In Isaiah, chapter fifty-seven, verse fifteen, ” For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth 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.” God, who lives in ‘the high and holy place,” promises to dwell with those hwo have a “contrite and humble spirit.” “Contrite” refers to those who are brokenhearted because of their own sinfulness or the enemy’s oppression and who cry out ot God for deliverance; “humble spirit” refers to those who are humble or bowed down by adversity, as in Psalm thirty-four, verses eighteen through nineteen. “The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all.”
God responds to the cry of such humble, contrite people to revive them with the light and life of His presence. The primary ground for this voice being heard at all is that the Holy One is also the Merciful One, and not only has a manifestation of glory on high, but also a manifestation of grace below. He inflicts punishment in His wrath, but to those who suffer themselves to be urged thereby to repentance and the desire for salvation, He is most inwardly and most effectually near with His grace. For the heaven of heavens is not too great for Him, and a human heart is not too small for Him to dwell in. And He who dwells upon cherubim, and among the praises of seraphim, does not scorn to dwell among the sighs of a poor human soul.