The LORDis nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.
The Lord is near to those whose hearts are broken and humble and repentant over sin, and He saves those of a contrite spirit when they cry to Him, hearing the righteous and delivering them from their troubles even though they have many afflictions. A broken and humble heart is not despised by Him but is the sure condition of reconciliation, and He dwells with the contrite and humble to revive them with restoring and healing care. Heartfelt confession flowing from inward sorrow and humbly acknowledging fault reaches His pity and brings pardon, remission, refuge and hope, while sacrifices without such contrition have no value before Him. Many afflictions and seasons of despair, censure, pain or separation from friends are not proof of abandonment or anger, for He remains near to sustain and deliver those who seek Him instead of dwelling on self. There is great advantage in humbling the heart daily and hiding in Him, for He hears the prayer of the lowly with no earthly obstacle able to hinder, giving power without measure to those who take Him at His word and wrestle for grace.
Meaning and Context
The Lord is near to those of broken heart and saves those of contrite spirit, with broken and contrite meaning humble, subdued and repentant, especially broken over sin. That nearness and salvation are shown in His hearing the righteous when they cry and delivering them from their troubles even though they face many afflictions. A broken and humble heart is not despised by God but is the condition in which He restores and comforts and in which reconciliation with Him is sure. Heartfelt confession flowing from deep inward sorrow and humility over a true sense of sin reaches His infinite pity. He dwells with the one of contrite and humble spirit to revive the spirit of the humble and the heart of the contrite, looking to the one who is poor and contrite and trembles at His word, and the humble who hear Him and seek Him receive wisdom unto eternal life.
Its immediate setting is the promise that the Lord hears the righteous when they cry and delivers them from their troubles. Even though the righteous have many afflictions, He delivers them, hears and delivers the distressed, and those who trust in Him are not left desolate. Relief comes not by dwelling on self, which only accumulates pain and distress for one weighed down by his own condition and mourning over wretchedness, but by seeking the Lord instead of self. For He hears and delivers from all fears, rebukes the adversary of the soul, redeems the soul of His servants, and leaves none who trust in Him desolate.
That deliverance belongs with turning from evil and doing good. It belongs to acknowledging and confessing sin, receiving forgiveness, learning the fear of the Lord, departing from evil, doing good, and seeking peace. Affliction is not proof that God's anger is upon a person, for God brings trials in order to draw people near to Him and does not want them to remain under a cloud. The verse is therefore a promise to lay hold of personally, leading to prayer and praise. The humility and need for God in brokenheartedness and contrition connect with being poor in spirit and receiving the kingdom of heaven.
Promise of Nearness
The Lord draws near to those whose hearts are broken and saves those who are contrite in spirit, and a broken and humble heart is not despised by Him. That brokenness and contrition is the sure condition of reconciliation between God and man, so that when those conditions are met restoration is certain. Because the Lord has put this promise on record, there is reason to cherish gratitude of heart all the days of life.
To the brokenhearted He shows restoring, comforting, and healing care, for it is in that humbled condition that He restores and comforts. He regards with tender care those whose hearts are subdued, humble, and contrite, meeting the humble spirit with saving care and mercy. He does not want them to remain under a cloud, but brings even trials to draw them near to Himself.
He dwells with the one who is of a contrite and humble spirit in order to revive the spirit of the humble and the heart of the contrite ones. He looks to the one who is poor and of a contrite spirit and who trembles at His word. Preserving that contrite, humble spirit day by day is safe and lets Him work His will in and through a person and revive the heart.
He comes very near to the person of contrite heart to teach wisdom, and He works for the humble who hear Him. The humble who seek Him receive wisdom unto eternal life. Those who ascribe to Him all honor and glory for success, receive and practice His words as the true light, and exalt Him above money, praise, or glory will gain precious victories.
Repentance and Confession
The Lord draws near to those whose hearts are broken by a true sense of sin and saves those who are humble and contrite in spirit. Heartfelt confession flows from deep inward sorrow and is poured out from the inmost soul, freely expressed with humility. Such confession reaches His infinite pity and brings remission of sin. In that nearness there is forgiveness and also refuge and hope for those who humbly repent and trust, so that none who trust in Him are left desolate.
