Where is God’s resting place?
“Heaven is My throne,
And earth is My footstool.
Where is the house that you will build Me?
And where is the place of My rest?
2 For all those things My hand has made,
And all those things exist,”
Says the Lord.
“But on this one will I look:
On him who is poor and of a contrite spirit,
And who trembles at My word. Isaiah 66:1-2
God is the creator of all things, and there is nothing that He cannot provide for Himself. God’s majesty is evident in the fact that heaven is His throne, and the earth is His footstool. Yet He will not force us to have a relationship with Him. His relationship with humanity is conditional based on our desire to seek Him. Because we have a free will, our intimacy and relationship with Him is a choice that He has given us. God is not going to push us to communicate with Him, but He desires very much to commune with us.
The Lord is looking to rest in His people. The above scriptures share the type of resting place God is seeking. First and foremost, God is not looking to dwell in elaborate buildings made with human hands. I’ve seen some of the most beautiful churches in the world including the Sistine Chapel in Rome. Many of those beautiful churches have been turned into awe-inspiring museums where they are just a tourist attraction these days. Those architectural buildings have become a place to be impressed with man’s artistry and skill. I’m sure many of those artists had the intention of glorifying God with their gifting and talents, but somewhere along the line, man lost focus of the creator and began to worship the created. God’s intention has never been to dwell in buildings. Isaiah penned the above scriptures long before the Holy Spirit came to take residence in man.
Secondly, God is looking for a habitation not a place of visitation. He doesn’t want to just be present among us; He desires to rest in us. We prepare our hearts as a habitation and a dwelling place for Him. The word “rest” in verse 2 is different than the “rest” mentioned in Genesis 2 when God rested from creating the heavens and the earth. God’s rest on the seventh day meant that He ceased from work and from creating. The word “rest” that is used in the above scripture is about enjoying a time of tranquil quietness and relaxation. The Lord is posing the question, “Where is the place of My rest?”.
When you enter a house that is full of chaos, strife, and disorganization, it is not easy to relax in it. It doesn’t help when the host/ hostess tries to apologize for the unruly children, piled up bills, dirty dishes, or a smelly dog. The entire apology just adds extra noise to an unpleasant situation. If a person makes a habit of making excuses for their chaos rather than working on it, they will not experience rest in their homes! What is God looking for in a resting place?
I will continue with this subject in the next devotional.