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Daily Reading: Isaiah 54-58
Isaiah 57:15
For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.
Some statements of God are universally true. Today’s verse contains one of those. While it was first given to Israel through the prophet Isaiah, it is universally accepted that God …resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. (James 4:6) Humility and a contrite heart seem to go hand in hand. Like perpetual motion, one feeds the other, which feeds the other, over and over again. two life characteristics are worth much more than a glance from a far distance, they deserve the magnifying glass treatment, for they are rich in value.
First of all, notice from whom these words flow. For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy;…. Since we are magnifying the little things that many will overlook with just a glance, notice the small word lofty. The One speaking states through the mouth of Isaiah to Israel that He is the lofty One. The word lofty in our Bible is only utilized eight times: once in the Psalms, once in Proverbs and all the rest in Isaiah. Every time except for today’s verse it is used as a thing, or place, not to be. For example, Isaiah 2:11 states: The lofty looks of man shall be humbled, and the haughtiness of men shall be bowed down, and the LORD alone shall be exalted in that day. Only the Lord God of Heaven can rightly claim to be the lofty One, for indeed He is alone lofty.
Yet, there are those who make themselves lofty. In Proverbs 30:11-14, Solomon relates that there is a generation who curses their father and does not bless their mother, that are pure in their own eyes, yet not washed from their own filthiness, whose teeth are as swords, they devour the poor and needy. Of this generation God’s Word records: O how lofty are their eyes! Their eyelids are lifted up so that they must look down on everyone and everything. When we were teenagers, we used the term “stuck up.” We would say of some that they were so “stuck up that they would drown in the shower” for their nose was always pointed up in the sky. The Bible word for someone like that is lofty.
This is the only time in our Bible that the phrase “the high and lofty One” is used. It speaks more of His location than His mannerism, for He inhabits eternity in the heavenly places. But He is also lofty for He and He alone is Holy. His name is Holy. His book is Holy. His place of worship is Holy, and His people are to be holy, but not lofty.
Notice also who dwells with Him. I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble… There is an eternal benefit of being contrite and humble in spirit. They will dwell with Him in the eternal heavenlies.
But how? How does one obtain and maintain this contrite and humble spirit? Schools and universities do not teach these, materialism does not promote these, athletics neither, nor do governments, not even “human nature” extols the virtues of such as these. These are in all, yet they must be revived. Revived only by the loving hand and nature of God who works on the heart of each person from the throne room of Heaven. He is on the job for He never slumbers. He is in the revival business and all true revival begins with,,, well II Chronicles 7:14 states it better than this writer ever could. If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. Now that is true revival, and it all starts with a humble and contrite spirit.
Dr. William T. Howe
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