Pardon is lacking only when sin is not acknowledged to the One who was wounded and pierced by it. No self-imposed penance or outward offering can take the place of humbly admitting fault and need for mercy.
A broken and contrite heart marked by humility and repentance is what makes sacrifices acceptable to God. Sacrifices offered without faith and contrition have no value and are an abomination to Him.
David's experience shows that confession and trust bring forgiveness and deliverance through the uplifted Saviour.
Comfort in Affliction
Many afflictions are not a sign of abandonment nor proof that divine anger rests upon the sufferer, for trials are permitted to draw the afflicted near to God, who remains strength and salvation in trouble and does not will that any remain under a cloud. The nearness promised to the brokenhearted and the salvation promised to the contrite belong together with acknowledging and confessing wrong, receiving forgiveness, learning reverence for God, turning from evil, doing good, and seeking peace. The righteous are heard when they cry, and they are delivered out of their troubles.
Even when a person is weighed down by a sense of personal wretchedness, or pressed in mind and driven to the borders of despair by unjust censure and wrath, God has not forsaken such a one but is near to the broken heart to sustain and to bring deliverance. Separation from friends with pain and weakness does not remove that sustaining nearness, which upholds in deep distress. That same nearness extends to those who have remained in a despairing state for years.
Looking continually at self and mourning over one's own condition only heaps up pain and distress, so relief is found not in self-occupation but in seeking the Lord. He hears and delivers from all fears, rebukes the adversary of the soul, redeems the life of His servants, and leaves none who trust in Him desolate.
The promise is to be taken hold of personally, producing prayer and praise rather than gloom. It gives courage to trust that God hears and delivers all who seek Him with a humble and repentant spirit. It also gives special liberty and freedom in praying for the long-despairing, with fitting words to speak that comfort the mind and turn years of despair into thankfulness.
Humble Life and Calling
There is great advantage in humbling the heart and hiding in Jesus, with need for contrition of soul every day. Preserving a contrite, humble spirit is safe when those who hate the law rave and show a mob spirit. Instead of building up self or taking notice of opponents, keeping this humble spirit lets the Lord work His will in and through a person and revive the heart. The Bible condition for securing blessings is not making a show but doing one's part and coming to God divested of self-righteousness, humble and contrite, and to such the promise that the Lord is near and saves will never fail.
God does not approve honoring false shepherds and teachers who educate away from the truth and have no ears to hear a plain Thus saith the Lord. He dwells with him who is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble and the heart of the contrite ones. He looks to him who is poor and of a contrite spirit and trembles at His word, and the humble who seek Him receive wisdom unto eternal life. He tenderly regards those who have subdued, contrite hearts, judging righteously and showing mercy to those who fear Him from generation to generation. He scatters the proud, puts down the mighty, exalts those of low degree, and fills the hungry with good things while sending the rich empty away.
God hears the prayer of the lowly and contrite heart and is near to those whose hearts are broken. When He hears, no obstacle on earth can hinder. Learning is not essential, genius is not necessary, and eloquence may be lacking, yet that prayer is heard. Those who put away iniquity from their hearts and stretch out their hands to God in earnest supplication receive the help only He can give. Those who take God at His word, act faith, stand firmly upon the promises, and wrestle for the endowment of grace receive power without measure, and that power makes them effectual. Those who come often to the throne of grace with sincere, earnest petitions for divine wisdom and power, with humility of heart and firm reliance on Jesus, become active, useful servants who labor for the edification of the body rather than to exalt themselves and do a good work in bringing souls to Christ.
