Meandering - Paradoxical, Holy-Love of God

“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.” Isaiah57:15

It’s incredible and beyond words to adequately express this seemingly paradoxical, holy-love of God. How is it that God, who is as Isaiah declared, “high and lifted up, (and) who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy,” is even mindful of us, when we are but “a breath” and a “passing shadow” (Psalm 144:3-4). Not only is he mindful of us, but with the humble he makes his habitation.

James and Peter both warn that, “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble” (James 4:6; 1 Peter 5:5). The proud regard God as a passing shadow, if that. The obvious blessings and saliency of God is lost on them. Yet, to the humble of heart, he does not even wait until they appear before him in eternity in order to cheer and lift them, but he descends all the way down to them. He, being the Creator and rightful Ruler of all things, does not even walk right in, but politely stands at the door and knocks. “If anyone hears my voice and opens the door,” he says, “I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me” (Revelation 3:20).  

Staggered, as well, by the profundity of this amazing truth, William Gurnall wrote, “How can God stoop lower than to come and dwell with a poor humble soul?, which is more than if he had said, such a one should dwell with him; for a beggar to live at court is not so much as the king to dwell with him in his cottage.”

Are you sick of the bland and banal pleasures of this world? “Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy?” (Isaiah 55:2). Are you tired of feeling all alone? Humbly heed the merciful knocking of the Lord Jesus Christ. Open wide the door of your heart that the King of glory may come in to abide with you and dine with you.

Together let’s pray, “Return, O Lord! …Have pity on your servants! Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love, that we may rejoice and be glad all our days” (Psalm 90:13-14).

Thanks for meandering along with me.
Pastor Daniel