Isaiah 57:15Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Just as he mentioned earlier regarding the forests, he now declares, "I dwell on the height of the heavens." Understanding their misconception that God resides solely in the temple, he adds: "and in the sanctuary." Do you recognize how he predicts what is to come? Furthermore, he speaks of those who are broken and lowly in spirit, to rejuvenate the spirit of the humble and to restore the hearts of the downtrodden. If the divine can enact such transformation, it is evident that it is indeed possible for Him to affect other changes with greater ease: if God can alter the ethics of a soul, it is certainly simpler to influence anything else. To restore the hearts of the brokenhearted: God quickly revitalizes those who have lost their hope for life.

The phrase, ‘She dwells in the highest forever,’ indicates that She is immutable in Her essence, though She can be perceived as improving, for what exists within Her is eternally and unchangingly intrinsic.

He refers to Him as holy, residing among the saints, which signifies His withdrawal from the lineage of Israel, tainted by numerous transgressions, and His presence with those purified through faith and sanctified by the Spirit due to His love for goodness. He extends patience towards those of feeble faith; those He calls weak are typically those who quickly falter in their efforts. He grants them perseverance, akin to proclaiming, ‘Take heart, and let your spirit be renewed, all you who hope in the Lord’ (Psalm 30:25). He brings healing to the brokenhearted, meaning those who are humble in spirit. Such individuals remain obedient to God and carry a teachable spirit. They are called by faith to the understanding of Christ, and the humble in spirit walk a path different from that of the Israelites; for some were arrogant, disobedient, and obstinate, while others are righteous and brave, committed to upholding the commandments of God, and willingly yield to the yoke of Christ. These are the fruits of those who abide in Him.

What does the Most High declare to those who, through rebellion, have stumbled into various sins against Him? I will not seek retribution against you, nor will My anger endure indefinitely. He does not strip the Israelites of their hope for salvation; for they have been redeemed, and a significant portion of their people will be called in the latter days, at which time God will relent from His wrath and cease punishment, so that it does not completely overwhelm them; for in His goodness, He has fulfilled His unchanging promise to their ancestors. As a compassionate God, He offers another assurance: the spirit, He declares, shall depart from Me. He clarifies this by stating, ‘Every breath I have created, for He is the Father of spirits.’ However, it must be understood that He did not generate them from His own being as He did with His Son, nor do we claim that they originated from His essence as the Holy Spirit did, nor that they are a direct outflow from Him; rather, maintaining orthodox understanding, we affirm that they were created by God, as He brought forth every breath. Whenever creation is referenced, it indicates an emanation or an outflow, though not in a literal sense, but rather metaphorically.

This led to rebuke of Jerusalem, chastising it for spiritual infidelity, for expanding its pursuits for lovers and welcoming them eagerly, adorning itself with idolatry and dispatching envoys far and wide to indulge with foreign suitors.

After delivering this scathing indictment, the message turns to those who trust in the Lord, whom He has promised a land and a mountain to inherit, and for whom He instructed that the path should be prepared—most certainly referring to the apostles, through whose ministry many from various nations embraced faith. He commences with praise for God and in the ensuing discourse affirms the divine promise regarding the restoration of His people. For this word is spoken by the Lord who is high and lifted up, who resides in exaltation and holiness, not due to location, but as a reflection of the worthiness of those in whom He abides. One of them proclaims in the Psalms, "I will exalt you, O Lord, because you have lifted me up" (Psalm 29:1), and again, "I will exalt you, O Lord, who judges the earth" (Psalm 93:2)—this not to suggest that God is elevated by the utterances of mankind, but as expressed elsewhere: "The Lord was my salvation" (Psalm 117:21). He, who opposes the proud while bestowing grace on the humble (James 4), is exalted through humility, enabling them to ascend and reside in the highest places. "How great is the Lord! He regards the humble" (Psalm 137:6).

In the Gospel, the angels proclaim, "Glory in the highest" (Luke 2:14). Additionally, the Psalms declare: "Praise the Lord from the heavens; praise Him in the highest" (Ps. 148:1). The Most High does not only dwell in the heights, but also the Holy One resides within the saints, who are reminded in another passage: "You shall be holy, for I am holy" (Lev. 11:44). Just as wisdom cannot dwell within a corrupt soul nor in a body that succumbs to sin (Wisdom 1), the Holy One inhabits the saints, and where filthiness exists, purity cannot abide, as the saint cries out to the Lord, "But you dwell in the holy place, O praise of Israel" (Ps. 21:4). Hence, we also boldly proclaim in our prayers, "Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name" (Matthew 6:9). Furthermore, in the second psalm, we find: "The living in heaven shall laugh at them, and the Lord shall scorn them" (Psalm 2:4).

For Christ does not dwell in earthly realms but within the heavenly, which declare the glory of the Lord. It is said of Him, "He hears him from the heavens of His holy dwelling" (Psalms 19:7), and again, "Heaven is heaven to the Lord" (Psalms 118:24). In alignment with this understanding, we contemplate the words of Moses, the servant of God: "Behold, the Lord your God is in heaven, and the heavens belong to Him" (Deuteronomy 10:14). This should not imply, as the customs of the Jews may suggest, that God, who fills all things and sustains existence, is confined merely to one place or limited to the heavens. Rather, we must comprehend that the highest and the heavens refer to the saints and celestial powers. For He is the One who dwells in heavenly realms, concerning whom it is written in the Gospel: "No one has ascended into heaven, except the One who came down from heaven, the Son of Man, who is in heaven" (John 8:13). He finds rest in the saints and resides in the humble and contrite in spirit, who are said to have "a contrite spirit as a sacrifice to God; a humble and contrite heart God will not despise" (Psalm 50:19). He provides endurance to those who are fainthearted, so that they might bear trials with hope for the future. He also grants life, especially to those who have turned away from sin. It is said of Him, "You have the fountain of life" (Psalm 36:10). He proclaims in the Gospel, "I am the way, the truth, and the life" (John 14:6).