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10. The Life of Paul

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© David A. Jones.
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OBJECTIVES: To teach that:
1. God is holy and therefore no unclean person can have access to Him.
2. Holiness, or purity, is an attribute of God and all human actions are measured by it.
3. Because their condition is contrary to the holiness of God, sinners are not fit to enter His presence.
4. The cleanliness necessary to have fellowship with God and to enter His presence can be obtained only through the sacrifice of the Lord Jesus on the cross and His resurrection.

SCENE 1. (I-17) VISUAL AIDS: Inside the temple in Jerusalem, figures of a throne of glory with One seated upon it. Around the throne place figures of seraphim with six wings each, two of which cover their faces. Above them, the words "Holy, Holy, Holy," written. Below them, place the figure of Isaiah observing, and near him the word "CONVICTION." In a separate area, place a figure of a king and the words "In the year that king Uzziah died."
DEVELOPMENT:
Cmt. Perhaps the children have asked themselves, "What is God like?"
- God wants us to know Him, and He communicates with us through His Word.
- In addition, all of creation provides evidence of God's power and wisdom.
- The presence of the Lord Jesus in the world revealed that God is holy. Christ never sinned.
- On certain occasions, God manifested Himself to His servants by way of a vision.
- Isaiah was a man who sought to serve God.
- Some years earlier a terrible event had taken place in the nation. Because of committing a
forbidden act, King Uzziah became unclean due to leprosy. See 2 Kings 15.
- Six years later King Uzziah died, and in that same year, Isaiah had an encounter with God.
- In his vision he saw the Lord in the Temple. This was where God was worshipped in holiness suited to the nature and purity of His Holy Person.
- Although the Temple was great and beautiful, it was not able to contain God in all His glory.
Sug. An important part of the present lesson is to present God in all His grandeur. The students may have seen pictures of opulent palaces, great castles and impressive feasts that overwhelm the
observer. Heaven is still more magnificent and grandiose.
- Isaiah saw how the Lord's train of glory filled the temple.
Cmt. The Israelites were acquainted with the magnificent clothing that the High Priest wore and
would understand the reference to the Lord's "train" that filled the Temple.
- Around the Lord were the seraphim, angelic beings with six wings.
- The word "seraphim" means "fiery beings". Hebrew scholars suggest the idea that they were angels who burned with love and zeal for the glory of God and were also fervent in their opposition to sin.
Cmt. A burning fire is a symbol of the holiness of God, and it consumes all that is not in accordance with His utter purity.
- Although they were pure beings, the seraphim covered their faces in the Lord's presence,
recognizing His sublime holiness.
- Singing about the holiness of the Lord, the angelic beings recognized that not only the Temple but also "the whole earth is full of His glory."
Cns. Since the seraphim who have been in the Lord’s presence from Eternity show reverent fear, how much more ought we to revere Him!
- The song of praise was the singing of Truth which made the posts of the threshold tremble or
shudder. The stones on which the posts were placed were part of the framework of the Temple
entrance. This produced dread in Isaiah.
Cmt. Romans 3:18 describes a characteristic of today's world: "There is no fear of God before their
eyes."
Sug. Here it can be mentioned that many young people do not show proper reverence in the meetings of the local church today. Eyes are open during prayer, conversations are carried on with friends during the preaching, notes are written, and generally speaking, attention is not given to the Word of God, proving the truth of Romans 3:18.

SCENE 2. (I-22) VISUAL AIDS: Using a background showing the inside of the Temple, divide the scene into two. On the left side, with the title "PURIFICATION," place an altar with the figure of Isaiah prostrate before it and his words, "Woe is me; UNCLEAN” and the figure of an angel flying towards him with a live coal in his hand. On the right side, with the title "COMMENDATION,” place a figure of Isaiah standing and near him a figure on a throne with the question written, "Whom shall I send and who will go for us?" and Isaiah's response "Here am I; send me."
DEVELOPMENT:
FIRST PART:
- When Isaiah saw the supreme holiness of the Lord, he realized how unworthy he was to be in His
presence.
- In the previous chapters, Isaiah had a message of "woes" for others.
- This time he became conscious of his own unworthiness and he cried, "Woe is me."
- He realized he was no better than the unclean king who died with leprosy; Isaiah recognized he was an unclean man also.
Apl. Comparing ourselves with others leads us to adopt a favourable opinion and we may conclude
we are quite good. However, when we compare ourselves with what a holy God requires, we will
cease seeing the faults of others. We will discover how far we are from what God requires of us
according to His holy standards.
- When he confessed his unworthiness, God had a remedy for Isaiah.
- One of the seraphim flew to Isaiah with a live coal in his hand, taken from off the altar. It had been
there because of a sacrifice made upon the bronze altar.
- The seraph touched Isaiah's mouth with the coal.
Prc. Matt. 12:34, Luke 6:45. "Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh."
Apl. The live coal suggests its ability to purge or clean the uncleanness that is found in the mouth. It came from the altar where a victim had died for sin.
- The coal applied to Isaiah's mouth was a symbolic act through which Isaiah
(1) accepted the work done by another and
(2) heard the word of God declaring that "thy sin is purged."
- Today, when one responds to the gospel, accepting the work of Christ on the cross, the Bible
assures us that "ye are washed, .. ye are sanctified, .. ye are justified in the name of the Lord
Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God" (1 Corinthians 6:11).
"Ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are
God's" (1 Corinthians 6:20).
Apl. Forgiveness is granted us because the Lamb of God died to cleanse us from our sins.

SECOND PART:
- Once he was cleansed, Isaiah was in a fit condition to carry the message to others.
Apl. Our condition can hinder us from serving the Lord acceptably and this obliges us to return to
Him so that He may put us in a fit condition to serve.
- God shows us the condition of our own hearts before He commends to us the task of speaking to
others about their condition.
- Our service for God does not depend upon our own worthiness, but on the fact that we have been
pardoned.
- Before being cleansed, Isaiah was the only one who kept silence in God's presence, but once
cleansed, he offered himself when he heard the Lord's call, answering, "Here am I; send me."

SCENE 3. Blank. VISUAL AIDS: Title "Isaiah's Ministry." On one half of the board, under the title "Preaching Judgment," place figures of Isaiah preaching to a group of worried or concerned people with a cloud and lightning above them, representing judgment. On the other side place the title "Escape from the Judgment", and below it the figure of Isaiah writing, and a cloud above him with the verse of Isaiah 53:4 as a text and 53:6 written on the cloud. Below the cloud, place the figures of a cross and a lamb.
DEVELOPMENT:
- The work committed to Isaiah was difficult.
- He was to preach to a people that would have hardened hearts.
- When he enquired "Lord, how long?" the reply was that he was to preach until no one remained to whom he could preach.
- His message was of coming judgment, for the days were drawing near when the kingdom of Judah was to be carried away into captivity.
Cmt. As in Isaiah's time, the work of preaching and teaching the Scriptures today is equally difficult.
We are to continue until there remains no one to whom the good news can be spoken.
- The people were so accustomed to sin that they would not repent, and Isaiah was told this before
beginning his preaching.
- In his prophesies, Isaiah wrote of One who would be taken as a lamb to the slaughter and would
suffer for sins that were not His own.
Apl. Judgment hangs over those who reject the Saviour, just as in Isaiah's day.
- Today the great majority continues to harden its heart to the warnings and the message of pardon
being offered.