Humble & Contrite

Humble & Contrite – Isaiah 57:15

What does it mean to God for His people to have a contrite and humble spirit?

To God, it means we honor and obey Him because He IS HIGH and HOLY.

We acknowledge reality and appreciate Him.  This means that He can bless us—according to our willingness and receptiveness. 

We can dwell with Him –forever.  He is DELIGHTED

They that are of a forward heart are abomination to the Lord: but such as are upright in their way are his delight. (Prov 11:20)

Lord, who may abide in Your tabernacle? Who may dwell in Your holy hill?  He who walks uprightly,
And works righteousness, And speaks the truth in his heart;

He who does not backbite with his tongue,
Nor does evil to his neighbor,
Nor does he take up a reproach against his friend;

In whose eyes a vile person is despised,
But he honors those who fear the Lord;
He who swears to his own hurt and does not change;

He who does not put out his money at usury,
Nor does he take a bribe against the innocent.

He who does these things shall never be moved. (Psalm 15)

But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace. God does his part until time runs out.  He will exalt the lowly and bring down the haughty. (Psalm 37:11)

For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabit eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones. ¹⁶ For I will not contend for ever, neither will I be always wroth: for the spirit should fail before me, and the souls which I have made. ¹⁷ For the iniquity of his covetousness was I wroth, and smote him: I hid me, and was worth, and he went on frowardly in the way of his heart.¹⁸ I have seen his ways, and will heal him: I will lead him also, and restore comforts unto him and to his mourners. ¹⁹ I create the fruit of the lips; Peace, peace to him that is far off, and to him that is near, saith the Lord; and I will heal him. (Is. 57:15-19)

Definitions:

• iniquity H5771 – bend, twist, distort, perverse, crooked, morally evil
• covetousness H1215 – dishonest/violent profit/gain
• frowardly H7726 – backsliding, turning away, idolatrous

GOD IS HIGH	GOD IS HOLY
This resonates with our spirit/mind in WILLINGNESS	This resonates with our heart in RECEPTIVENESS
humble: humble, lowly, meek	contrite: broken, in-pain, distressed
Recognize, acknowledge, submit to HIS HIGHNESS   Trust God as FATHER to protect, provide, teach your MIND and ACTIONS.	Find refuge, healing, restoration in HIS HOLINESS     Trust God as DADDY to heal, revive, restore, connect your HEART.
DELIVERANCE Be strong in victory	FULLNESS Become beautiful in holiness

What does it mean to us?

We are invited to dwell with God forever by choosing to honor and obey Him as Father, and choosing to trust Him with our intimate selves as Daddy.  If we have turned away, return asap from backsliding.  If your heart doesn’t connect with God’s heart, your Willingness will be short-lived (from his perspective!

Nevertheless they flattered Him with their mouth,
And they lied to Him with their tongue;
³⁷ For their heart was not steadfast with Him,
Nor were they faithful in His covenant.
³⁸ But He, being full of compassion, forgave their iniquity,
And did not destroy them.
Yes, many a time He turned His anger away,
And did not stir up all His wrath;
³⁹ For He remembered that they were but flesh,
A breath that passes away and does not come again.

⁴⁰ How often they provoked^[a] Him in the wilderness,
And grieved Him in the desert!
⁴¹ Yes, again and again they tempted God,
And limited the Holy One of Israel. (Psalm 78:36-41)

They do not know nor understand;
For He has ^[a]shut their eyes, so that they cannot see,
And their hearts, so that they cannot understand. (Isaiah 44:18)

But their minds were blinded. For until this day the same veil remains unlifted in the reading of the Old Testament, because the veil is taken away in Christ. ¹⁵ But even to this day, when Moses is read, a veil lies on their heart. ¹⁶ Nevertheless when one turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. (2 Cor. 3:14-16)

TURN / RETURN to GOD for UNDERSTANDING	TURN / RETURN to GOD for HEART-REST
Jer 3:12-14, 4:1 Hos. 6:1 Ez. 18:23 Is. 55:7 Acts 26:18	Jer. 50:6 Ps. 116:7-9, 62:8, 40:8, 31:19-23 Mat. 11:28-30

But let him who glories glory in this, That He understands and knows Me,
That I am the Lord, exercising loving kindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth. For in these I delight,” says the Lord. (Jeremiah 9:24)

Song: If My People