I started out writing this piece about the “Untold Numbers of the Brokenhearted,” but the more I wrote about my broken heart and the broken hearts of others, the more I came to realize that Abba Father God’s Heart has been broken beyond comprehension or belief. Writing this helps me to realize He really does know our pain, and He is right there with us through every bit of it!
Excerpts from Bible Hub Commentaries: “Psalm 34:18”
“The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and sayeth such as be of a contrite spirit.” On the value in God’s sight of a broken and contrite heart, see Psalm 2:17; and on his mercy towards the truly contrite, see Psalm 147:3; Isaiah 57:15; 69:2. He “is nigh” to such persons, he “dwells with” them, “looks to them, revives their heart, “heals” them, “saves” them.
To these the Lord is “nigh”; not in a general way only, as he is to all men, being God omnipresent, but in a special manner; he comes and manifests himself to them in a gracious way, pours in the oil and wine of his love, and binds up their broken hearts; yea, comes and dwells with them: he does not pass by them and neglect them, much less make the breach worse; he does not break the bruised reeds, but he heals their breaches. – Source
There have been untold numbers of people all over the world at any given time, throughout history, and in our current age that have endured and are now experiencing what one would call a ‘Broken Heart.’ So many people are suffering from things that have caused this effect such as Grief, Loss, Tragedy, and Trauma. As for myself, I am at the point in my life where I need to acknowledge and ‘wrap my mind around’ the fact that I am ‘Traumatized.’
Verbalization of this condition is not enough; my Prayer is to somehow come to terms with this reality in my mind, body, heart, soul, and spirit so I can finally start to fully heal… if that is possible on this side of Heaven. My verse for 2020 seems to be the one that says, “Be Still and Know that I Am God.” To me, that means to Stop Striving, Stop Running, Stop Doing, Stop Trying to Fill Voids that Cannot be Filled… just ‘Stop and Be Still.’
Psalm 46:10 “Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.”
Having a broken heart is in many ways more painful than a broken limb because, not only do you feel physical pain, you feel emotional, spiritual, and psychological pain as well. The agony does not just go away or heal within 6-8 weeks like a broken bone; in many cases it can take years to even get to a ‘better place’ mentally and emotionally. In trying to look beyond my anguish and onto the suffering of others, I sometimes ruminate on how it would feel to not only be where I am as a Parent of Prodigals, but onto how others might have felt in being a Parent of say… a ‘Serial Killer.’
My husband and I talked about how devastating that would be and how much one would ‘beat themselves up’ on where they went wrong and/or failed in the raising of said Adult Child/Murderer. Not only is there the agony of broken hearts and psychological damage, there is also the desecration of something one might not think of such as one’s Family Reputation and Name. Can you imagine if your family’s last name was one of the infamous Killers of our time’s last name?! What kind of impact or lasting legacy of such an adult child’s killing spree and/or life choices would that leave for the entire family?! Just trying to wrap one’s mind around this kind of horrific nightmare is beyond natural comprehension, to say the least.
Excerpts from What Christians Want to Know: “Encouraging Bible Verses for the Brokenhearted”
“The LORD is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit (Psalms 34:18). It is encouraging to read what King David wrote in the previously quoted psalm. We can be healed and delivered from a broken heart.”
A broken heart can happen when we lose a loved one such as a spouse or a child or even a beloved pet. Metaphorically, it is that emotional aching in your chest that happens when you are deeply disappointed or grieved over a life circumstance. The Bible has many other verses that can encourage the brokenhearted as well.
Psalms 147:3 “He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.” – Source
So, straight out of the cannon, 2020 seems to be a ‘Topsy Turvy’ year already! The ‘Church Solution’ we had planned for this year has quickly changed, and it now looks like we are going to be doing ‘Home Church’ for the foreseeable future. Basically, we are Traumatized, Overwhelmed, and frankly just Tired of people… especially ‘rude people.’ Looking forward to taking some time to just ‘Be Still.’ Thankful to have our online YouTube Pastors to watch and listen to.
Bottom line, JESUS is our Rock and Hiding Place, HE is our Solace and Comfort, HE is our Provider and Protector, HE is a Friend that sticks closer than a brother, HE Loves us with an Everlasting Love and will Never Leave or Forsake us! GOD knows the anguish of a Broken Heart more than any other, for HIS has been broken more than we will ever know or can even fathom!
Excerpts from Bill Muehlenberg: “Reflecting God’s Broken Heart”
Tragically, many Christians never actually read their Bibles. Or if they do, they stick to the New Testament. But that means they are ignoring a full three quarters of God’s word. To ignore most of Scripture is a real loss. These folks are missing out on just so much.
One of the things we find there are marvelous passages speaking about the broken heart of God. And one of the places where this especially comes out, perhaps surprisingly, is in the prophetic books. One might think that these deal just with gloom and doom and judgment to come, but there is much more to be found there.
