Both Near and Far

In the book of Isaiah, the Lord God speaks, “For thus says the high and lofty One who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: I dwell in the high and holy place, and also with those who are contrite and humble in spirit…”

This is beautiful to me, that God identifies himself as High and Lofty, living far above humanity – transcendent; and yet, at the same time, dwelling with those who are contrite and humble in spirit. God is transcendent, and yet present with those most in need.

We clearly need to be in touch with both sides of this. We need a Savior who is more than what we can see, hear, touch or experience. We need to be reminded that we are not the center of life and all that is. Yet, we also need a Savior who is present with us, who knows us, and who walks with us.

Psalm 34 reminds us that “God is close to the brokenhearted.” Yet, Psalm 61asks, “Lead me to the Rock that is higher than I.”

Our prayer today was written by Rev. Roger Kunkel founder of Dial Hope. Let us pray:

Loving God, you come to us in velvet gentleness and surprising strength in your son, Jesus the Christ, whose unconditional love shouts as clearly as a loon’s call across a still lake at midnight. God of song and spirit, as we praise you for the momentous day, speak to us in the symphony of sound, the hope of harmony, the cadence of grace. In Jesus’s name. Amen.