Near To The Broken Hearted

"The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart, and saves such as have a contrite spirit" (Psalm 34:18) AND "He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. He counts the number of the stars; He calls them all by name. Great is our Lord, and mighty in power; HIS understanding is infinite" (Psalm 147:3-5).
As one reflects on these ancient and inspired musings, a tender and profound portrait of God’s love for us emerges. It is likely that David penned both of these Psalms and if so, he was quite aware of what it meant to have a broken heart. He lost children prematurely, experienced the rebellion and utter betrayal of his son Absalom, and had been singled out for destruction by a king to whom he had given nothing but loyalty. Yet, more than any of these tragic and seemingly unfair life experiences, David’s own human frailty had brought him pain and left him with a broken heart. His unbridled passions, determination to succeed, and unchecked ego had stolen from him the joy that had often erupted in song as he sat on the hillside with his sheep under the stars. Gone was the expectation of a promising future that first stirred in his spirit when the prophet’s oil, poured from the ram’s horn, dripped on his yielded head. The joy and expectation had fled and David was a broken-hearted man.

However, as he sang, the emerging portrait of his God re-kindled his hope. Yahweh drew near to the broken hearted. Unlike David’s friends and family that abandoned him in his hurt, the faithful God of David remained close. David also found that God not only positioned Himself near to the broken hearted but He pitied them as well. Instead of hurling accusation, finding more fault, shaming or condemning, as did those close to David, the Lord healed the hurt and bound up the wounds of David. The awesome power of David’s God, capable of counting the stars and remembering their names, could have with a wink, snuffed out the failed and broken shepherd turned king, but instead, stooped to have pity, show mercy, and bring wholeness to him again. Yes, great is His power, but INFINITE is His understanding.

God is no respecter of persons and in Him, there is no variableness or shadow of turning. He is still near the broken hearted, healing their hurts, cleansing their stains, and demonstrating not ruthless criticism, but infinite understanding.

F.B. Meyer so brilliantly articulated this ministry of Jesus.

Constantly we need to repair to the laver to be washed. But do we always realize how much each act of confession on our part involves from Christ on his? Whatever important work He may at that moment have on hand; whatever directions He may be giving to the loftiest angels for the fulfillment of his purposes; however pressing the concerns of the Church or the universe upon his broad shoulders--He must turn from all these to do a work He will not delegate. Again He stoops from the Throne, and girds Himself with a towel; and, in all lowliness, endeavors to remove from thee and me the stain that His love dare not pass over. He never loses the print of the nails; He never forgets Calvary and the blood; He never spends one hour without stooping to do the most menial work of cleansing filthy souls. Moreover, it is because of this humility He sits on the Throne and wields the scepter over hearts and worlds. (F.B. Meyer in The Life of Love)