Isaiah 6:1 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. 2 Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly. 3 And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory. 4 And the posts of the door moved at the voice of him that cried, and the house was filled with smoke.
The type of praise described in this passage of scripture is what ascends to God from the adoring angels, who delight to sing His praises. In solemn contemplation of God's wondrous love and His mighty acts in heaven and in earth, the Seraphim were moved to break out in spontaneous, intelligent praise, which the prophet Isaiah was privileged to behold. As the prophet observed the sincerity and energy involved in the praise given to God, he was most humbled as he reflected on his own feeble praise and that of his people, which was often given in a lethargic manner that misrepresented the greatness and majesty of The Heavenly King.
In addition to this he also saw that sincere and earnest praise must ascend to God from clean lips and a pure heart, and as he searched his own soul in the presence of the Divine glory, he saw clearly where all of his righteousness was as filthy rags, and he exclaimed his nothingness in utter dismay. Let's read:
Isaiah 6:5 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. 6 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: 7 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.
Prior to this sobering experience Isaiah had felt pretty comfortable and confident of his own righteousness, but now he saw where the preacher needed to be cleansed too, just as much as the common lay person who was fraught with divers sins. And it was only after his iniquity was purged from his mouth, that he was truly prepared to speak as a mouth-piece for God.
This experience of Isaiah is full of instruction for us who sometimes have to be coaxed to sing God's praises, and it has lessons for others who offer their oblations in a cold, methodical manner. When praise is offered to God it must be given with the understanding, and from a heart that is sincere and in harmony with the truth that one knows. To sing unto the Lord with a conscious knowledge of cherished or deliberate sin is a form of hypocrisy, and should be avoided, for the Bible speaks specifically in several places against all attempts to flatter God in our praise, and to sing of His goodness and mercy while deliberately walking contrary to His commandments and instructions. Let's read:
Psalms 78:35 And they remembered that God was their rock, and the high God their redeemer. 36 Nevertheless they did flatter him with their mouth, and they lied unto him with their tongues. 37 For their heart was not right with him, neither were they stedfast in his covenant. 38 But he, being full of compassion, forgave their iniquity, and destroyed them not" ...
Psalm 24:3 Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord? or who shall stand in his holy place? 4 He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully. 5 He shall receive the blessing from the Lord, and righteousness from the God of his salvation.
John 4:23 But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. 24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.
It will be well if we could spend at least an hour every day in solemn contemplation of the perfection and majesty of God's character, as manifested in His created work, and also in His kindness towards us in Christ Jesus. When this is done on a consistent basis, our hearts will naturally respond with spontaneous and intelligent praise, such as the angels sing and such as God delights to hear. We therefore end with a passage of scripture which captures the true spirit of praise and worship, and may the Lord grant us a clean and pure heart that our daily oblations may be acceptable in His sight. Let's read:
Psalm 96:1 O sing unto the Lord a new song: sing unto the Lord, all the earth. 2 Sing unto the Lord, bless his name; shew forth his salvation from day to day. 3 Declare his glory among the heathen, his wonders among all people. 4 For the Lord is great, and greatly to be praised: he is to be feared above all gods. 5 For all the gods of the nations are idols: but the Lord made the heavens. 6 Honour and majesty are before him: strength and beauty are in his sanctuary. 7 Give unto the Lord, O ye kindreds of the people, give unto the Lord glory and strength. 8 Give unto the Lord the glory due unto his name: bring an offering, and come into his courts.
May God add His blessing to the study and practice of His word. "Good night" and God bless!