Verse of the Day 4/24

Verse of the Day 4/24

Isaiah 57:15

English Standard Version

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.

For today's verse we return to Isaiah, this time to chapter 57 where we find the contrast of the futility of Israel's idolatry and God's comfort for His people, those who come to Him and place their faith and trust in Him.  Here we read that God, who is rightfully exalted, inhabits eternity, He is in heaven far beyond us, but also lives with and in us who will humble ourselves and turn to Him as our source of strength.

God's message to His people that come to Him, that humble themselves before Him is seen in verse 18.  He will heal, lead, restore and comfort them, creating fruit (Galatians 5:22-23), peace and healing.

Isaiah 57:18-19

English Standard Version

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.

John Piper writes, "So, in the face of recalcitrant, grace-resisting backsliding, God says, "I will heal him." He will "restore." The word for "restore" is to "make whole or complete." It is related to the word shalom, "peace." That wholeness and peace is mentioned in the next verse which explains how God turns around a grace-resisting backslider.....He does it by "'creating the fruit of the lips. Peace, peace (shalom, shalom), to the far and to the near,' says the Lord, 'and I will heal him'" (Isaiah 57:19). God creates what is not there — peace, wholeness. This is how we are saved. And this is how we are brought back from backsliding — again and again.....The grace of God triumphs over our resistance by creating praise where it did not exist. He brings shalom, shalom to the near and the far. Wholeness, wholeness to the near and the far. He does it by "restoring," that is, replacing the disease of resistance with the soundness of submission."

Have you been away from Him?  Jesus calls "come to me" and when we do He offers us restoration by grace through faith.

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 57:14-20

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.
20 But the wicked are like the tossing sea;
    for it cannot be quiet,
    and its waters toss up mire and dirt.