“For thus says the High and Lofty One Who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: I dwell in the high and holy place, with him who has a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.” Isaiah 57:15

Many people have challenged God's choice of David as a man after His own heart. "The man stole another man's wife and then had the hus­band killed in battle! Is that God's heart?"

But that quickness to judge blinds us to two realities: 1) God knows how vile the human heart is but studies the reactions of the one whose sin is finally and fully exposed, as was David and 2) God knows how equally evil is your heart and mine even while we debate the evil in others.

I love today's scripture because it is from a loving Father who knows, yet prizes, His wayward children and seeks only one thing - a thorough penitence from a humble heart that accepts God's verdict of "guilty" rather than looks for excuses for sin.

 That was the difference between kings David and Saul. Saul made excuses when his sin was exposed but David repented before all the world and left us the 51st psalm as a guide.

Let this verse sink into your heart: "thus says the High and Lofty One" (the only One that counts)— "that inhabits eternity" (the only One who created time itself)—"whose name is Holy" and who dwells in the high and holy place (the only pure One).

Now comes the incredible: such a glorious God placing close to Himself the one "who is of a thoroughly penitent and humble spirit" so that He, our loving Father, can "revive the heart of the thoroughly penitent—bruised with sorrow for sin." (Amplified Bible)

So there it is: it's not the size of sin but the sorrow for sin that brings repentance, renewing, reviving and release.

My prayer: "Grant me, oh my Father, a heart that hurts over sin—first my own and then others. Help me to be thorough in my repentance and humble in my spirit."

"Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ" (I Corinthians 11:1)
The ST. PAUL SCHOOL, with Frank Eiklor, Eileen Young and Cecilia Contreras