Is it a contradiction for a completely holy God to want to be with us? Our holy God dwells not only in the high and holy places, but also among us. Pastor Lutzer contemplates two immense but practical attributes of God. No matter where God is, all of His attributes are. This episode was originally published January 14, 2019 as “The Attributes of God | Week 2: Holy.”
“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.”
- Isaiah 57:15
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Transcript:
Hi, welcome to 5 Minutes with Pastor Lutzer. We’re exploring the attributes of God; the majestic attributes of God, the mysterious attributes of God. It’s my conviction that we can never contemplate God too often. And when we contemplate Him, always there has to be transformation, and a response. I believe that sometimes we are rebuked; sometimes we are encouraged; but always we should be led to worship The Almighty.
Now I’m going to read a text from Isaiah. It’s one of my favorites actually, and in a moment you’ll understand why. Isaiah says these words in chapter 57: “For thus says the One who is high and lifted up, who inhabits eternity”—just think of that—”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.’”
Now let’s think about this text. The reason it is so wonderful is that it introduces us to two aspects of God. First of all there is the transcendence of God. That means that God inhabits eternity. Now we’re going to be talking about the eternity of God later on in this series, we’re going to be discussing many of these aspects. But He inhabits eternity. I love that. I love the fact that scientists have never been able to find any end to the universe. It goes on forever because God is going on forever and inhabits all of eternity. So that’s the transcendence of God.
But also here we are introduced to what theologians call the eminence of God, that He is among us. “I dwell with those who are of lowly spirit, those who are of a contrite heart.” That’s amazing, isn’t it? You know, the apostle Paul said in the seventeenth chapter of the book of Acts, he says that God is with us, and in Him we live and move and have our being. God is near us. God is right in this room. You know I think about these things often. God is here in this room, and all of His attributes are in this room, because no matter where God is, all of His attributes are. As a matter of fact, if you’re a believer, God actually resides in your heart.
What’s our take away today? That this God who is so transcendent is among us, and He ministers to those who are of a contrite heart. The Hebrew word means “broken.” It’s something like David said in Psalm 51: “A crushed spirit you will not despise.” So my friend, today God is attracted to our weaknesses. He is attracted to our need, if only we will come to Him admitting that need; because He is not so big He can’t help us. He is out there. But He’s also here, with us. Today, go with God.