Thus says the LORD: “Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool; what is the house that you would build for me, and what is the place of my rest? All these things my hand has made, and so all these things came to be, declares the Lord. But this is the one to whom I will look: he who is humble and contrite in spirit and trembles at my word. Isaiah 66:1-2
We seek to make houses of worship and to honor God with the finest forms of praise, but does God seek these things? Do these things win us God’s favor or cause Him to take note of us? What does God say?
“Thus says the LORD: ‘Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool; what is the house that you would build for me, and what is the place of my rest? All these things my hand has made, and so all these things came to be, declares the Lord. But this is the one to whom I will look: he who is humble and contrite in spirit and trembles at my word.’”
God created the heaven and the earth by the power of His Word and He speaks of heaven as His throne and earth as His footstool. So, can we cause Him to dwell among us by building Him beautiful churches and cathedrals or honoring him with the most majestic sounds of praise? Indeed, what can we give Him in comparison to what He already possesses?
Again, what does God say? “But this is the one to whom I will look: he who is humble and contrite in spirit and trembles at my word.”
Instead of taking note and looking upon the high and lofty efforts of man, God looks on those who are humble and contrite in spirit, who tremble at His Word. In other words, God looks with favor and in mercy upon those who tremble in awe and respect at His Word and all it teaches, who humble themselves before God and His Word, acknowledge their sins and are sorry for them, and look to God for pardon and forgiveness in the Son, Jesus Christ, who came into this world to redeem us with His holy and precious blood shed upon the cross for the sins of all.
Are you trying to make God accept you by your own efforts or your own lofty worship and praise? Or, do you humbly submit to His Word, repent of Your sins and trust in the shed blood of Jesus for pardon and forgiveness and then, as a fruit of your faith, seek God’s help and strength to amend your life and live for Him in accord with His holy Word?
“But this is the one to whom I will look: he who is humble and contrite in spirit and trembles at my word.”
Your Word, O God, reveals my sinfulness and utter failures to be pleasing in Your sight. Even my best works and praise are unclean before You. I deserve only Your eternal anger and punishment for my sin and disobedience. Have mercy upon me, LORD, for the sake of the Son, Jesus Christ, and His holy life and innocent sufferings and death in my stead. Amen.
[Scripture quotations are from The ESV® (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.]