Verse of the Day 7/15

Verse of the Day. 7/15

Isaiah 57:15

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.  English Standard Version

A friend of mine responded to yesterday's post referencing this verse noting " in times of trouble and hardship, He is there, too."  Many of the great hymns through the years came from song writers who had experienced great loss and heartache but saw the glory of the Lord in, through and beyond their circumstances.  "It is Well With My Soul by Horatio Spafford first comes to mind.

One of the words that drew my attention in this verse was "contrite".  It means to be broken, crushed into dust like mortar.  It is at that point that we can be built up.  It is not only in relation to illness and loss but can also come from the realization of the greatness of our sin.  David had the same feeling and used the same word in Psalm 51 over his sin with Bathsheba.

The good news is that He doesn't turn away and reject us but gives us a vision of who He is and enables us to have a glimpse of His majesty and glory.  May we also pray that we see Him high and lifted up.  The Michael W. Smith song "Open the Eyes of My Heart" comes to mind.  It's simple words bring the two passages that we've looked at in Isaiah together, to see that He is Holy, Holy, Holy.

Open the eyes of my heart, Lord
Open the eyes of my heart
I want to see You
I want to see You

To see You high and lifted up
Shinin' in the light of Your glory
Pour out Your power and love
As we sing holy, holy, holy

Blessings, 

Mike 

Folllow the Verse of the Day blog at http://mikesvotd.blogspot.com  Ephesians 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins,

in accordance with the riches of God's grace.  NIV

Isaiah 57:14-19
English Standard Version
Comfort for the Contrite
14 And it shall be said,
"Build up, build up, prepare the way,
    remove every obstruction from my people's way."
15 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.
16 For I will not contend forever,
    nor will I always be angry;
for the spirit would grow faint before me,
    and the breath of life that I made.
17 Because of the iniquity of his unjust gain I was angry,
    I struck him; I hid my face and was angry,
    but he went on backsliding in the way of his own heart.
18 I have seen his ways, but I will heal him;
    I will lead him and restore comfort to him and his mourners,
19     creating the fruit of the lips.
Peace, peace, to the far and to the near," says the Lord,
    "and I will heal him.