Where God Looks (Isaiah 66:1-5)

Photo by Cristian Newman on Unsplash

Thus says the Lord:

“Heaven is my throne,
    and the earth is my footstool;
what is the house that you would build for me,
    and what is the place of my rest?
All these things my hand has made,
    and so all these things came to be,
declares the Lord.
But this is the one to whom I will look:
    he who is humble and contrite in spirit 
    and trembles at my word. (vv.1-2)

As humans, we tend to be impressed by great buildings and monuments to our accomplishments. Here God says that even the greatest building (the Temple) cannot compare to what he has made in the act of creation. Anything we have built is ultimately dependent upon what God has done anyway. The encouraging part is in verse 2 when God reveals what captures his attention and what brings him near.

But this is the one to whom I will look:
    he who is humble and contrite in spirit
    and trembles at my word.

God is paradoxically drawn to those who are “humble and contrite in spirit” for life in God’s love is not about our impressing him with our "great" accomplishments but about our humble yet eager response to his presence with us. Do we tremble at his word? Are we quick to respond, or are we like those who reject both God’s word and God’s people?

Photo by Fa Barboza on Unsplash

Hear the word of the Lord,
    you who tremble at his word:
“Your brothers who hate you
    and cast you out for my name's sake
have said, ‘Let the Lord be glorified,
    that we may see your joy’;
    but it is they who shall be put to shame. (v.5)

While in this life, the humble may be rejected and mocked by influencers and instructors they will not be rejected nor distanced from the Lord and in the end, the Lord will render to the mockers and trolls their recompense (v.6) while the humble will be filled with joy!

This passage reminds me of an incident from the ministry of Jesus that is recorded for us in John 9. It tells us about the fallout from a miracle...of a time when Jesus healed a man who had been born blind. After the healing, because its timing violated the Pharisee's interpretation of the sabbath rules, the man was repeatedly questioned by the Pharisees. Finally they "cast him out" when his insightful responses hit too close to home. Thankfully, the story doesn’t end there. Jesus heard about it and went to find the formerly blind man who had been banished by the religious leaders. It was then that the man’s eyes were opened to believe in Jesus—he was able to see spiritually as well as physically! It is in the hard times that Jesus invites us to believe in him, to trust him enough to cast our cares/anxieties on him and he will exalt us as he draws us close!

Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. (1 Peter 5:6-7)

Today, as I humble my heart before the Lord, I will remember that he is near and that he is for me. He sees my situation; he loves me anyway. He does not require, or desire sacrifices but only a humble heart that longs to obey. When I read the Bible today, I will lean into the tremble, the challenge, and the wonder of what God has said!

O Lord, you know my weaknesses and my failures, and yet as I am humble before your presence and your word, you look to me like I was a great building. You do not come to me because I am sanctified and lifted up, but the opposite. You sanctify me and lift me up because you have come near because you have brought it to pass. Thank you for your love and the transformation you bring! Cause me to care more for the humble and contrite in spirit than for the supposedly great works of human pride.