The One who is high and lifted up
By JADE JAMES
In Isaiah chapter 57, we read of the prophet Isaiah addressing Israel’s idolatry, spiritual unfaithfulness, and the judgement they were subsequently bringing upon themselves. They had turned away from God and were engaging in all kinds of pagan practices, worshipping false gods, engaging in sexual immorality and sacrificing their children. They no longer feared God and instead were trusting in futile idols.
Despite this sin, God in His mercy offers His people a way back to Him in the verse we will be looking at this month:
““For thus says the One who is high and lifted up, who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: “I dwell in the high and holy place, and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly, and to revive the heart of the contrite.” ”
The One who is high and lifted up
I love how God here is called “the One”. Amid the many gods Isreal had turned to, God is set apart. He is the only one that hears and can answer, the only one that can save, the only one worthy of their affections.
“When you cry out, let your collection of idols deliver you! The wind will carry them off, a breath will take them away.” (Isaiah 57:13)
It can be easy to read of things like idolatry and feel far removed from such practices, but there are still issues we must confront in our own hearts today. In Colossians 3:5 Paul refers to covetousness as idolatry suggesting that a longing, or great desire over what others have or what we don’t have, can be a form of idol worship for us as followers of Christ.
God invites us in these verses in Isaiah to remember who He is. To lift our eyes off the things of this world, and to see Him in His rightful place.
The language “high and lifted up”, is a repetition of wording Isaiah uses earlier in chapter 6:1 “In the year that the King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up”.
There are over 50 chapters between Isaiah writing chapters 6 and 57, and it is likely several kings have risen and fallen since then, as we know the book of Isaiah covers the reign of several kings. Yet, as we read the words repeated here, it is a reminder that while earthly rulers and empires come and go, God and His kingdom are eternal and will endure forever.
I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin
It can be difficult to comprehend that a Holy and eternal God would want to dwell with a flawed people, and yet that is exactly what He says He will do if there is true repentance. God says that He dwells “…in the high and holy place, and also with Him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit…”
This is the beauty of our God. What He is asking of us is not perfection, because the truth is only God is perfect. Rather, God opens His arms wide offering restoration to all people who would turn to Him with a contrite heart and humble spirit.
To be contrite is to be remorseful and grieved over one’s sin. And to be lowly or humble is to lay pride aside and submit to God’s will over our own. When we realise God’s holiness and perfection, we see our sin, we recognise our inability to save ourselves by the things we do (works); and ultimately, we see our need for a saviour.
“If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land” (2 Chronicles 7:14, ESV)
Would we humble ourselves? Would we pray and earnestly seek Him? Would we turn from our sin? Then He will hear, He will forgive and restore us to Himself for His glory, for our good, and for the good of the world around us.
Reflection
As we continue to think about God’s holiness this month, meditating on just how great and majestic He is, let us not forget that He is also “near to the heartbroken, and He saves those who are crushed in spirit (contrite in heart, truly sorry for their sin)” Psalm 34:18 AMP.
Perhaps we could spend some time asking God to reveal any areas of sin, covetousness or pride in our hearts and asking for His help in giving Him preeminence in our lives and hearts again. We can take comfort in knowing nothing is too great for God, and He is willing and able to forgive us and revive our hearts to love Him with all we are.
