Only God is Holy

Paris, France – 23 February 2025: Dolce Gabbana exhibition at Grand Palais, gathering for the first time the unique creations of the luxury fashion house

“In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the LORD, high and exalted, seated on a throne, and the train of his robe filled the temple” (Isaiah 6:1). The picture above is from the Dolce Gabbana exhibition at Grand Palais in 2025, but it gives us an idea of the beauty of a kingly robe. Kings during the time of Isaiah wore robes with long trains. When his nation defeated another nation, he took the train from that nation’s kingly robe and sewed it on to his. Each time he defeated another nation, he took the train of that king’s robe and sewed it on to the train of his robe. This gives clarity to Isaiah’s vision of “the train of his robe filled the temple.” When Isaiah saw this vision, angels called to one another: “‘Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory.’ At the sound of their voices the doorposts and thresholds shook and the temple was filled with smoke. ‘Woe to me!’ I cried. ‘I am ruined! for I am a man of unclean lips” (Isaiah 6:5). Then an angel touched his lips with a live coal and said, “See, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for.” Then the voice of the LORD said, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?” Isaiah responded, “Here am I, Send me!” Then the LORD sent Isaiah on a mission to prophecy to His people (Isaiah 6:1-8).

Insights from Isaiah

• Isaiah recognized that the LORD was holy and he was not.
• He admitted the guilt of his unclean lips.
• His sin was atoned for with the burning coals that touched his mouth.
• Then God sent him on a mission to prophecy judgement to a rebellious people.

The cities came to ruin as Isaiah proclaimed, but God saved a holy stump in the land. Isaiah’s assignment was not an easy one, but God was with him. Sometimes we might think that God expects more of us than we can accomplish. That is true. We cannot complete the task on our own volition, but God partners with willing people and helps them become the people He intended them to be.

Prayer

Thank you, holy and merciful Father, for glimpses of your glory and how we can participate in your work. Thank you for trusting us to do the work of your kingdom. In Jesus’ precious and powerful name, Amen.

A Refuge at the Cross

St. George Monastery, Israel

The St. George Monastery is in the Judean Desert near the mountain caves of Qumran where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found and En Gedi, the high mountain oasis east of the Dead Sea and Masada, one of Herod’s mountain fortresses. It was near the end of the day, and I longed to be back at the hotel resting. Again I heard, “Everybody out.” And like everyone else, I got off the bus. “This is the area where John the Baptist lived and preached,” our guide said.

She opened her Bible and read from Isaiah, “I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way, a voice of one calling in the wilderness. Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for Him.” John the Baptist appeared in this wilderness preaching about a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.

Near the highway was a huge cross mount, not this one, where I found refuge in the shade away from the heat. It was the reprieve I needed to catch the words the guide read. I imagined people coming from Jerusalem and the surrounding countryside to see the Baptist, confessing their sins and being baptized in the Jordan River.

I remembered a different cross; the cross at the end of a grassy aisle at a revival where as a girl I gave my life to Christ. Even though many bad choices led me down a wrong path, God kept His hand on me. The cross has been my refuge of God’s grace, love and forgiveness. I’ve even thought that I had walked too far away from God and was ready to give up. I cried out to Him and heard His voice, “Could you make it if I stay with you?” That changed my life. I responded by reading the Bible and going to church. Tears flowed from every message.

My friend, refuge in Christ can be yours too. Instead of fear, stress or anxiety, you could have a peace that passes understanding. You could experience amazing love and an unbelievable inheritance–an abundant life.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank you for your love, forgiveness and mercy. Help us to respond in ways that bring you glory. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Why are the Dead Sea Scrolls Important?

One of the caves where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found

In 1946, Bedouin shepherd boys looking for lost sheep threw a stone into one of the caves. Shocked by a cracking sound, the boys returned the next day with their parents to see what was in the caves. They removed several jars, which contained scrolls, later determined by a Bethlehem antiquities dealer that the scrolls were ancient manuscripts of the Bible.

In 1949, a search of the surrounding area of the Qumran resulted in the discovery of more caves with manuscripts hidden in clay jars. All eleven caves held scrolls. The fourth cave held 15,000 fragments of 516 manuscripts. The Dead Sea Scrolls consisted of more than 800 different documents. Every book of the Old Testament was represented except the book of Esther. The only complete manuscript found was the book of Isaiah. Letters, hymns, prayers and books of community rules were included in the discoveries.

Today the Dead Sea Scrolls are stored in a climate controlled museum in Jerusalem, pictured on the left. The only complete book of the Bible in the museum is the book of Isaiah, written 700 years before Christ.

The amazing fact in all this was the confirmation of how accurately the Scriptures have been reproduced through the centuries. This doesn’t seem humanly possible, but supernatural preservation. God guarded the truth hundreds of years, and we can trust what the Bible says is true. Check out this 6 minute video. You too will be amazed!

Prayer: Thank you, Father, for preserving the truth through the ages–proof that we can trust what you say. Amen.