God dwells in two places

For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones. Isaiah 57:15

Who is God? He is "the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy." With these words, God is demarcated from everything else. He alone has immortality, dwelling in unapproachable light (1 Tim. 6:16). He is holy, not only in the sense that he is without moral blemish, but also in the sense that he is transcendent above all his creation. There is no one like God: "To whom then will ye liken God? or what likeness will ye compare unto him?" (Isa. 40:18). That is what these words are saying. God is incomparably great.

Therefore, it is befitting that God dwells "in the high and holy place." When we pray, we pray, "Our Father which art in heaven" (Mt. 6:9). As the psalmist puts it, "Our God is in the heavens, he hath done whatsoever he hath pleased" (Ps. 115:3). The temple of God corresponds to the one who inhabits it: as God is high and holy, so also is his dwelling place.

But then come words that are unexpected: "with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit." Among men, the rich and famous tend to only rub shoulders with the rich and famous. But not so God. Of course, the reality is that since no one is like God, if God is to have fellowship with any creature, it must be along the lines of condescension on God's part. We are lowly; God is high. We are weak; God is omnipotent. We are finite and limited; God is not. We are changeable; God is immutable. We are sinful; God is holy.

But why would God dwell with such people? The answer of the Bible is that God overflows in grace and love towards miserable sinners through his Son Jesus Christ. It is not that God is seeking us because he needs us; rather, he seeks us because he wants to share of his fulness with us (Jn. 1:16; Eph. 3:19). It is a free gift of God that gives God to sinners who is received through faith alone apart from works of any kind.

For those who look outside of themselves, who see that they are lowly, and who are humble and contrite before God, God condescends in infinite grace, mercy, and love "to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones." He gives rest and peace to the weary and heavy laden (Mt. 11:28-30).

Do you feel that way today? And feeling thus, are you afraid to approach God for mercy? My friend, remember this: God dwells in two places - in the high and lofty place and with those who are lowly and contrite in heart. It is the proud, those confident in themselves that God rejects. If you feel yourself unworthy and disgusted by the sin that stains you, that is good, for it means that you are precisely in the category of those who will be revived through the grace of God in Christ. Dear friend, approach the throne of God, for in Christ it is a throne of mercy (Heb. 4:16).