HIGH AND LOFTY ONE

When the prophet Isaiah was called and fitted for service, he was given a remarkable vision of the glory and majesty of God, chapter 6. It was an experience that remained with him throughout his life, as on a number of occasions he makes reference to the exalted position of the One whom he serves, 33. 5; 40. 26; 55. 9.

In chapter 6, he saw the Lord, ‘high and lifted up’; the pervading atmosphere was of absolute holiness, v. 3. In our reading today, the prophet uses almost identical language, ‘high and lofty … whose name is Holy’. He is the unchanging God! Mal. 3. 6.

Again, chapter 6 is set against the background of the mortality of earth’s rulers, v. 1. Our God is not subject to time or decay, He ‘inhabiteth eternity’!

It is in the presumptuous nature of man to try and accommodate the concept of Deity within the puny boundaries of his own intellect. He rejects those things that his mind cannot grasp or his words explain. His proud heart will not yield to accept that God says ‘For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts’, Isa. 55. 9.

When King Solomon had finished building the temple, one of the most magnificent achievements ever fashioned by man, he thought upon the infinite greatness of Deity, and exclaimed, ‘But will God in very deed dwell with men on the earth? Behold, heaven and the heaven of heavens cannot contain thee; how much less this house which I have built?’, 1 Kgs. 8. 27.

The great wonder to our souls is that He did deign to ‘dwell with men on the earth’. The One ‘Who humbleth himself to behold the things that are in heaven’, Ps. 113. 6, let alone things on earth, indeed ‘humbled himself’ in order to meet our need.

Isaiah embraces the same truth in verse 15 of our chapter. The One who dwells ‘in the high and holy place’ dwells also ‘with him that is of a contrite and humble spirit’.

May we never try to limit the infinite character of our God, but bow in wonder and in worship at His feet.