My hope is that this series will offer my readers a chance to consider the names, characteristics and descriptions of our God in the Word.

The remaining Names of God in this series might be considered descriptors, or characteristics of the Lord. We have reviewed the three primary Names of God, along with nineteen compound Names of God in our previous posts. As we venture through these descriptors of our God, I hope we will recognize all the many characteristics of our God that we tend to take for granted.

The Word is truly rich with descriptions of the Living God, and this effort of searching in the Word was quite illuminating. He truly is the ultimate subject of the Word, and His revelation of self-descriptions, or the accolades offered Him by His priests, prophets, kings apostles and faithful truly is a blessing.

May the Name of the Lord be praised, and by thinking on His name, may you have a blessed day.

HIGH AND LIFTED UP

Isaiah 57:15 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.

Isaiah is speaking of the One who is HIGH AND LIFTED UP.

To be high is to be in a position above, or over others. It is usually a relative term, but I would argue that this “high” is an absolute, a highness that cannot be disputed or challenged.

To be lifted up has the idea of bearing up, of endurance, even of the act of carrying.

But Isaiah speaks of this One who is both HIGH AND LIFTED UP multiple times in his book and he is the only one in the Old Testament that uses this phrase.

A quick review of those three occurrences are in order. The first time he speaks of the Lord is in his call to ministry amongst the Israelites.

Isaiah 6:1 ESV – In the year that King Uzziah died I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up; and the train of his robe filled the temple. (italics mine)

Isaiah was strongly influenced by this first vision of the Lord. This vision provides the image of extreme loftiness, absolute authority and otherworldly existence.

The second time Isaiah uses this phrase is in Isa 52:13, at the very beginning of his description of the Suffering Servant, the Lord Jesus.

Isaiah 52:13 ESV – Behold, my servant shall act wisely; he shall be high and lifted up, and shall be exalted. (italics mine)

It becomes obvious, especially in the hind sight we have in the church age, that to be lifted up in this sense was to be lifted up, bearing the cross, carrying our sins. In incredible act of sacrifice, being lifted up on the cross, His suffering and humiliation became the focal point of the greatest glory of God exhibited in all of time.

His crucifixion, in His being lifted up, was displaying His greatness, His character of sacrifice, and His motive of extreme love towards those who rebel and reject.

Then consider our verse this morning. He is the One who is HIGH AND LIFTED UP, yet in this highness, in this lifted up position He is comfortable with those who is of a contrite and lowly spirit.

He who is HIGH AND LIFTED UP bends down to the lowly. He who is HIGH AND LIFTED UP joins the contrite and lowly in spirit. He who is HIGH AND LIFTED UP seeks to revive the spirit of the lowly. He who is HIGH AND LIFTED UP looks to revive the heart of the contrite.

He who is HIGH AND LIFTED UP is the One who spoke of being gentle (meek) and lowly in heart

Matthew 11:29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

We do not understand the HIGH AND LIFTED UP One we serve. He is much to much to understand, to comprehend. The mysteries of our Lord are very real, and His constant care, His deep sacrificial acts and the proof of His person is beyond question.

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I would love to hear of your favorite name, characteristic or description of the Living God. Please leave me a comment, and I will include it in the list!

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