Article
The One to Whom He Will Look
“Thus says the LORD: “Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool; what is the house that you would build for me, and what is the place of my rest? All these things my hand has made, and so all these things came to be" declares the LORD. "But this is the one to whom I will look: he who is humble and contrite in spirit and trembles at my word." Isaiah 66:1-2
But this is the one to whom I will look; he who is humble and contrite in spirit and trembles at my word.
I heard this preached by my pastor, Trent Griffith, as a New Year’s Day message, a few years ago. You know how it goes—you’ve heard a thousand messages preached over the course of many years and the meat was good. It filled you. It was the sustenance you needed to keep walking and working. But much like the lunch you ate last week, you would be hard-pressed to recall it. You know it was tasty and the meal did its job to nourish your body but you simply cannot remember it.
That Sunday morning breakfast of the Word was different. The Holy Spirit took those words of Isaiah 66:2 and pinned them to my heart. I could instantly recall them. Granted, they are short, but that is also how profoundly God spoke them to me. Almost as if he was saying, “Here, pay attention, you will need this.”
I didn't necessarily want my husband to be looked at. I rather enjoyed him being an under-shepherd at a large church. I delight in my role as my husband’s helper and I delighted in knowing that as a discipleship pastor Ben’s role was, in a sense, to help Trent. Then there were the elders, leading and guiding the church and offering so much support to our young family. If church leadership is like a pile of blankets, I felt safe and secure underneath a pile of many warm blankets. Those who know me, know that I am always cold. I like a good solid pile of blankets to hide away under. I would have rather called out from underneath my covers, “No! Look away. Nice and warm over here. Doing just fine, thank you very much. Does anyone have another blanket?”
But the Lord was on the move. He was looking; even looking for someone specific. Humble... contrite in Spirit... trembles at my Word.
I felt so exposed under my pile of blankets that Sunday morning because after many years of marriage to my husband I knew for certain that if there were 3 qualities he exemplified it would be those.
He was humble; he had a low estimation of his own importance. He was contrite; he easily expressed his remorse and repentance. And after decades of regularly being in the Word and having so many scriptures memorized that they just flow out of his mouth in counseling, preaching, and simple everyday life, it was evident that he trembles over the Word of the Lord.
A couple of months later, when one of the elders on staff began to talk about the Lord leading Ben to something more, something like planting a church himself, my heart was a little bit prepared. I was stirring underneath my pile of blankets. It wasn’t because Ben had such fabulous charisma that made others flock to be near him, nor because he had served so much time in a certain ministry that it was time to move up in his career. It also wasn’t because he had just finished seminary and now had a degree hanging in his office that somehow proved he was qualified.
It was only because of the Word planted in my heart, the meal I coudn't forget, that this is the one to whom the Lord looks: humble, contrite in spirit, trembling at his Word.
It was only because of the Word planted in my heart, the meal I couldn't forget, that this is the one to whom the Lord looks: humble, contrite in spirit, trembling at his Word.
I stood up from underneath my nice and warm blankets, held my husband’s hand firmly with my own and said, “Yes, I will go with you.”