The High and Holy One Who Comes Near

The small wonder

Some people seem impressive until you get close.

Their greatness depends on distance. The reputation is larger than the person. The title carries more weight than the character. Nearness can shrink them.

God is not like that.

The nearer we come to Him in Scripture, the greater He becomes.

Isaiah speaks of the One who is high and lofty. He inhabits eternity. His name is holy. He is not one more being inside the world trying to manage events as they unfold. He stands above time. He made all things. He needs nothing. He borrows no strength, no wisdom and no life from anyone.

That alone would be enough to make us tremble.

But then comes the wonder.

This high and holy God also dwells with the humble and contrite.

The God who inhabits eternity comes near to the lowly. The God whose name is holy does not despise the brokenhearted. He does not reserve His presence for the strong, polished and impressive. He comes to revive the spirit of the humble and the heart of the contrite.

That is glory with mercy in it.

What it shows us about God

God’s holiness does not make Him cruel.

His greatness does not make Him distant.

Human pride often grows colder as it rises. People gain power then forget the ordinary names and faces beneath them. They become harder to approach. Their attention becomes expensive. Their sympathy grows thin.

God’s greatness is different.

He is high above all yet near to the lowly. He is holy beyond our imagining yet tender toward those who come to Him honestly. He does not need to pretend we are better than we are. He does not flatter our pride. He does not call sin harmless.

But He does receive the contrite.

A contrite heart has stopped defending itself. It no longer argues that sin is small. It no longer hides behind excuses, performance or comparison. It comes before God with empty hands and a truthful heart.

And God revives such a heart.

This is not because humility earns His favour. It is because God delights to show mercy. He draws near to those who know they need Him. He raises the lowly. He gives life where pride had made the soul dry.

The holy God is also the God who restores.

Lift your eyes

You may come to God today feeling unimpressive.

That is not a problem.

You may feel weak, tired or aware of your own failings. You may not have a grand spiritual mood to offer. You may not feel especially wise, brave or strong. You may simply know that you need mercy.

Come anyway.

Better still, come because of that.

God is not looking for religious theatre. He is not fooled by polished words or spiritual self-advertising. He sees the heart. He knows the difference between pride dressed in Sunday clothes and humility that quietly says, “Lord, have mercy.”

Do not stay away because you feel low.

The promise of Isaiah 57 is not that God helps those who can impress Him. It is that the high and holy One dwells with the humble and contrite.

So lower your defences.

Confess what needs confessing.

Receive the mercy He gives.

Trust the Saviour who opened the way to the Father.

The God who inhabits eternity is not too great to come near. He is so great that He can stoop without losing any of His glory.

A few Scriptures to carry

A Short Prayer