Encounter With a Holy God — Richard Owen Roberts

In reading your Bible and observing time after time the way Israel wandered away from God, their inability to stay focused and faithful, did you ever ask the question, what was at the heart of their problem?

Obviously they had seen God himself accomplish incredible things. They had experienced things that most of us simply long to experience. And yet time after time after time they departed from the living God.

So I ask you simply, have you asked the question, what was at the heart of their wandering? The Apostle Jude spoke to that question in verse 6. He spoke in terms of angels who abandoned their position and their place of reign.

In verse 7 he spoke of Sodom and Gomorrah and their departure from the way of truth and the consequence of it. But in verse 5 he spoke of Israel and their continual wanderings and departures from the Lord.

Israel’s Destruction Because of Unbelief

Let me simply read the words of verse 5. Now I desire to remind you, though you know all things once for all, that the Lord after saving a people out of the land of Egypt, subsequently destroyed those who did not believe.

And we know perfectly well when it says he subsequently destroyed those who did not believe. After he saved them out of Egypt, it's talking about well over 99 of the people were destroyed. We know there was the barest handful who entered the land of Prometh.

Now we are taught plainly that all scripture is given by inspiration of God. We know that all scripture is for our benefit, that it might instruct us, that it might rebuke us. So if Israel, after seeing what it saw, after feeling what it felt, after experiencing what it experienced, was subsequently destroyed because of unbelief, what hope is there for us?

Certainly the time has come when we've got to ask realistically, how could a nation once so incredibly blessed of God as America has been, turn into virtually the most unrighteous nation on earth? Could the same cause of Israel's destruction be the cause of our destruction?

When everything is said and done, how many in America are truly believers? Now we hear estimates, and of course we're in no position to praise them or to know their validity. For years now, Southern Baptist spokesmen have been estimating that in their large number of 16 point some million people, not more than 30 are truly Christians.

Others say, oh no, not 30%. We don't believe there are even 10 of them who are true believers. I don't know the validity of that. I do know that in a typical church, if there are 3 ,000 in attendance on Sunday morning, it's highly unlikely that there are more than 300 on Sunday night.

And if they still have a prayer meeting, which of course most of them don't, but if they do, it's improbable that more than 30 are in attendance at the prayer meeting. 30 out of 3 ,000? Those are hardly even startling statistics.

They're so average. Somehow, we've got to account for the situation that we find ourselves in the midst of in America. For our text this morning, I would like to invite you to turn to the book of Isaiah, where we're going to be reading from chapter 57.

We'll focus upon one verse in particular, but I'd like to take a few moments to simply read, with comment, the chapter itself. So, Isaiah, chapter 57. The chapter begins with a question that many have struggled with, even in our day.

Israel’s Departure From the Living God in Isaiah 57

Why is it so common for the righteous to die young, and for the wicked it seems to live on and on? So, verse 1 of Isaiah 57. The righteous man perishes, and no man takes it to heart. And devout men are taken away, while no one understands.

For the righteous man is taken away from evil. He enters into rest. They rest in their beds, each one who walked in his upright way. But then Isaiah moves from that simple explanation to a very, very grievous section on Israel's departure from the living God.

Look at verse 3. Come here, you sons of a sorceress, offsprings of an adulterer and a prostitute. Against whom do you jest? Against whom do you open wide your mouth and stick out your tongue? Are you not children of rebellion, offspring of deceit?

What a terrible indictment against the people who had experienced the incredible arm of God made bare on their behalf. What accusations! Sons of a sorceress, offspring of an adulterer, prostitutes. And the question is raised in verse 4.

Against whom do you jest? Imagine the people of God sunk so low that they hold the very God who saved them out of Egypt in contempt. We all, as children, remember what it was like when somebody stuck out their tongue at us.

And even at my age, occasionally, somebody will do that. Not in jest, that does occasionally happen, but in contempt. As a means of saying, I don't have any use for you at all. But then look at verse 5.

Who inflame yourselves among the oaks under every luxuriant tree. Who slaughter the children in the ravines under the clefts of the rock. So obviously depicting sexual conduct that is grievously wicked and the sacrifice of children.

Or verse 6. Among the smooth stones of the ravine is your portion. They are your lot. Even to them you have poured out a libation. You have made a grain offering. Shall I relent concerning these things?

So not only are they cursed with unbelief, but very readily they turn aside to worship stupid things. Even smooth stone. Then verse 7. Upon a high and lofty mountain you have made your bed. You also went up there to offer sacrifices.

Those of you who have given any careful consideration to the Old Testament Scriptures are aware that time after time the backsliding of Israel was made clear when they returned to worship in the high places.

