“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.”
My Notes
What Does Isaiah 57:15 Mean?
God describes himself with a series of titles that hold together attributes we usually separate: high and lofty, inhabiting eternity, holy — and then, dwelling with the contrite and humble. The God who is infinitely above also lives infinitely close.
The juxtaposition is the point. The one who inhabits eternity — who exists beyond time, space, and all created limits — chooses to dwell with the crushed. Not visit. Dwell. Make his home.
"To revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones" reveals the purpose of this dwelling. God moves in to bring life. The humble spirit and the contrite heart are not just tolerated. They are revived — resurrected, brought back from death.
This verse is one of the most complete self-portraits God gives in the Old Testament. He is transcendent and intimate, holy and near, eternal and present with the broken.
Reflection Questions
- 1.How do you hold together God being infinitely high and dwelling with the humble?
- 2.What does it mean that God 'dwells with' the contrite — not just visits?
- 3.Where are you contrite or crushed right now — and can you see that as an invitation rather than a disqualification?
- 4.How does God revive a spirit that has been broken?
Devotional
The high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity. That is who God is — beyond everything, above everything, existing outside the boundaries of time and space.
And he dwells with the contrite and humble. The same God. Not a lesser version. The high and lofty One himself takes up residence with people who have been crushed.
That should stop you in your tracks. The God who is too big for the universe is small enough to live in a broken heart. The one who inhabits eternity chooses to inhabit your humility.
To revive. That is why he comes. Not to observe your brokenness from a distance. Not to evaluate whether you deserve help. To revive — to breathe life back into what has been crushed.
If you are humble right now — genuinely low, genuinely broken — you are not disqualified from God's presence. You are the address where he lives. The high and lofty One makes his home with you.
Commentary
Trusted original commentary from respected historical Bible scholars and theologians.
For thus saith the high and lofty One,.... Who is high above the earth, and the nations of it; higher than the kings in…
For thus saith - The design of this verse is, to furnish the assurance that the promise made to the people of God would…
For thus saith the high and lofty One "For thus saith Jehovah, the high and the lofty" - A MS. adds יהוה Yehovah, after…
Here, I. God shows how insufficient idols and creatures were to relieve and succour those that worshipped them and…
high and lofty An Isaianic phrase, ch. Isa 2:12 ff., Isa 6:1 (cf. Isa 52:13).
that inhabiteth eternity Rather, "that…
Cross References
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