10: We have an altar (Christ) from which those who serve the tabernacle have no right to eat.
Luke 8:40-48: The woman with the issue of blood touched Jesus and was healed immediately, illustrating instantaneous cleansing.
John 13:4-11: Jesus washing the disciples' feet, teaching that those who are bathed need only to wash their feet, symbolizing daily cleansing.
Psalm 119:9-11: The Word of God cleanses and keeps from sin; quoted to show the means of daily cleansing.
John 17:17: Jesus said, 'Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.'
Jeremiah 23:29: God's word is like a fire, connecting to the theme of cleansing fire.

Historical References

King Uzziah's death: The vision occurred in the year King Uzziah died, marking a historical transition in Judah.
Nadab and Abihu offering strange fire: They were killed by God for offering unauthorized fire, illustrating the danger of adding to God's commands.
Destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah by fire: Mentioned as an example of fire representing God's wrath and judgment.
John Calvin's commentary on Isaiah 6: Calvin argued that Isaiah was already saved; the cleansing was for greater service, not initial salvation.
Matthew Henry's commentary on Isaiah 6: Henry emphasized that only those purged from an evil conscience are prepared to serve God.

Important Quotes

When we see God in truth for what He is, we see ourselves in truth for what we are.

Summarizes the principle that a true vision of God's holiness reveals human sinfulness.

Jesus Christ is our altar.

A concise statement of the typological fulfillment in Christ.

The glowing coal then is our Lord Jesus Christ, not on the throne high and lifted up, but on the cross lifted up.

Identifies the coal as Christ in His atoning death.

If we want to be used by God, there must be not only an original and initial cleansing, there must be constant and continual cleansing.

Highlights the need for ongoing sanctification for service.

Has a coal touched your lips?

The central applicatory question of the sermon, calling for personal examination.

Discussion Questions

[Question]

Why does seeing God's holiness lead to a deeper awareness of our own sin?

[Context]

Weaver explains that Isaiah's vision of God's majesty caused him to cry 'Woe is me!'

[Question]

How does the brazen altar and its fire picture the work of Christ?

[Context]

Weaver details the typology of the altar's materials and the perpetual fire.

[Question]

What does it mean that the cleansing was instantaneous when the coal touched Isaiah's lips?

[Context]

Weaver discusses the Hebrew perfect verbs indicating simultaneous action.

[Question]

Why do believers need daily cleansing even after initial salvation?

[Context]

Weaver uses John 13 and the foot washing to illustrate ongoing cleansing.

[Question]

How can we keep ourselves clean for God's service?

[Context]

Weaver points to the Word of God and prayer as means of daily cleansing.

Applications

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deepseek | deepseek-v4-pro | weaver_study | 2026-06-06T12:20:43Z