And whenever there was a serious movement of God upon them and they were brought back from their backsliding they then proceeded to destroy those high places and to make it clear that anyone who worshipped in those high places was conducting themselves in a way truly grievous to God.

So here is a picture of Israel in its sin. In its large scale wandering from the Lord. Verse 8. Behind the door and the doorpost you have set up your sign. Indeed far removed from me you have uncovered yourself.

You've gone up and you've made your bed wide. And you've made an agreement for yourselves with them. You have loved their bed. You have looked upon their manhood. So in secret ways and in hidden places they have demonstrated the lewdness of their conduct.

Acting as if somehow not even God himself could see what they were up to in their wickedness. And all of these things parallel what is taking place all around us today in the church and in the world. Verse 9.

You have journeyed to the king with oil and increased your perfumes. You have set your envoys a great distance and have made them go down to Sheol. So no amount of travel was too much for them to demonstrate the iniquity of their heart.

Verse 10. You were tired out by the length of your road. Yet you did not say it is hopeless. You found renewed strength. Therefore you did not faint. When one sets their heart to do evil it is amazing what strength and fortitude they have in their wickedness.

Oh, that such strength and fortitude were part of righteousness instead of wickedness. But the picture is clear, isn't it? That God is brokenhearted over the conduct of his own people. Verse 11. Of whom were you worried and fearful when you lied and did not remember me nor give me a thought?

Was I not silent even for a long time? Yet you did not hear me. They will declare your righteousness and your deeds but they will not profit you. But the wind will carry all of them up and the breath will take them away.

The people of God have reached that place where the fear of God is so far removed from them that they cannot even imagine fearing the Lord. One were to ask the question, what clearly indicates the backslidden condition of the church in America more than all else, I would say, the lack of the fear of God.

The Fear of God as the Beginning of Wisdom

A while back I was invited in a church in our city to preach three Sundays because the pastor had gone on a long trip. And after a lot of prayer and consideration, I decided to speak upon the fear of God for three Sundays.

And I chose three simple matters. Number one, the first sermon, the fear of God is the beginning of wisdom. The second sermon, the fear of God is the only true preservative against personal evil. And number three, the fear of God is the only guarantee of social justice.

When you have judges who do not fear God, you have no justice in the land. And the response of that congregation was almost unbelievable. They kept saying to me, we don't believe in a God you have to fear.

For several years after that incident, an elderly man in that congregation would drop by my office for a little visit. And invariably in the course of his visit, he would say, do you remember that time you preached for three weeks in my church?

Oh, yes. He said, do you know that every time your name comes up, those people become roaringly mad and they say, that's the man that says you have to fear God. We don't believe in a God you have to fear.

But let me ask a question. Do you believe in a God who is to be feared? And do you personally fear him? Now there are solid reasons why we ought to fear the Lord. After all, it is the finite with the infinite.

Every day, mere flesh and blood is before the eternal holy God. There's never a time in our lives when it's other than that. It's always the finite against the infinite. It's always the lesser before the greater.

The created before the creator. There's always the situation where it's the debtor before the creditor. I'm always in his debt. He's never in my debt. It's always the situation of the dependent upon the independent.

The source of all strength and power. It's always the undressed before the fully clothed. The one whose tattered garbs of unrighteousness is standing before the only one of infinite perfection. It's always the matter of the tilt before the clean, the pure.

It's always the lawbreaker before the lawmaker. There are more than ample reasons to fear God. And yet the majority of those in our churches do not fear him. And some of us who have had seasons when we have genuinely feared the Lord have forgotten and have wondered.

We're always in danger that our self-interest might violate his sovereign rights, the ignorant before the all-knowing. We're always faced with the possibility that when we truly come to repentance, it will be too late.

That our day of opportunity will be passed. We always live with the realization that we are fit only for the wrath of God, never for the grace of God. Israel had forgotten who God was. They did not fear him.

Israel’s Call to Repentance and the Promise of Restoration

They lived in the midst of their sin. So we read, starting in the middle of verse 13, He who takes refuge in me shall inherit the land and shall possess my holy mountain. And it shall be said, Build up, build up, prepare the way, remove every obstacle out of the way of my people.

So an incredible call to repentance. But tragically, Israel did not hear the call and did not heed it. And thus were carried away in time to captivity. And spiritual oblivion for centuries. And the question before us, will we continue in the same pattern?

Or will we set our hearts to seek the Lord? Some of you remember the story of Rehoboam. And you remember these summary words, Spoken about him, Rehoboam did evil because he did not set his heart to seek the Lord.

And that is the story of multitudes in the church. But now, we come to verse 15. For thus says the high and the exalted one, Who lives forever, whose name is holy. I dwell in a high and holy place. And also with the contrite and lowly of spirit.

