Thus when the servant of God is permitted to behold the glory of the God of heaven, as He is unveiled to humanity, and realizes to a slight degree the purity of the Holy One of Israel, he will make startling confessions of the pollution of his soul, rather than proud boasts of his holiness. In deep humiliation Isaiah exclaimed, “Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips: ... for mine eyes have seen the king, the Lord of hosts.” This is not that voluntary humility and servile self-reproach that so many seem to consider it a virtue to display. This vague mockery of humility is prompted by hearts full of pride and self-esteem. There are many who demerit themselves in words, who would be disappointed if this course did not call forth expressions of praise and appreciation from others. But the conviction of the prophet was genuine. As humanity, with its weakness and deformity, was brought out in contrast with the perfection of divine holiness and light and glory, he felt altogether inefficient and unworthy. How could he go and speak to the people the holy requirements of Jehovah, who was high and lifted up, and whose train filled the temple? While Isaiah was trembling and conscience-smitten, because of his impurity in the presence of this unsurpassed glory, he said, “Then flew one of the seraphim unto me, having a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with the tongs from off the altar; 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. Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me” (The Review and Herald, October 16, 1888).{4BC 1140.2}

Da Guds tjener således fik lov til at beskue himlens Guds herlighed, idet han afsløres for menneskeheden, og indser renheden i ringe grad hos den Hellige af Israel, vil han gøre overraskende bekendelser om sjælsbesmittelse, frem for den stolte pral af hans hellighed. I dyb ydmyghed udbryder Esajas: »Ve mig, det er ude med mig, thi jeg er en mand med urene læber, . . . . og nu har mine øjne set kongen, Hærskares Herre!« Dette er ikke den frivillige ydmyghed og slaveagtige selvbebrejdelse, som så mange lader til at betragte som en dyd at vise. Denne svage latterliggørelse af ydmyghed, anspores af hjerter der er fulde af stolthed og selvværd. Der er mange som er mangelfulde på jord, som bør skuffes hvis denne kurs ikke fremkalder udtryk for pris og påskønnelse fra andre. Men profetens overbevisning var ægte. Som menneskehed, med sine svagheder og mangler, blev sat i modsætning til at udvikle guddommelig hellighed, lys og herlighed, følte han sig utilstrækkelig og uværdig i det hele taget. Hvordan kunne han gå og tale til folk om Jehovas hellige krav, som var høje og opløftede og hvis optog fyldte templet? Medes Esajas skævede og brødebetynget, på grund af hans synd under nærvær af denne uovertræffelige herlighed, sagde han: ”Men en af seraferne fløj hen til mig; og han havde i hånden et glødende kul, som han med en tang havde taget fra alteret; det lod han røre min mund og sagde: »Se, det har rørt dine læber; din skyld er borte, din synd er sonet!« Så hørte jeg Herren sige: »Hvem skal jeg sende, hvem vil gå bud for os?« Og jeg sagde: »Her er jeg, send mig!« (RH 16. okt., 1888).