Sermon Tone Analysis

Part 4

Isaiah the prophet had a strange vision where he was in the temple (where he didn’t belong!) and in the direct presence of God.

Isaiah 6:1-13

He is terrified for his life because of his moral impurity (“unclean lips”) Isaiah 6:5

Instead of being destroyed, God has a burning, holy coal taken from his presence and applied to Isaiah’s lips (ouch!) Isaiah 6:6

Instead of the temple becoming contaminated by Isaiah’s impurity, the opposite happens: God’s holiness transfers to Isaiah and erases his sin and impurity.

Isaiah 6:7

THIS IS UNEXPECTED TO SAY THE LEAST!

THE IMPLICATIONS OF ISAIAH’S VISION ARE HUGE.

PERHAPS GOD DOESN’T NEED TO BE PROTECTED BY THE IMPURITY OUR SIN, MAYBE IT’S THE OTHER WAY AROUND.

MAYBE IT’S OUR SIN THAT IS ENDANGERED BY GOD’S HOLINESS.

PART 5

Ezekiel’s vision contains another important contribution to this theme.

Eze 47:1-12

Ezekiel’s vision of a new temple is part of his larger vision of how God will restore his covenant people after their sin and covenant failure Eze 8-11

Ezekiel envisions a new temple (Eze 40-47) in a new land (Eze 48) with a new covenant people (Eze 36-37).

This temple needs to be honored as holy space, but at the same time, Ezekiel’s vision about the river flowing out of the temple makes it clear that God’s life-giving holiness will one day flow out of the temple into the world creating all kinds of new life Eze 47:7-12