In order to revive the spirit of the lowly. And to revive the heart of the contrite. That's the text for this message. We shall return to it momentarily. But let's finish reading the chapter. For I will not contend forever.

Neither will I always be angry. For the spirit would grow faint before me. And the breath of those whom I have made. Because of the iniquity of his unjust gain. I was angry and struck him. I hid my face and was angry.

And he went on turning away in the way of his heart. I have seen his ways. God will heal him. I will lead him and restore comfort to him. And to his mourners. Creating the praise of the lips. Peace, peace to him who is far.

And to him who is near. What a glorious truth. Although Israel persisted in its wanderings. In its backsliding. In its unbelief. God said, I will step in and change them. Don't go on forever punishing them for their evil.

The time will come when I will intervene. And I will be their savior. And then the last two verses. Summarizing the plight of the never repenting. Lost. But the wicked are like the tossing sea. For it cannot be quiet.

And its waters toss up refuse and mud. There is no peace, says God. For the wicked. But in that setting. Let's focus then. Upon the words of verse 15. Let me read them again. For thus says the high. And exalted one.

Who lives forever. Whose name is holy. I dwell. In a high. And holy place. Also. With the contrite. And lowly spirit. In order to revive the spirit of the lowly. And to revive. The heart. Of the contrite.

God’s Exalted Holiness and Human Humility

Let's weigh. Each phrase. Thus says. The high. And exalted one. God is not only. The high. And the exalted one. But exclusively. The high. And the exalted one. None of us. Come anywhere near that. The most famous.

The most wealthy. The most successful. Are nowhere near. Being. High. And exalted. Oh they're stupid enough to think themselves to be something. They are not. Just as all of us have the capacity. To think foolish thoughts about ourselves.

And to pretend to be something. We are not. But God. And God. Alone. Is. The high. And the lofty one. When we forget. That he. Is exclusively. The high. And the lofty one. When in unbelief. We deny. His.

Majesty. His glory. Then we fall into that silly state. Of supposing. Ourselves to be something. We are not. Which is the condition. Of millions and millions. Of Americans. Who think. They're Christians.

But God knows. Otherwise. And it's always necessary. For us. Each. And everyone to pause. And to be sure. That we're not. In that number. Of those. Who suppose. Themselves. To be. What God. Himself. Knows.

They. Are. Not. But would there not be great value this morning. Into our reminding ourselves. That we are not anything. Like. The high. And the lofty one. We have never come anywhere even near. To. His.

Exalted. Position. Most of us are aware. That the scriptures place great stress. Upon humility. And often in a prayer meeting. I will hear someone pray. Lord. Humble. Me. Now that's a pretty stupid prayer.

A terribly dangerous. Prayer. It's not that God cannot. But there's something. Grievously wicked. About asking God to do. What he has commanded. You. To do. He has commanded us. To. Humble. Ourselves.

To then turn around and ask him to do. What he has plainly told us to do. His sheer wickedness. But as I've said it's also very dangerous. Because if God brings a low. He can bring you a whole lot lower.

Than you ever thought it possible to go. But the question. Urgent. How does one. Humble. Themself. God makes it clear. He holds. The proud and heart. At arm's length. And we need to remind ourselves of the length of God's arm.

I mean if God is holding you. At arm's length from himself. It's an infinite distance. But how. Does. One. Humble. Themself. Well the words of verse 15. Are wonderfully. Helpful. God. Is the high. And the lofty one.

Humility Through Comparing Ourselves With Christ

Some of you are familiar. With the gospel of Luke. In chapter 3. When. John the Baptist. This statement. As for me. I baptize. In water. For the remission of sins. But. When he comes. Whose sandals. I'm not fit.

To untie. He. Shall baptize. You. In the Holy Spirit. And. Knowledge. Is something of great consequence. In those words. By asking the question. Who was John the Baptist. A silly. Worthless. Creature.

Well the Lord Jesus Christ said. Of those. Born. Of women. There's none. Great. Well here. Is something. All of us. Need to be frequently. Reminded. Humility. Is not sham. It's not pretense. It's not making believe.

That I'm nobody. John would not dare. To pretend he was nobody. He was the forerunner. He had. A purpose that was divinely ordained. That he should prepare the way of the Lord. He could not sneer at that any more than we can.

But when John. Made reference. To Christ's sandals. And at the same time made reference. To his baptism. Over against the baptism. Of Christ. He was joined. To immensely. Consequential. Comparison. The comparison.

Of his person. With the person. Of Christ. And the comparison. Of his water. Baptism. With the baptism. Of the Holy Spirit. And fire. So how does one. Humble. Themself. By comparing. Yourself. Continuously.

With the only one. Who really matters. As important as John was. By human standards. He was nothing. In comparison with Christ. It could be said of everyone. In the room. Now. No matter what your role.

