MAN OF UNCLEAN LIPS by Roger Roth Sr
Upon the death of King Uzziah (God has helped), Isaiah saw a vision of the Lord that changed his position, his understanding and his ministry. Upon seeing this vision, he exclaims, “I am a man of unclean lips and I dwell with a people of unclean lips.”
The vision was of the Lord being made high and lifted up. It was different than the first five chapters which spoke about the condition of Judah and Jerusalem—God’s people and His church. It is upon the death of the first of four Kings that Isaiah prophesies of an awakening of sorts, that takes place within himself.
In chapter 5, Isaiah uses imagery of a well-cared for vineyard that produced sour grapes as a metaphor for the Jewish nation that walked contrary to God’s intentions. He then makes a pronouncement of six woes that are to come upon them. These were accurate and not a result of God’s actions but as a consequence of their wayward actions.
Upon the death or ending of “the help of God,” (King Uzziah), Isaiah receives a vision that gave him a different perspective. Perhaps, as would be normal, Isaiah was upset with the actions of his people. Perhaps he was angry with them since they would not change in the midst of such clear warnings. Maybe their continued disobedience weighed upon him as it did in a former time upon Moses. Maybe he began to take it personally and then he has a vision that changes his understanding about himself.
When he sees the vision of chapter 6, Isaiah’s first response is; “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.” In chapter 5 it was woe to His people, now he includes himself in this 7th woe; “woe is me.”
What was it about this vision that he pronounced such judgment upon himself? He saw the Lord from the High Place; he saw Him as He is in Glory. Isaiah realized that regardless the truth of what he spoke, his motivation was in error. “I am a man of unclean lips. I haven’t been speaking right or the motivation for the way I have been speaking was not right!”
Isaiah began to see things from the heavenly perspective rather than from an earthly perspective. The door posts were shaken – his perspective that provided an access or doorway to the house of God (His people) was shaken.
Then one of the living creatures took a coal of the altar and touched his lips and his iniquity was taken away. This speaks of the coal from the altar of sacrifice in the Tabernacle that was taken to the alter of incense from which came praise and worship. It was the sacrifice of Jesus that purged Isaiah’s speech.
Now the Lord can ask, “whom shall I send?” and Isaiah can say “send me.” Now Isaiah has been perfected that when he pronounces the word of the Lord from verses 9 and 10; one of the most quoted verses in other Bible passages, he will speak to the people from the perspective of heaven and not from the perspective of earth. From love and not judgement, from grace and not obligation.
Almost all of the New Testament is a spiritual interpretation of Old Testament writings. Bible revelation is the ability to see fulfillment of the natural events and teachings of the Old Testament through their spiritual interpretations in the New Testament.
So, the sixth chapter of Isaiah can be viewed as a parallel source to the fourth chapter of the book of Revelation. In John 1:38-41, two of John’s disciples asked Jesus, “where do you live?” To which Jesus answered, “come and see” and the Bible then says, “they went and saw the place where Jesus was staying.” After this encounter Andrew went to get his brother Peter to meet Jesus.
It is safe to say that what moved Andrew and John by this experience was not the building or location where Jesus stayed. They did not see Jesus living in some palatial residence and said, “we need to tell others to come and see this place!” Rather what they witnessed was the spiritual place in which Jesus resided. The house of His Father and all that pertains therein.
In Revelations the Apostle John is again asked to come in see by one of the four creatures with six wings (the same creatures as in Isaiah chapter 6) and then in chapter 21 after 15 chapters of explanation and revelation John said, “I saw.” It takes information, explanation, time and revelation to truly see or understand.
In speaking to the last of the seven churches, Jesus says, I am standing (ministering) at the door (the entrance to heavenly understanding and experience) and knocking (requesting permission for access). You might say he is saying, “I want to bring spiritual enlightenment into your natural temple. “If anyone hears (is able to adjust their perception) I will come in.” He further states that “anyone who overcomes (comes over from the earthly to the spiritual side)” will be allowed to sit with Him in His throne (His seat of authority). “Whoever has an ear let him hear.” Did not Jesus say, “all authority in heaven and earth is given unto me go ye therefore into all the world!”
John had an ear because the door (the heavenly entrance) that Jesus was knocking on was opened and immediately he was in the Spirit (it’s the only way into the heavenlies) and the throne that Jesus said the overcomers could sit on, was before John. And around this throne were 24 seats (seats of authority where the order (24 courses) of the Melchizedek Priesthood sit).
Now there appear four living creatures, the same ones Isaiah saw, the same ones that ministered to him, from which his lips were purged, and his ministry changed. These creatures each have six wings. Four creatures times six wings equals twenty-four wings. What if the four living creatures are the four gospels that bring life? 1 Cor 15;1; Heb 4:12. And what if the twenty-four wings of these four creatures are the twenty-four ministrations of the Melchizedek order that give flight to the gospel and open its heavenly understanding and power?
What do these four creatures continually cry (loud proclamation)? They proclaim “Holy, holy, holy!” John now sees from a heavenly perspective. The gospels are living testimonies that give glory, honor and thanksgiving, and the order (or arrangement) of the Melchizedek Priesthood gives glory, honor and power. Notice they are giving not receiving. What they already possess they use and cast their crowns (those that have awakened through their ministry) 1 Thes. 2:19 before the throne (total surrender, submitting all given them to Him). This becomes their offering.
Like Isaiah, are we ministers of unclean lips trying to minister to those of unclean lips? Though we desire God and His rule, do we still see ministry as an effort to change the thinking and actions of others or do we see it from a heavenly perspective of ministering to Him, which will by His authority change the thinking and actions of others.
Have we been speaking the wrong things or perhaps speaking the right things from a wrong (earthly) perspective? Perhaps pronouncing woe’s upon people and earthly systems, rather than making proclamations of holy, holy, holy! (proclamations for the true nature and true desire and true plan of the Father). Do we need a coal from the altar of Jesus’ sacrifice to purge our lips so that when He asks, who shall I send and we answer here I am send me, that what we speak will be completely from His heart and not our pain, experience or misunderstanding? A speech that gives forth continual praise and worship before the throne (ark) of God.
The Melchizedek Order is a many membered remnant of God, ministering as a Body, speaking truth in love to the establishment of the plan of the Father into the earth to the end that the whole earth becomes filled with the glory of God!
Woe is me for I am a man of unclean lips (I have not understood or spoken correctly) and I dwell with a people of unclean lips (in this earthly perspective). Call me up higher to see and speak from the heavens and minister words of life that are carried on the power of His Nature!
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Roger Roth Sr. is a ministry son of Dr. Mark Hanby. Together with his wife Karen, they are the set ministry of a local church in Northeastern Wisconsin, and oversee the Bloodline Network Newsletter. They consider it an honor to work with Dr. Hanby for many years, helping to oversee the ministry of Papa Mark’s extended family—”The Father’s Heart.”
Any questions or comments please contact them at rogerandkaren@live.com
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