Does God dwell in eternity or with men? (Isaiah 57:15)
I.e. Where exactly does God live? (Isaiah 57:15) 15 For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones. PROBLEM: Isaiah speaks of God as “the High and Lofty One Who inhabits eternity.” Yet John claims that “God is with men, and He will dwell with them” (Rev. 21:3). Is God in eternity or in time?
Isaiah 57:15
ESV - 15 For thus says the One who is high and lifted up, who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: "I dwell in the high and holy place, and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly, and to revive the heart of the contrite.
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Asked June 16 2019
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Jack Gutknecht
Supporter
Community answers are sorted based on votes. The higher the vote, the further up an answer is.
Tim Maas
Supporter
I would say that God is omnipresent, including indwelling (in the Person of the Holy Spirit) each individual believer. However, when Jesus made references to His Father's abode or house (as in John 14:2), He was referring to a specific realm that is currently outside the dimensions of earthly space and time. At the close of the age, a new heaven and a new earth will be established, on which God will dwell eternally with the redeemed (Revelation 21:1-4).
Joseph Harris
Supporter
My opinion is that it is not either eternity or within man but both. In the passage referenced in the question itself (Isaiah 57:15) God specifically states that he "inhabits eternity" (ESV) and that he dwells "also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit" (ESV). The KJV similarly agrees that God says he both inhabits eternity and also lives with people who are contrite and humble. I believe Isaiah subtly conveys the idea of God's omnipresence through God saying that he "dwells in the high and holy place" (KJV/ESV) at the same time that he is also dwelling with the contrite and lowly/humble. John 14:7 describes the difference between God living with us and God living within us. God has always lived with the contrite and lowly/humble (Isaiah 57:15) but Jesus says that God not only lives with his disciples, but will "be in" them. This most likely refers to the promise of the Holy Spirit (see Acts 2) who now dwells within those who by faith are disciples of Jesus.
Jack Gutknecht
Supporter
The answer is yes. God dwells in both places simultaneously. He is not confined to one location but exists in a way that is both transcendent, meaning above and beyond creation, and immanent, meaning intimately present within it. Isaiah 57:15 gives us the "both/and" answer in a single verse. When the prophet writes that God is "the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity," he is speaking of God's transcendence. God is the "High and Lofty One" who is "wholly other" than His creation, not limited by time, space, or matter. He is the Sovereign King, the "Ancient of Days," as the hymn God of Eternity proclaims: "Glorious in majesty, Author of Praise... Ruler divine, Strength of the mighty hills, all power is Thine." This is where the concept of God's otherness and independence from His creatures is essential. He is over all and in all, the Creator who is not identical to the universe, like a painter who is infinitely greater than his painting. Yet the very same verse reveals God's immanence when He declares, "I dwell... with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones." God chooses to dwell with His people. He is not a distant, detached deity. He comes down to revive the humble and the contrite. There is no contradiction between Isaiah 57:15 and Revelation 21:3, where John proclaims that "God is with men, and He will dwell with them." It is not a mathematical problem of either/or but a mystery of grace. God is so infinitely great that He can fill the universe and still fit into the heart of a humble believer. The secret of Christian power and blessedness is communion with the High and Mighty One who inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy, a communion made possible because He is both transcendent and immanent. This brings us to the most critical question posed by a second hymn, Where Will You Spend Eternity? If God is the "High and Lofty One who inhabits eternity," the issue is not where He lives but how we can live with Him. The Bible reveals the problem and the solution. God is too holy for us to approach on our own, dwelling in unapproachable light, and the problem is not God's location but our sin. Yet God is too loving to leave us there. Because He is love, He does not stay in the "high and holy place" and ignore us. The second hymn poses the urgent question: "Where will you spend eternity?" If you try to reach God through your own goodness, you will fail. As the hymn warns, if you leave the "straight and narrow way," your ending will be "Lost thro' a long eternity!" The good news, the Gospel, is that God has bridged the gap between His transcendence and our need. Jesus Christ is the answer. In His incarnation, the High and Lofty One came down to dwell among us. On the Cross, the Holy One took our sin so that the humble and contrite could be forgiven. In the Resurrection, He secured eternal life for all who believe. So how can the "God of Eternity" live with men? Through Jesus Christ. When you repent of your sins and trust in Him, the God who inhabits eternity comes to inhabit you through the Holy Spirit. You become His dwelling place. This is the ultimate comfort. The "High and Lofty One" is not just a concept to be studied; He is a Savior to be received. When He revives your spirit, you do not just learn about eternity; you are saved for it. Repent, believe, this very hour, trust in the Savior's grace and power, and then your joyous answer will be, "Saved thro' a long eternity!"
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