And it will be said: “Build up, build up, prepare the road! Remove the obstacles out of the way of my people.”  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 57:14, 15

I find the last chapters of the large book of Isaiah to resemble some of the large works of Beethoven that have interminably long closures.  It seems as though Beethoven is loath to close his massive works – maybe stress the main themes once again, so he does, with additional phrase one after the other.  Something like is in Isaiah’s 57^th which is both a summary but also a huge encouragement to get on with our walk with God.

I like the way God identifies with those who love him and run to him for refuge, all the time. He says,

^“I will not accuse them forever, nor will I always be angry, for then they would faint away because of me – the very people I have created.  I was enraged by their sinful greed; I punished them, and hid my face in anger, yet they kept on in their willful ways.

^“I have seen their ways, but I will heal them; I will guide them and restore comfort to Israel’s mourners, creating praise on their lips.”  Isaiah 57:15 – 18

I hear the Spirit of the Lord saying he will revive the spirit of the lowly and those whose hearts are contrite, or we might say, those whose hearts are humble and broken.  The secret of walking with God is wrapped up in these promises of ongoing revival without which the way becomes practically impossible.  The Spirit of the Lord softens our spirits, Satan hardens them. Upon our initial conversion we fell before our Father, that is a position that we must maintain without break until we find ourselves in his eternal care.

It does not please God when spiritual harm comes to people because we do not allow him to control our lives. He stands ready to forgive and to plant in our spirits the spirit of praise.