By: Steve Loo
We are the most distracted culture this world has ever seen. Not only that, but sometimes we think God is distracted and does not see us in our struggles.
In the sixty-sixth passage of Isaiah, the people are wondering whether God had “looked upon them” because they haven’t seen his salvation yet. Those who have forsaken God have wondered where God was and have sought the favor of other gods through sacrifices. In other words, God seems to be distracted.
Yet Isaiah makes clear that God is not a distracted God. He holds out His presence and has always offered a relationship with us. And His gaze is not just on one person, but on the affairs of the entire world. When God says, “Heaven is my throne, earth is my footstool, what is the house that you would build for me, and what is the place of my rest?” (66:1) God is not saying that He’s disinterested in temple sacrifices or us going through the motions of worship. He is just saying the mere practice of them is not what catches his eye.
So what does God look for? What really catches God’s eye?
What catches God’s eye is a humble heart.
Isaiah says: But this is the one to whom I will look: he who is humble and contrite in spirit and trembles at my word. (Isa. 66:2b)
Isaiah pictures God gazing at us like a parent gazing into their newborn’s face. His gaze is riveted on those who are humble. Secondly, God leans into the “contrite of spirit.” These are people who are not depressed, but who are desperately dependent on God to give them help. Lastly, God’s attention is on those who tremble at God’s Word.
Isn’t that amazing that our God who is king over all is above all drawn to the humble? As James puts it, “God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” (James 4:6)
I remember reading a book about this passage that “God finds our humility irresistible.”
True humility is not looking at ourselves lower than who we are. But really true humility is just seeing ourselves the way God sees us. And God’s gaze is irresistibly drawn to us whenever we come before His Word, simply declaring our unworthiness and confessing our deep need for Him.
In this attention deficit world, God’s attention is not saved for the proud. But His gaze rests on the humble. May that be true of us.
How can I cultivate humility?
Make the first thing you do when you wake up each morning to get on your knees and thank God that He allowed your heart to continue beating last night. Confess your desperate dependence on him for the rest of the day.
Come before His Word and plead for greater humility, and confess you can’t understand His Word apart from the Spirit’s help. Pray Psalm 43:3 and ask Him to send out His light and His truth so that they may lead you, so that you may know God as your exceeding joy.
Ask a Hopeful for their honest take if they see any pride in you, and be open to their rebuke, correction, and counsel.