God is high and lifted up. He lives forever. His name is Holy. He says, “I live in a high and holy place, but I also live with people who are humble and sorry for their sins. I will give new life to those who are humble in spirit. I will give new life to those who are sorry for their sins.
Isaiah 57:15 ERV
God is both transcendent and immanent, both above and among His creation. He is the Most High, ruling over all, yet He is also the God who draws near to the brokenhearted and repentant. God’s holiness and righteousness demand that sin be punished, but His love and mercy provide a way for sinners to be forgiven, cleansed and restored. The key is humility and repentance. Those who recognize their sinfulness and turn to God in faith will find new life and hope.
Humility is the quality or state of not thinking that you are better than other people. And from this passage it is what makes one’s life habitable for God. He says:” I also live with people who are humble…”. Only a humble heart can entertain the Divine Guest. It is emptied of pride and self. Not merely permission of distant communication, but God’s abiding presence. The sweet communion of those who dwell happily together in the same house, the blessed reunion of those who had been separated by sin.
What would it mean to you for your life be God’s dwelling place?
The phrase “high and holy place” emphasizes God’s transcendence and majesty. He is not just a man-made idol or a force of nature or a mirage, but the sovereign Lord over all creation. His name is “holy,” meaning set apart and perfect. This underscores the seriousness of sin, which violates God’s holiness and separates us from Him.
But the verse also highlights God’s grace and compassion. He does not remain aloof from His creatures but condescends to dwell with us. Moreover, He chooses to dwell with the humble and contrite, those who acknowledge their need for Him and seek His mercy. He promises to revive and refresh those who come to Him in humility and repentance.
