Isaiah 57:15
15 For thus says the High and Lofty One
Who inhabits eternity, Whose name is Holy:
"I dwell in the high and holy place,
With him who has a contrite and humble spirit,
To revive the spirit of the humble,
And to revive the heart of the contrite ones.
NKJV
This Scripture verse speaks to us of the character of God. He is holy and inhabits eternity. He is not limited to time and space. He dwells in the high and holy place. He is Almighty God and there is none like Him. However, we learn that he dwells not only in the high and holy place, but with those who have a contrite and humble spirit. The purpose is clear--to revive the heart of the contrite ones.
The God that Isaiah knew was the God who possesses infinite loftiness. He stands above nature. He stands above humanity. He stands above what is to us known and unknown. To use the words of the Apostle Paul, He is "God over all."
In the New Testament we have an echo of Isaiah's eloquent statement about our God. It is recorded in Hebrews 1:10-12:
"In the beginning, O Lord, You laid the foundations of the earth,
and the heavens are the work of Your hands.
11 They will perish, but You remain;
they will all wear out like a garment.
12 You will roll them up like a robe;
like a garment they will be changed.
But You remain the same,
and Your years will never end."
NIV
Our God is majestic, also, in holiness. "Whose Name is Holy," wrote Isaiah. It is here that we must understand that the blazing throne of all moral reality: God is Holy!
It is imperative that we grasp the awesomeness of God's holiness, and stand in awe of this supreme and solemn fact. We live in a country where many people have no concept of Who God is. In the church we need to pray for a dynamic presence of the holiness of God that will change us from the inside out. When the awesome presence and holiness of God descends upon a congregation, people will linger in worship and not want to move. As we leave our places of worship we will want to maintain that presence and glow of the holiness of God, and walk out in silence. I have had that happen in my life when I least expected it.
I remember when I was in the Air Force, we were invited to attend a four-day seminar on "Hope" during the Vietnam War at Southern Baptist in Nashville, Tennessee. As I recall the last morning of that extended seminar the Rev. Dr. George A. Buttrick spoke. The chapel was full. People from the community came to hear this noted scholar, professor, pastor, and author. I know he took advantage of us who were Air Force chaplains and endeavored to criticize us for being a part of the war. His verbal attack ran off my back like a bucket of cold water. I did not receive it. However, God showed up and somehow in the message of this liberal minister we were keenly aware of God's holiness and his love and mercy He shows to mankind.
There was a holy hush that descended on the entire congregation. The silence was deafening. You could have heard a pin drop. No one said a word. We were caught up in the awe and wonder of God's holy presence and did not want to lose it.
It was in the fall of the year. The leaves on the trees were falling. In fact, there was a beautiful blanket of multi-colored leaves covering the ground as I walked in silence to the dormitory where I was staying. All of a sudden I found myself singing a song I had not sung in years. It was one of Franny Crosby's hymns. It is entitled, "Rescue the Perishng, Care for the Dying, Jesus is merciful, Jesus will save."
I could not remember the words of the song. However, I had seen some Baptist hymnals in the dormitory. I found one and here are the stanzas:
Rescue the Perishing Frances J. Crosby, 1869
Down in the human heart, crushed by the tempter,
Feelings lie buried that grace can restore;
Touched by a loving heart, wakened by kindness,
Chords that were broken will vibrate once more.
There is hope for every soul that is oppressed by Satan. Our God dwells in the high and lofty place, as well as with those who have a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.
If you would like to hear this song sung by Marshall and Friends you may Click Here to hear this group of people sing this great song that was written by Frances Crosby.
15 For thus says the High and Lofty One
Who inhabits eternity, Whose name is Holy:
"I dwell in the high and holy place,
With him who has a contrite and humble spirit,
To revive the spirit of the humble,
And to revive the heart of the contrite ones.
