The Contrite God // Isaiah

Every story that finds a resonance in culture, happens so because it contains an echo of the gospel. There is really only one story that mankind is able to rejoice in, and that is the story of the gospel. We repackage it, reshape it, change a few details, but the main redemptive plot always remains. God designed us to respond and leap for joy at the good news of the gospel so when we see its common thread in any story (whether it be Harry Potter or Crazy Rich Asians), we rejoice.
One of those resonant stories was prominent during the 1300’s-1500’s in England. It was the “King-in-disguise” motif. All throughout these centuries, this fictional motif worked its way through thousands of stories in England, Scotland, and surrounding kingdoms. The basic plot went like this: King goes incognito amongst the commoners. A humble and good man helps this incognito king. Then the king rewards the humble man.
Now, we could simply write this popularity off as a coincidence. That someone came up with this plot, it somehow got circulated, then more and more people started to employ its concept. But something else was taking place - this story was finding a resonance in society because it is an echo of the gospel story.
The aspect of this storyline that we find so attractive is that of someone with great power, becoming lowly. The thought of someone using their authority to lift the humble, is an idea that sends our hearts soaring with a “Yes and Amen!” How we long for those who dwell in the “high places” in our government to do the same - to genuinely care for the lowly. To take a minute and learn what it is like to flip burgers at a McDonalds… of course, without the gimmicks. How we long for genuine lowly leadership to occupy the highest offices in our land. And that is exactly the type of God we serve. He is “high and holy”, yet he decides to make His home with the “lowly and contrite”.
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