Often the prophets spoke about their grief in seeing Israel stray from its calling and face impending judgment. It broke their hearts because it broke God’s heart. The prophet, standing in the place of God, delivered not just God’s word, but he shared God’s heart as well.
Isaiah 22:4 “Therefore I said, ‘Turn away from me; let me weep bitterly. Do not try to console me over the destruction of my people.'”
Jeremiah 8:21 “Since my people are crushed, I am crushed; I mourn, and horror grips me.”
Chris Wright, in his new commentary, discusses just who is speaking here, and then says:
Nevertheless, there can be no doubt that the emotions of the prophet reflect those of his God, for if the heart that is pounding in agony in [Jeremiah 4] verse 19 belongs to Jeremiah, the heart that is pierced with bitterness at the end of verse 18 belongs to God. My anguish is literally, ‘my belly.’ The staccato words of verse 19 speak of a churning stomach and a throbbing rib-cage – the effects of violent emotional stress, as Jeremiah experiences the shocking sights and sounds of battle. There is no glorying in warfare, no gloating over a people and land suffering what they are said to deserve as judgment. Nothing but pain and anguish at the ‘evil’ these people have brought upon themselves. We are reminded yet again that the language of God’s judgment must be heard through the agony of God’s heart. – Source
Another one of the many times we see a ‘glimpse’ of God’s Broken Heart is when His Glory had to leave Solomon’s Temple. I do not know why but every time I read this account in Ezekiel it makes me cry. All I know is that I would not want Abba Father God’s Glory to slowly and reluctantly leave me! Seeing how God wants to live among us and that He never wants to leave any of us. Sadly, if there is unrepentant and willful sin in one’s life, He ultimately has no choice but to take His Glory and depart. It is a very sad picture, and it grieves my heart every time I read this.
Excerpt from KJV Thomas Nelson Study Bible Chapter Commentary: “Ezekiel” (page 1164)
10:4 The saddest event witnessed by Ezekiel was the departure of the LORD’S glory from the temple. The glory moved from the cherubim in the holy of holies to the threshold of the house. Later, “the glory of the LORD departed from off the threshold… and stood over the cherubim” (v. 18), when the cherubim went and stood “at the door of the east gate” (v. 19). Next, the “glory of the LORD… stood upon the mountain which is on the east side of the city” (11:23), that is, on the Mount of Olives. Finally, the glory disappeared. The reluctant departure of God’s glory from the temple demonstrates that only with great long-suffering and hesitation did God’s Spirit leave His abode. – Source
To end on a positive note, let us consider the ‘benefits or advantages’ of a contrite spirit or broken heart. The Bible says that God is close to the brokenhearted. How awesome is that to have the Creator of all the Universe to consider us enough to be ‘Close’ to us?! The Bible also says the sacrifices of God are a broken spirit. Unfortunately, it takes us to become broken to finally get us to the point of submission and obedience to God and His Word! So, in essence, ‘Brokenness is actually a Blessing in Disguise’!
Excerpts from Bible Study Tools Commentaries: “Psalms 34-18”
Verse 18. The Lord is nigh unto them,” etc. Consider the ADVANTAGES of this broken heart; as
A broken heart is acceptable and wellpleasing to God, “A broken and a contrite heart, O God thou wilt not despise” (Psalms 51:17).
It makes up many defects in your service and duties, “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit” (Psalms 51:17) .
It makes the soul a fit receptacle for God to dwell in, “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” (Isaiah 57:15) .
It brings God near to men, “The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart, and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit” (Psalms 34:18) . And,
It lays you open to Christ’s sweet healing, “I will bind up that which was broken, and will strengthen that which was sick” (Ezekiel 34:16) . And, oh, who would not be broken that they might find Christ’s soft hand healing them, and find the proof of that sweet word, “For I will restore health unto thee, and I will heal thee of thy wounds, saith the Lord” (Jeremiah 30:17). Yea,
It puts you in the right road to heaven, where all your wounds and bruises will be cured; for there is a tree Revelation 22:2 the leaves whereof are for the healing of the nations; there is no complaining there of wounds or bruises, but all are perfectly healed. – Source
A Short Prayer for a Broken Heart:
Excerpt from I Believe: “A Prayer for a Broken Heart”
Lord, please heal my broken heart. Fill me with the peace and joy I know can only come from You during this hard time. Walk closely beside me during my journey to healing and recovery that I know is possible through Your power alone. In Jesus’ Name, Amen. – Source
***Thank you Abba Father God, Lord Jesus Christ, and Holy Spirit for never leaving or forsaking us and that You are always right there with us, walking beside us every step of the way!***
Until next time… Maranatha!
JESUS = WAY, TRUTH, LIFE
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