NKJV
This Scripture verse speaks to us of the character of God. He is holy and inhabits eternity. He is not limited to time and space. He dwells in the high and holy place. He is Almighty God and there is none like Him. However, we learn that he dwells not only in the high and holy place, but with those who have a contrite and humble spirit. The purpose is clear--to revive the heart of the contrite ones.
The God that Isaiah knew was the God who possesses infinite loftiness. He stands above nature. He stands above humanity. He stands above what is to us known and unknown. To use the words of the Apostle Paul, He is "God over all."
In the New Testament we have an echo of Isaiah's eloquent statement about our God. It is recorded in Hebrews 1:10-12:
"In the beginning, O Lord, You laid the foundations of the earth,
and the heavens are the work of Your hands.
11 They will perish, but You remain;
they will all wear out like a garment.
12 You will roll them up like a robe;
like a garment they will be changed.
But You remain the same,
and Your years will never end."
NIV
Our God is majestic, also, in holiness. "Whose Name is Holy," wrote Isaiah. It is here that we must understand that the blazing throne of all moral reality: God is Holy!
It is imperative that we grasp the awesomeness of God's holiness, and stand in awe of this supreme and solemn fact. We live in a country where many people have no concept of Who God is. In the church we need to pray for a dynamic presence of the holiness of God that will change us from the inside out. When the awesome presence and holiness of God descends upon a congregation, people will linger in worship and not want to move. As we leave our places of worship we will want to maintain that presence and glow of the holiness of God, and walk out in silence. I have had that happen in my life when I least expected it.
I remember when I was in the Air Force, we were invited to attend a four-day seminar on "Hope" during the Vietnam War at Southern Baptist in Nashville, Tennessee. As I recall the last morning of that extended seminar the Rev. Dr. George A. Buttrick spoke. The chapel was full. People from the community came to hear this noted scholar, professor, pastor, and author. I know he took advantage of us who were Air Force chaplains and endeavored to criticize us for being a part of the war. His verbal attack ran off my back like a bucket of cold water. I did not receive it. However, God showed up and somehow in the message of this liberal minister we were keenly aware of God's holiness and his love and mercy He shows to mankind.
There was a holy hush that descended on the entire congregation. The silence was deafening. You could have heard a pin drop. No one said a word. We were caught up in the awe and wonder of God's holy presence and did not want to lose it.
It was in the fall of the year. The leaves on the trees were falling. In fact, there was a beautiful blanket of multi-colored leaves covering the ground as I walked in silence to the dormitory where I was staying. All of a sudden I found myself singing a song I had not sung in years. It was one of Franny Crosby's hymns. It is entitled, "Rescue the Perishng, Care for the Dying, Jesus is merciful, Jesus will save."
I could not remember the words of the song. However, I had seen some Baptist hymnals in the dormitory. I found one and here are the stanzas:
Rescue the Perishing Frances J. Crosby, 1869
- Rescue the perishing, care for the dying,
Snatch them in pity from sin and the grave;
Weep o’er the erring one, lift up the fallen,
Tell them of Jesus, the mighty to save.- Refrain:
Rescue the perishing, care for the dying,
Jesus is merciful, Jesus will save.
- Refrain:
- Though they are slighting Him, still He is waiting,
Waiting the penitent child to receive;
Plead with them earnestly, plead with them gently;
He will forgive if they only believe. - Down in the human heart, crushed by the tempter,
Feelings lie buried that grace can restore;
Touched by a loving heart, wakened by kindness,
Chords that were broken will vibrate once more. - Rescue the perishing, duty demands it;
Strength for thy labor the Lord will provide;
Back to the narrow way patiently win them;
Tell the poor wand’rer a Savior has died.
Down in the human heart, crushed by the tempter,
Feelings lie buried that grace can restore;
Touched by a loving heart, wakened by kindness,
Chords that were broken will vibrate once more.
There is hope for every soul that is oppressed by Satan. Our God dwells in the high and lofty place, as well as with those who have a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.
If you would like to hear this song sung by Marshall and Friends you may Click Here to hear this group of people sing this great song that was written by Frances Crosby.