No matter what your place. No matter what. Glorious things. God has done. Through you. You're not the high. Of the lofty one. One maintains. The spirit. Of humility. By holding the facts. Of who they are.

In proper. Relationship. With the greater facts. Of who God is. Have you learned. To walk. Day by day. With a full realization. Of who you are. And of who Christ is. Look at the next statement. In verse 15.

God Inhabits Eternity and Alone Is Holy

Thus says the high. And the exalted one. Who lives forever. Or who inhabits. Eternity. In Psalm 90. We know this before the mountains were born. For thou didst give birth to the earth. And the world. Even from everlasting.

To everlasting. Thou art God. Now how do you compare. A person. Like yourself. Or like me. With the one. Who inhabits. Eternity. I've lived. Longer. Than most of you. And no doubt. Know a great many things.

That many of you don't know. But does that make me. Equal. To God. How can a person of 80 years. Be compared. With the God. Who inhabits. Eternity. We humble ourselves. By walking. In continual. Realization.

That God. Is. Always. Infinitely. Above us. Infinitely. Greater. Than we are. We are. But figures. In a moment of time. He is the God. Who inhabits. Eternity. The next phrase. Whose. Name. Is. Holy. Now I've been called a lot of things.

By a lot of people. And my wife even from time to time. Says some very sweet. And nice things. About me. But never. Never. Has she called me. Holy. She could not. Know. That I'm attracted. By the beauty. Of holiness.

She knows that I think it's. Glorious. To be. Holy. God alone. Is holy. And no matter what strides forward. Any of us might make. In the light. Of righteousness. Through the shed blood of Christ. We are still. Sinners.

And he is still. And forever has been. And will be. A holy. One. But notice what follows. I dwell. In a holy place. With one. Single. Exception. Let's. Take careful note. Of this. God says. I dwell. In a high. And holy place.

God Dwells With the Contrite and Lowly

With this singular. Exception. I dwell. Also. With the contrite. And lowly. Of spirit. Now that is a truth. That the American church. Desperately. Needs. God does not dwell. With those. Who pray. The sinner's prayer.

God does not dwell. With those. Who respond. To the altar call. God does not dwell. With those. Who have been. Baptized. God dwells. In only. Two. Places. And the lofty place. And with the contrite. And lowly. Of spirit.

A contrite. God does not dwell. With you. If you are not lowly. Of spirit. God. Is not dwelling. With you. He makes. No exceptions. He dwells. In only. Two. Places. And what a huge. Stride forward. The church would take.

If it believed. What God says. So I ask you. Do you believe. That God does not dwell. In the haughty. That he has no place. For. The proud. That he dwells. Only. In the broken. And the contrite. And the way to brokenness.

And contrition. I trust has been. Clearly stated. As I. Compare myself. With God. I end up. Broken. And contrite. Now just think of it in a very. Realistic way. Let me speak in a personal vein. And hope it will not be.

Offensive to you. I made my first public. Confession. Of faith. When I was 12 years of age. Or 68. Years. Ago. I was earnest. And sincere. In. That public statement. And my sincerity. Does not guarantee.

Brokenness. And contrition. Brokenness. And contrition. Must be maintained. At all time. And how. Is it possible for a thinking. Person to do otherwise. Let me lay it out this way. I have had the privilege.

Of knowing personally. Many of the greatest. Preachers of the last. 80 years. I have. Often preached. In the same pulpit. With them. Been in prayer meetings with them. I have had the joy. Of studying.

Under some of the. Grandest believers. In our recent. History. I have myself an incredibly. Wonderful library. I have been reading. And studying the bible. For decade after decade. But I find myself. A midget.

When I should be a child. I find I have never. Amply redeemed the opportunities. That were given to me. I have no reason. To feel anything. But contrition. And broken heartedness. Because I am so totally.

Unlike. The savior. This particular text. Closes. With an incredibly. Wonderful statement. I dwell. In a high. And holy place. And with the contract. To revive. In lowly. Of spirit. In order. To revive.

Reviving Presence Through Brokenness and Contrition

The spirit. Of the lowly. And to revive. The heart. Of the contract. Isn't that beautiful. As we walk. In brokenness. And in contrition. As we earnestly. Humble ourselves. By comparing. Our nothingness.

With his. Greatness. Then he. In his marvelous grace. Brings reviving. To our hearts. And to our souls. Have you not found. In your own personal experience. That when you began to think. More highly. Of yourself.

Then you ought. You lost. The sense. Of God's presence. And power. In your life. The desperate need of the hour. In which we live. Is a fresh encounter. With the living God. Who is high. And lofty. Who does.

Inhabit. Eternity. Whose name. Is holy.