GOD REVIVES THE HEART OF THE CONTRITE

Isaiah 56:9-57:21 / Keywords 57:15

For this is what the high and exalted One says— he who lives forever, whose name is holy: “I live in a high and holy place, but also with the one who is contrite and lowly in spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly and to revive the heart of the contrite.

 

God’s Accusation Against the Wicked

9 Come, all you beasts of the field,

    come and devour, all you beasts of the forest!

10 Israel’s watchmen are blind,

    they all lack knowledge;

they are all mute dogs,

    they cannot bark;

they lie around and dream,

    they love to sleep.

11 They are dogs with mighty appetites;

    they never have enough.

They are shepherds who lack understanding;

    they all turn to their own way,

    they seek their own gain.

12 “Come,” each one cries, “let me get wine!

    Let us drink our fill of beer!

And tomorrow will be like today,

    or even far better.”

57:1 The righteous perish,

    and no one takes it to heart;

the devout are taken away,

    and no one understands

that the righteous are taken away

    to be spared from evil.

2 Those who walk uprightly

    enter into peace;

    they find rest as they lie in death.

3 “But you—come here, you children of a sorceress,

    you offspring of adulterers and prostitutes!

4 Who are you mocking?

    At whom do you sneer

    and stick out your tongue?

Are you not a brood of rebels,

    the offspring of liars?

5 You burn with lust among the oaks

    and under every spreading tree;

you sacrifice your children in the ravines

    and under the overhanging crags.

6 The idols among the smooth stones of the ravines are your portion;

    indeed, they are your lot.

Yes, to them you have poured out drink offerings

    and offered grain offerings.

    In view of all this, should I relent?

7 You have made your bed on a high and lofty hill;

    there you went up to offer your sacrifices.

8 Behind your doors and your doorposts

    you have put your pagan symbols.

Forsaking me, you uncovered your bed,

    you climbed into it and opened it wide;

you made a pact with those whose beds you love,

    and you looked with lust on their naked bodies.

9 You went to Molek[a] with olive oil

    and increased your perfumes.

You sent your ambassadors[b] far away;

    you descended to the very realm of the dead!

10 You wearied yourself by such going about,

    but you would not say, ‘It is hopeless.’

You found renewal of your strength,

    and so you did not faint.

11 “Whom have you so dreaded and feared

    that you have not been true to me,

and have neither remembered me

    nor taken this to heart?

Is it not because I have long been silent

    that you do not fear me?

12 I will expose your righteousness and your works,

    and they will not benefit you.

13 When you cry out for help,

    let your collection of idols save you!

The wind will carry all of them off,

    a mere breath will blow them away.

But whoever takes refuge in me

    will inherit the land

    and possess my holy mountain.”

Comfort for the Contrite

14 And it will be said:

“Build up, build up, prepare the road!

    Remove the obstacles out of the way of my people.”

15 For this is what the high and exalted One says—

    he who lives forever, whose name is holy:

“I live in a high and holy place,

    but also with the one who is contrite and lowly in spirit,

to revive the spirit of the lowly

    and to revive the heart of the contrite.

16 I will not accuse them forever,

    nor will I always be angry,

for then they would faint away because of me—

    the very people I have created.

17 I was enraged by their sinful greed;

    I punished them, and hid my face in anger,

    yet they kept on in their willful ways.

18 I have seen their ways, but I will heal them;

    I will guide them and restore comfort to Israel’s mourners,

19     creating praise on their lips.

Peace, peace, to those far and near,”

    says the Lord. “And I will heal them.”

20 But the wicked are like the tossing sea,

    which cannot rest,

    whose waves cast up mire and mud.

21 “There is no peace,” says my God, “for the wicked.”

Footnotes

a. Isaiah 57:9 Or to the king

b. Isaiah 57:9 Or idols

1. Israel’s religious leaders are called to be watchmen and shepherds for God’s people, but they lack foresight and knowledge. They are blind, mute, and asleep; they are greedy, lazy, and self-indulgent. They neglect their responsibilities. As a result, all kinds of evil flood in such as sorcery, senseless idolatry, blatant immorality, and child sacrifice. They served God, but they were idolaters at heart. They sought peace and security through idols or powerful nations. But those things cannot save them when they cry out for help. There is no peace for the wicked and the proud, but whoever takes refuge in God will survive the day of God’s judgment and will be secure.

 

2. God is the holy, eternal, high, and exalted one who dwells in a high and holy place. But his dwelling is also with the lowly in spirit and the contrite. When we recognize our spiritual bankruptcy and turn to him, he promises to forgive, heal, guide, and comfort us. God hates sin, but he doesn’t despise a broken heart. God revives our contrite hearts and transforms our inner person through the work of the Holy Spirit, revealing the glory of his grace. The repentant sinner knows the grace of forgiveness and tastes the kingdom of God.

 

Prayer Lord, I am proud and idolatrous at heart, but I come to you with a contrite heart. Please forgive me and revive my heart and spirit to love you and live for your glory.

One Word God dwells with the contrite in heart