My Eyes Have Seen The King

So I said: 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 my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts.

Isaiah 6:5

A clear sight of Christ will give us a clear sight of ourselves. As soon as Isaiah saw Christ high and lifted up, heard the thunderous praise of the seraphim, and experienced the overwhelming presence of God in the temple, he began to understand his own unworthiness. Hence, he utters the words of our text. He is not hesitant about naming the particular sin of which he was guilty. He says, ‘I am a man of unclean lips.’ If we combine that statement with the fact that it is out of the heart that the mouth speaks, we realize he is thoroughly confessing his sinfulness. He goes on to confess the sin of his people. He does not make excuses or minimize sin in any way. He has seen Christ in His glory and that has humbled him completely. It is so for us as well. We are naturally inclined to think of ourselves as being good people. We can always find someone with whom we can compare ourselves who does worse things than we do. We feel good about the fact we have not committed some of the more egregious sins. Once we have gained a clear sight of Christ in His holiness, justice, goodness, and truth it humbles us. We behold Him and confess our unworthiness. This is good for our souls.

Our Holy and Righteous God,
we confess our sins before You.
We praise You for the
cleansing blood of Christ.

Tomm Tice
Where the Bush is Burning