God Does What You Cannot Do for You

Isaiah 57:14 (ESV) And it shall be said, “Build up, build up, prepare the way, remove every obstruction from my people’s way.”

Isaiah shifts back and forth in these chapters from grim judgments on Israel's failures to the blessed hope of their God who promises to save them. You get the feeling he's both enraged by the cultural rot around him and utterly positive in God's faithful grace. 

Here in verse 14, we have hope again. Instead of the people's failure, God's provision is highlighted. He will make the way possible for them to return. He will remove every obstacle in their path. He will be with them in spite of their lowly estate. He illustrates this reality with one of the Bible's most compelling descriptions of the Lord. 

Isaiah 57:15 (ESV) For thus says the One who is high and lifted up, who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: “I dwell in the high and holy place, and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly, and to revive the heart of the contrite.

Have you ever thought about this reality? God is in heaven and holy beyond our understanding. He is eternal and no words of ours do Him justice. We cannot comprehend Him. He is beyond us. BUT, amazingly this God comes and dwells with those who repent from sin. He dwells with those crushed by their iniquities.

He does what we cannot do. He crosses the divide between us. He comes to where we are and brings us the revival our spirit and heart need. 

Isaiah 57:16 (ESV) For I will not contend forever, nor will I always be angry; for the spirit would grow faint before me, and the breath of life that I made.

Isaiah describes God's mercy. His character is not always bent on just judgment. He will relent in His anger to show us grace. Why? Because of those words of understanding above, "for the spirit would faint... and the breath of life that I made."

Ultimately God knows we are dust and weak. Thankfully, He does not set for us an impossible standard to return to Him. 

Isaiah 57:18–19 (ESV) I have seen his ways, but I will heal him; I will lead him and restore comfort to him and his mourners, 19 creating the fruit of the lips. Peace, peace, to the far and to the near,” says the LORD, “and I will heal him.

Again and again, God tells us what He will do. He will do what we cannot do for ourselves. He will heal us, lead, and restore comfort to us. Though our sins were the wedge driven between Him and us, the Holy One will descend to us and bring us peace. 

God does more than promise forgiveness of sin. He promises a new nature. He promises a healed heart that is set free from its inability to act rightly. This is the way God acts with His people. This is also the ONLY way forward for any of them. 


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