The world is compiled from words. Everything starts with words. Actually, before the formation of the word at the thought which is then pronounced in sound. Words are in fact thoughts in sound that gushes over one’s lips.

I was very impressed with the pronunciation of the Word of the Lord about Samuel.

So Samuel grew, and the Lord was with him and let none of his words fall to the ground. (1 Samuel 3:19)

What if one were to pray the other way around? If one lets those words tumble over one’s lips and prays with a panicky realization that the words will fall to the ground before they reach the ears of the person to whom they have been hurled so that the ill-considered and unsympathetic sharpness that leaves one’s lips only evaporates.

We ourselves are woven together by God’s thoughts.

How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God!
How great is the sum of them!

If I should count them, they would be more in number than the sand;
When I awake, I am still with You.. (Psalm 139:17,18)

Just as the Word so preciously expresses God’s thoughts about each of us to be a daily encouragement for us, so our words are extremely important in living out what we believe. It is with our own mouths that we pronounce victory or defeat.

What is our agreement with the unseen? Do we speak God’s Word in the victory cry of His omnipotence and promise of unconditional love, or do we talk ourselves into a defeat of hopelessness? It is precisely our purpose in life to know Jesus and to be and speak like Him.

Of course, it is only practical to think that a day’s demands and a situation’s emotional distress provokes us to let words swirl that wound. Words of anger that are hurled about and draw blood from the soul of the recipient and our own, because the regret and reproach are horrible.

Isaiah knows his own words will fall short of the mighty task God has for him. He must speak truth to the king, live out his role as a prophet in times the people are not always inclined to hear.

The truth is not the simple, easy message one would think it should be. Most of the time, the truth is unwelcome because prejudice and egoistic waywardness determine the mindset of most people. The world as I want it is the common and popular premise. That is why the conviction of people is the work of the Holy Spirit. It is a deep inner thought pattern that must be subjected to change and renewal.

This is how Isaiah submits his word-task to God. It is not just new thoughts, new beliefs, new words to speak. He submits his anatomy to God so that the renewal can take place on an all-inclusive level.

New lips.

In the majestic vision at his calling, Isaiah sees God sitting on his throne and the seraphim singing His praises in worship. His first words are a lament about his own inadequacy. He whines it out.

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)

Yet that is not the end of the story, nor of his vision. God hears the lamentation of his servant, just as he always hears and answers our groans of regret and guilt. One of the seraphim touches Isaiah’s lips with a glowing coal from the altar.

Then one of the seraphim flew to me, having in his hand a live coal which he had taken with the tongs from the altar. And he touched my mouth with it, and said:

“Behold, this has touched your lips;
Your iniquity is taken away,
And your sin purged.” (Isaiah 6:6,7)

It is not the coal of any altar. It is the altar of incense from the Holy Place, the altar of worship just before the Holy of Holies. It is the burning coal of the altar when worship becomes the anointing of living power in the inner being of the priest.

It is the fire of cleansing in the moment of the realization of sin. Isaiah’s lamentation is his confession of sin that instantly carries a powerful significance.  It is only after this majestic encounter and the glory of the Presence of the Most High that Isaiah accepts his commission.

New lips for the words of the Word. The burning coals of the consuming fire of God himself. (Hebrews 12:29)

It’s Holy Spirit-lips we’re asking.

I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.(Matthew 3:11)

We ourselves bring the desire to the Throne of God. It is our sin-lamentation that moves the seraphim. It is the fire of the Holy Spirit that renews and burns away the wood, hay and stubble so that we form our words with purified gold.

But if anyone builds upon the Foundation, whether it be with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw,

¹³ The work of each [one] will become [plainly, openly] known (shown for what it is); for the day [of Christ] will disclose and declare it, because it will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test and critically appraise the character and worth of the work each person has done. (1 Corinthians 3:12,13)

So that [the genuineness] of your faith may be tested, [your faith] which is infinitely more precious than the perishable gold which is tested and purified by fire. [This proving of your faith is intended] to redound to [your] praise and glory and honor when Jesus Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One) is revealed. (1 Peter 1:7)

Go ahead. Ask for new lips.