This may seem like a strange focus for Advent, with Christmas right around the corner, but I find myself returning to these verses from my personal devotions this morning and I thought I’d share them with you for whatever purpose the Lord might have in mind.
For thus says the high and lofty one who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: I dwell in the high and holy place and also with those who are contrite and humble in spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble and to revive the heart of the contrite. For I will not continually accuse, nor will I always be angry; for then the spirits would grow faint before me, even the souls that I have made (Isaiah 57:15-16).
They are words of hope. I read them over a couple of times because I want to linger there a little longer. By contrast, the words before this are words of warning. My instincts are to pass though that word-neighborhood as quickly as possible, with my windows rolled up and the locks down on my doors, if you know what I mean. I am troubled whenever God’s words are sharp and angry, even though I know intellectually that his anger is “for me,” to call me away from sins that would destroy my life. I muse, though, as I look out into that darkness, that most people who dabble there or live there do not realize how wily and desperate their situation really is. We are quick to buy into the neon lies that Evil flashes before us. Come-ons. A soft life. Continually seeking out more excitement or gratification. You see why I want to skim over God’s description, “but you did not say, ‘It is useless.’ You found your desire rekindled…” (Isaiah 57:10b).
God clearly sees the places we live and calls it like he sees it. By contrast, God lives in a different time and place, in eternity, in a high and holy place. Probably all of us understand that, no matter what spiritual condition we are in.
The good news in this Isaiah passage comes in a few little words, words we might miss because they are pretty-much non-descript: “and also with…” (v. 15). Those words make all the difference in the world. They encapsulate the prophecy of Christmas, Emmanuel, God with us.
Because God is not only on our side, but also at our side, we are not left to our own devices. We are not abandoned as vulnerable in a tricky, ‘chew-you-up- and-spit-you-out’ world. Jesus has overcome and we can celebrate! But here the Christmas prophecy and the Christmas event challenge me one step farther: God specifically says that he comes to those who are humble.
It’s all over the story. Our Lord Jesus has a humble birth in a stable in Bethlehem, but, long before that, our Lord Jesus did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited (Philippians 2:6). Mary responds to the angel that she is God’s humble servant. Joseph chooses humility over remaining aloof from a disgraceful social situation. Shepherding is a humble life. Even the magi kneel in worship. In his ministry, our Lord Jesus invites his followers to “learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart” (Matthew 11:29). He continually confronts spiritual know-it-alls while befriending the spiritual downtrodden. His death was lowly.
Humility is a virtue I admire, but at the same time, when I am honest with myself, I know I don’t relish being humbled. I wonder what I will have to go through to become humble. So, to leave that humbling process in God’s hands is a real response of faith. As I close the Bible on my lap and bow to pray, I need to believe that being humble is essential and the only way to be close to God – something I deeply desire. At the same time, I need to trust that God will remember that my spirit, too, so easily grows faint before him, even the soul that he has made and loves (from v. 16).
I will close this reflection now with a blessing that may also seem, at first, rather non-descript and easily passed over. In reality, however, these words may be the most significant and challenging Christmas greeting I will send out.
May our homes and our hearts be humble places, prepared for him.
~ Pastor Shirley
