Isaiah 66:1-16: a reflection

1The LORD says: “Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool. What kind of house will you build to me? Where will I rest? 2For my hand has made all these things, and so all these things came to be,” says the LORD: “but I will look to this man, even to he who is poor and of a contrite spirit, and who trembles at my word. 3He who kills an ox is as he who kills a man; he who sacrifices a lamb, as he who breaks a dog’s neck; he who offers an offering, as he who offers pig’s blood; he who burns frankincense, as he who blesses an idol. Yes, they have chosen their own ways, and their soul delights in their abominations. 4I also will choose their delusions, and will bring their fears on them, because when I called, no one answered; when I spoke, they didn’t listen, but they did that which was evil in my eyes, and chose that in which I didn’t delight.” 5Hear the LORD’s word, you who tremble at his word: “Your brothers who hate you, who cast you out for my name’s sake, have said, ‘Let the LORD be glorified, that we may see your joy;’ but it is those who shall be disappointed. 6A voice of tumult from the city, a voice from the temple, a voice of the LORD that repays his enemies what they deserve. 7“Before she travailed, she gave birth. Before her pain came, she delivered a son. 8Who has heard of such a thing? Who has seen such things? Shall a land be born in one day? Shall a nation be born at once? For as soon as Zion travailed, she gave birth to her children. 9Shall I bring to the birth, and not cause to be delivered?” says the LORD. “Shall I who cause to give birth shut the womb?” says your God. 10“Rejoice with Jerusalem, and be glad for her, all you who love her. Rejoice for joy with her, all you who mourn over her; 11that you may nurse and be satisfied at the comforting breasts; that you may drink deeply, and be delighted with the abundance of her glory.” 12For the LORD says, “Behold, I will extend peace to her like a river, and the glory of the nations like an overflowing stream, and you will nurse. You will be carried on her side, and will be dandled on her knees. 13As one whom his mother comforts, so I will comfort you. You will be comforted in Jerusalem.” 14You will see it, and your heart shall rejoice, and your bones will flourish like the tender grass. The LORD’s hand will be known among his servants; and he will have indignation against his enemies. 15For, behold, the LORD will come with fire, and his chariots will be like the whirlwind; to give his anger with fierceness, and his rebuke with flames of fire. 16For the LORD will execute judgment by fire and by his sword on all flesh; and those slain by the LORD will be many.

In a passage that begins by declaring God's greatness, that heaven is his throne and earth his footstool, God reveals whom he regards, where his attention rests: on the humble and contrite who tremble at his word. Heaven is my throne, God says, and the earth my footstool; but this is the one to whom I will look: he who is humble and of a contrite spirit, and who trembles at my word. The God whom the highest heavens cannot contain looks with special regard not on the great, the mighty, or the self-assured, but on the humble, the contrite, those who tremble at his word. This shows that God regards and looks to the humble and contrite heart. God looks to the humble and contrite who tremble at his word. God's regard rests on the lowly and contrite heart. The great God looks to the humble, not the self-assured. God regards the contrite heart that trembles at his word.

Notice the contrast Isaiah draws: between the greatness of God and the lowliness of the one he regards. God is so great that heaven is his throne and earth his footstool; no house we could build could contain him. And yet this great God looks with special favor not on the great and mighty, not on the impressive or the self-assured, but on the humble and contrite in spirit, on those who tremble at his word. The lowly, the broken-hearted over their sin, those who take God's word seriously and tremble before it, these are the ones on whom God's regard rests. This is both humbling and comforting. It humbles our pride, for God does not regard us for our greatness, our achievements, our self-assurance; and it comforts the lowly, for the very humility and contrition we might think unworthy of God's notice are precisely what he regards. God is drawn not to the proud and self-sufficient but to the humble and contrite. We do well, then, to come before God not in pride and self-assurance, but in humility and contrition, trembling at his word. God regards the humble and contrite, not the proud and self-assured. Come to God in humility and contrition, which he regards. The great God looks to the lowly and broken-hearted. God's favor rests on those who tremble at his word.

That is worth taking to heart, for God regards and looks to the humble and contrite who tremble at his word, not the proud and self-assured. We can approach God in pride, in self-assurance, trusting in our own greatness or achievements; but God, though heaven is his throne, looks to the humble and contrite in spirit, those who tremble at his word. God is drawn to the lowly heart. Come before God not in pride but in humility and contrition, trembling at his word, for that is where his regard rests. Come before God in humility and contrition, trembling at his word, for that is the one to whom he looks, as Isaiah, declaring that heaven is God's throne and earth his footstool so that no house could contain him, revealed that this great God looks not to the great and self-assured but to the one who is humble and of a contrite spirit and trembles at his word; for we can approach God in pride and self-assurance, trusting in our own greatness or achievements, but the God whom the highest heavens cannot contain regards not the impressive or self-sufficient but the humble, the broken-hearted over their sin, those who take his word seriously and tremble before it, which humbles our pride since God does not regard us for our greatness, and comforts the lowly since the very humility and contrition we might think unworthy of his notice are precisely what he regards, so that we do well to come before God not in pride but in humility and contrition, trembling at his word, where his favor rests.

Lord, in a passage that begins by declaring your greatness, that heaven is your throne and earth your footstool, you reveal whom you regard, where your attention rests: on the humble and contrite who tremble at your word. Heaven is my throne, you say, and the earth my footstool; but this is the one to whom I will look: he who is humble and of a contrite spirit, and who trembles at my word. You whom the highest heavens cannot contain look with special regard not on the great, the mighty, or the self-assured, but on the humble, the contrite, those who tremble at your word. Show me the contrast Isaiah draws: between your greatness and the lowliness of the one you regard. You are so great that heaven is your throne and earth your footstool; no house we could build could contain you. And yet you look with special favor not on the great and mighty, not on the impressive or self-assured, but on the humble and contrite in spirit, on those who tremble at your word. The lowly, the broken-hearted over their sin, those who take your word seriously, these are the ones on whom your regard rests. This is both humbling and comforting. It humbles my pride, for you do not regard me for my greatness or achievements; and it comforts me when I am lowly, for the very humility and contrition I might think unworthy of your notice are precisely what you regard. Take that to my heart, for you regard and look to the humble and contrite who tremble at your word. Keep me from approaching you in pride and self-assurance, trusting in my own greatness; help me come before you in humility and contrition, Lord, trembling at your word, for that is the one to whom you look, and let me find your favor resting on the lowly and contrite heart.