Isaiah 57:15 — God with the Lowly
Isaiah 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.'"
— Isaiah 57:15 (NIV)
Reflection
Isaiah 57:15 holds together two truths that seem impossible to combine. God is high, exalted, eternal, and holy. At the same time, He chooses to dwell with people who feel crushed and small. He does not limit His presence to glory and perfection; He makes His home with the contrite and lowly. For anyone weighed down by failure, grief, or weakness, this verse is both confrontation and comfort. You do not need to climb up to Him. He comes down to you.
God does not visit the lowly reluctantly. He lives with them. His purpose is not to press them further into the ground but to revive their spirit and heart. This is the opposite of how the world treats weakness. Society often despises those who break down. God draws near to rebuild them. That is His character: high and holy, yet also present with the crushed.
Biblical Insight
The book of Isaiah repeatedly contrasts God's majesty with His mercy. In this verse, the eternal and holy One declares that He lives in both transcendence and nearness. The language of “contrite and lowly” speaks of those humbled by sin or circumstance. Revive means more than cheer up; it points to restoration of life and strength. This combination of holiness and intimacy reflects the covenant heart of God: He does not compromise His holiness, yet He willingly shares His presence with those who are broken.
In Application
- Reject the thought that your low condition makes you unworthy of God's presence. He has already chosen to live with the contrite.
- When shame or weakness weighs heavily, pray for revival — not from your own effort but from God's promise.
- Let this verse correct any view of God as distant or uninterested. He is both above all and with you in the lowest place.
Practical Journaling
Reflect on Isaiah 57:15, then write directly:
- What has left you feeling lowly or contrite before God?
- How does His promise to live with the lowly alter your view of your situation?
- What would revival of your spirit look like in concrete terms?
Take as much time as you need with this exercise, and if writing feels too difficult today, simply holding these questions in prayer is enough.