(25) Sârâph

My starting inspiration for this work was the Hebrew word, Sârâph.  Isaiah gives an account of his encounter with these angelic beings in Chapter 6 in a deeply moving text, picturing them above the throne of God.  Deeper understanding of these beings came from researching the word defined as burning ones; fiery copper color.  

Personal discovery and meditation on this verse were affirmed after hearing David Platt and Francis Chan reference this passage at a recent conference.  I have a miniscule understanding of the incomprehensibly Sovereign God I love and serve.  As the fiery seraphim surrounded the throne and called out holy, holy, holy is the LORD God Almighty, they covered their faces with two of their wings their body with two additional wings and two more wings allowed them to fly.  Isaiah further states at the sound of their voices the doorposts and thresholds shook and the temple was filled with smoke.  Wow!  Isaiah fell face down in repentance and feared for his life as he acknowledged his sin and the iniquity of his people.  

I found myself face down as well during this art-making process because I tried to image my imagination several times in different forms.  Each time it fell short of the power and holiness I was reaching for.  Over and over I layered paint until I finally gave up all my own ideas and in desperation covered up everything with the fiery colors, leaving the form indistinct.  Of course I don’t know fully what Isaiah experienced or what a seraph looks like but I felt compelled to keep working until I could offer this work as a call to repentance and an act of worship.

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Isaiah 6