I have referred (both when studying and preaching) to today’s Text through the years, repeatedly. It suggests a “mindset” we Christians should maintain.

At “attitude” we should cultivate toward the Word of God.

And God is the Speaker, here in Isaiah 66:2. “To this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word.”

The verb “look” is significant. Rather than being the normal “raah” (in Hebrew), the Holy Spirit opts for “nabat!” A much stronger term, it seems to me. It means “to pay attention to!” Even this: “to set One’s Desire upon!” God so desiring and overseeing you and me … IF we sufficiently love His Word! In the King James Text, “nabat” means “to consider” 5 times and “to respect” 3 times!

What kind of man so attracts God’s gracious approbation? (The word means “to test” with the idea of one having “passed” that test! It has a Latin background.)

The person with a “poor and contrite” spirit (heart). Where “poor” means “lowly” and “contrite” means “beaten, smitten, stricken!”

Wow!

In other words, a “humble” man or woman. Not “proud” for sure!

But there is another qualification, too … he or she must “tremble” at the Word! THIS is the aspect of our Verse that so intrigues me. Such deep respect for the Bible!

The root (“charad”) means “to be afraid,” no doubt about that. But “to fear” is this sense: being so reverent, so respectful, so honoring the Scripture … that one thereby “trembles.”

Maybe even this: “to be anxiously careful!”

God said this back in 1 Samuel 2:30. “For them that honour Me … I will honour, and they that despise Me shall be lightly esteemed.”

“Dear Lord,” I pray, “grant us this kind of serious attitude toward the Word of God.”

Our Verse, our Clause once again: “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 66:2b

Amazing!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

.