‘Thus saith the LORD …; but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word.’ Isaiah 66:1–2

SUGGESTED FURTHER READING: Psalm 91:1–16

Those that are of this character secure a great blessing. God says he will look to them. That means several things. It means consideration. Whoever and whatever God may overlook, he will look upon a broken heart. This means approbation. Though God does not approve of the most costly building that is meant to be his house, he approves of everyone that trembles at his word. It means acceptance. Though God will accept no materialism in his worship, he will accept the sighs and cries of a poor broken spirit. It means affection. Be they who they may that do not receive God’s help, a contrite spirit shall have it. And it means benediction—‘to this man will I look’.

I was reading the other day in an old author the following reflection as near as I can remember it. He says, ‘There may be a child in the family that is very weak and sickly. There are several others that are also out of health, but this one is sorely ill. And the mother says to the nurse, “You shall see after the rest, but to this one will I look, even to this one that is so sore sick and so exceeding weak.” ’ So God does not say to his angels, ‘You shall look after the poor and the contrite; I have other things to do,’ but he says, ‘Go about, spirits, be ministering spirits to those that are stronger, and bear them up in your hands, lest they dash themselves against a stone; but here is a poor soul that is very poor: I will look after him myself. Here is a poor spirit that is very broken: I will bind that up myself. Here is a heart that trembles very much at my word: I will comfort that heart myself;’ and so, he that ‘telleth the number of the stars; he calleth them all by their names’, he ‘healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds.’ Out of special love to them he will do it himself.

FOR MEDITATION: Satan was not mistaken when he quoted the fact that angels exercise a caring ministry, but not long afterwards the Lord Jesus Christ rightly referred to his own superior caring ministry (Luke 4:10–11, 18). He himself also steps in when under-shepherds fail (Ezekiel 34:4, 10–11, 15–16).

C. H. Spurgeon and Terence Peter Crosby, 365 Days with Spurgeon (Volume 3), (Leominster, UK: Day One Publications, 2005), 352.