Have You Ever Been Brokenhearted?
What a question that is to ponder. Most of us don't want to remember the times we were brokenhearted. There are myriad responses to being brokenhearted. Some count being brokenhearted as a weakness they will not allow. Others will wallow in being brokenhearted in order to receive people's pity. Those are extremes and most of us probably find ourselves falling somewhere in the middle. All of us at one time or another have been, or will be, brokenhearted, some maybe currently. That is why I would like to take a quick look at a couple of verses in the Bible to see what it says about being brokenhearted. In the English Standard Version you will find the word appearing four times, all in the Old Testament. Three of those usages are pertinent to this discussion.
Psalm 34:18, The LORD is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit. Then Psalm 147:3, He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.
The first thing to notice is the Lord is mindful of the brokenhearted. He knows your condition; He knows it intimately. He knows every facet of what is usually very complex. Next look what it says, He is near. When your heart is broken, the Lord is near. When your spirit is crushed you will be saved. Now it is important for us to understand this is speaking of the pride and stubbornness of our hearts. When that is broken in us, then the Lord is near and brings deliverance. In Psalm 147 the brokenhearted are those who look to the Lord in faith. What is the fruit of faith? God Himself binds up their wounds. The Great Physician heals.
Hear you brokenhearted! Do not miss this. Has the pride of your heart been shattered? Has your stubbornness been crushed? Are you broken? Turn to the Lord in faith and He will heal.
You might hear some people saying, “Ask yourself what would Jesus do?” That is the ever-popular mantra of those who think they can work their way out of their afflictions. WWJD? Is definitely one of those things that falls into the category of, “it is so popular it must be bad.” Asking what would Jesus do is absolutely the wrong question. We should instead focus our attention and our broken hearts on what Jesus did and is continuing to do. The prophet Isaiah speaks of Jesus' ministry some 700 years before the coming of Christ by quoting the Messiah, Isaiah 61:1 The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, because the LORD has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound;
Jesus paid the penalty of our sin on the cross that we might be free from the condemnation of sin. He rose from the dead to show His victory over sin, death, hell the grave and Satan. No longer need we to fear God's wrath and no longer need we live being brokenhearted. Lord, come comfort and deliver your people who suffer with broken hearts and come break the hearts of those who live in bondage to their sin.
