38 lines
4.3 KiB
HTML
38 lines
4.3 KiB
HTML
|
|
<html>
|
|
<head>
|
|
<title>Blue Letter Bible: Day By Day By Grace — Bob Hoekstra</title>
|
|
<script src="../../../js/basepath.js" type="text/javascript"></script>
|
|
<script src="./js/nav.js" type="text/javascript"></script>
|
|
<script src="./js/MainHeader.js" type="text/javascript"></script><div class="head">
|
|
Day By Day By Grace
|
|
</div>
|
|
<div class="subhead">
|
|
Bob Hoekstra
|
|
</div>
|
|
<div class="desc-center">
|
|
<div class="pad2020">
|
|
September 21
|
|
</div>
|
|
</div>
|
|
<div class="main-just">
|
|
<div class="pad2030">
|
|
<h1>God Dwelling with the Humble and Contrite</h1>
|
|
<div class="block"><i>For thus says the <b>High</b> and <b>Lofty One</b> who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: "I <b>dwell</b> in the <b>high</b> and <b>holy place</b>, <b>with him</b> who has a <b>contrite</b> and <b>humble spirit</b>, to <b>revive</b> the spirit of the <b>humble</b>, and to <b>revive</b> the heart of the <b>contrite</b> ones."</i> (<a onClick="return mV('Isa', 57, '15-15');">Isaiah 57:15</a>)</div>
|
|
<p>God delights in pouring out His <b>grace</b> into <b>humble</b> hearts. <i>"God…gives <b>grace</b> to the <b>humble</b>"</i> (<a onClick="return mV('Jam', 4, '6-6');">James 4:6</a>). What a remarkable arrangement this involves. The God who dwells on high in heaven above wants to also <b>dwell with the humble</b> here on earth below.</p>
|
|
<p>Our great God, the true and living God, is high and lofty. <i>"For thus says the <b>High</b> and <b>Lofty One</b>."</i> He is exalted. <i>"For You, LORD, are most high above all the earth; You are exalted far above all gods"</i> (<a onClick="return mV('Psa', 97, '9-9');">Psalm 97:9</a>). He rules far above, and completely over, every valid authority and every false god. Also, eternity is His rightful habitation: <i>"who inhabits <b>eternity</b>."</i> Furthermore, holiness is His essential character: <i>"whose name is <b>Holy</b>."</i> Among all professed powers or spiritual usurpers, none is like our holy Lord. <i>"Who is like You, O LORD, among the gods? Who is like You, <b>glorious</b> in <b>holiness</b>, fearful in praises, doing wonders?"</i> (<a onClick="return mV('Exd', 15, '11-11');">Exodus 15:11</a>).</p>
|
|
<p>In light of His holy and eternal character, it follows that He would make this proclamation: <i>"I <b>dwell</b> in the <b>high</b> and <b>holy place</b>."</i> Beyond the atmospheric heavens, beyond the stellar heavens, the Lord dwells in the heaven of heavens. In this spiritual dimension beyond time and space, the fullness of the Lord's presence is known. Yet, He is even greater than this "third heaven" itself. <i>"<b>Heaven</b> is My <b>throne</b>, and <b>earth</b> is My <b>footstool</b>…Behold, <b>heaven</b> and the <b>heaven of heavens</b> cannot contain You"</i> (<a onClick="return mV('Isa', 66, '1-1');">Isaiah 66:1</a> and <a onClick="return mV('1Ki', 8, '27-27');">1 Kings 8:27</a>).</p>
|
|
<p>The Lord is high, lofty, holy, and eternal. These truths impact us with awe and reverence. Yet, there is a corollary truth that brings us encouragement and hope (even though it seems almost contradictory). <i>"I <b>dwell</b> in the high and holy place, <b>with him</b> who has a <b>contrite</b> and <b>humble spirit</b>."</i> God essentially dwells on high, but He also desires to dwell <b>with man</b> here <b>below</b>. Who are the people who experience the Lord dwelling with them? Such communion with God is for the <b>contrite</b> and <b>humble</b>. The Lord wants to make Himself known to the <b>repentant</b> and <b>meek</b> in order to bring them spiritual revitalization: <i>"to <b>revive</b> the spirit of the <b>humble</b>, and to <b>revive</b> the heart of the <b>contrite</b> ones."</i></p>
|
|
<div class="dbdbg_prayer">O Lord God, I worship You as high, lofty, holy, and eternal. I exalt You as above all and ruling over all. Yet, I praise You for desiring to dwell with me here on earth below. I humble myself before You, confessing my need for spiritual revitalization, in Jesus' name, Amen.</div>
|
|
</div>
|
|
</div>
|
|
<div class="desc-center">
|
|
<div class="pad2020">
|
|
<a href="./devotions/daybyday/09/0920.html">Yesterday's Reading</a>
|
|
<a href="./devotions/daybyday/09/0922.html">Tomorrow's Reading</a>
|
|
</div>
|
|
</div>
|
|
<div class="return"><a href="./devotions/daybyday/index.html">Return to Day By Day By Grace Page</a>
|
|
</div>
|
|
<script src="./js/MainFooter.js" type="text/javascript"></script>
|