The verse gives hope to those who have done wrong and calls the erring to trust God and walk before Him in faith and righteousness. Those corrected by His Spirit should humble themselves and gladly turn from their wrong course, and Christ answers their contrite prayers, gives them rich gifts, and helps them understand themselves. The compassionate Saviour longs to receive people who are tired of sin and come to Him with broken hearts and contrite spirits, for He is their source of relief, and they are to be offered hope and courage as they turn to Him. Those attending sacred assemblies are called to come before God in prayer and contrition. Those who return with broken hearts and contrite spirits can receive His favor and go home rejoicing in the freedom the truth brings, while those who remain impenitent may leave without His approving love. To burden-bearers in every church, especially fathers and mothers who carry a burden of prayer for their children and will not cease their importunate entreaties, there is assurance that help and grace and salvation will come to their children, calling for more praying, more believing, more hope, courage, and perseverance, and less talking doubts, grumbling, and murmuring.
The Lord is near to those whose hearts are broken and humble and repentant over sin, and He saves those of a contrite spirit when they cry to Him, hearing the righteous and delivering them from their troubles even though they have many afflictions. A broken and humble heart is not despised by Him but is the sure condition of reconciliation, and He dwells with the contrite and humble to revive them with restoring and healing care. Heartfelt confession flowing from inward sorrow and humbly acknowledging fault reaches His pity and brings pardon, remission, refuge and hope, while sacrifices without such contrition have no value before Him. Many afflictions and seasons of despair, censure, pain or separation from friends are not proof of abandonment or anger, for He remains near to sustain and deliver those who seek Him instead of dwelling on self. There is great advantage in humbling the heart daily and hiding in Him, for He hears the prayer of the lowly with no earthly obstacle able to hinder, giving power without measure to those who take Him at His word and wrestle for grace.
Meaning and Context
The Lord is near to those of broken heart and saves those of contrite spirit, with broken and contrite meaning humble, subdued and repentant, especially broken over sin. That nearness and salvation are shown in His hearing the righteous when they cry and delivering them from their troubles even though they face many afflictions. A broken and humble heart is not despised by God but is the condition in which He restores and comforts and in which reconciliation with Him is sure. Heartfelt confession flowing from deep inward sorrow and humility over a true sense of sin reaches His infinite pity. He dwells with the one of contrite and humble spirit to revive the spirit of the humble and the heart of the contrite, looking to the one who is poor and contrite and trembles at His word, and the humble who hear Him and seek Him receive wisdom unto eternal life.
Its immediate setting is the promise that the Lord hears the righteous when they cry and delivers them from their troubles. Even though the righteous have many afflictions, He delivers them, hears and delivers the distressed, and those who trust in Him are not left desolate. Relief comes not by dwelling on self, which only accumulates pain and distress for one weighed down by his own condition and mourning over wretchedness, but by seeking the Lord instead of self. For He hears and delivers from all fears, rebukes the adversary of the soul, redeems the soul of His servants, and leaves none who trust in Him desolate.
That deliverance belongs with turning from evil and doing good. It belongs to acknowledging and confessing sin, receiving forgiveness, learning the fear of the Lord, departing from evil, doing good, and seeking peace. Affliction is not proof that God's anger is upon a person, for God brings trials in order to draw people near to Him and does not want them to remain under a cloud. The verse is therefore a promise to lay hold of personally, leading to prayer and praise. The humility and need for God in brokenheartedness and contrition connect with being poor in spirit and receiving the kingdom of heaven.
Promise of Nearness
The Lord draws near to those whose hearts are broken and saves those who are contrite in spirit, and a broken and humble heart is not despised by Him. That brokenness and contrition is the sure condition of reconciliation between God and man, so that when those conditions are met restoration is certain. Because the Lord has put this promise on record, there is reason to cherish gratitude of heart all the days of life.
To the brokenhearted He shows restoring, comforting, and healing care, for it is in that humbled condition that He restores and comforts. He regards with tender care those whose hearts are subdued, humble, and contrite, meeting the humble spirit with saving care and mercy. He does not want them to remain under a cloud, but brings even trials to draw them near to Himself.
He dwells with the one who is of a contrite and humble spirit in order to revive the spirit of the humble and the heart of the contrite ones. He looks to the one who is poor and of a contrite spirit and who trembles at His word. Preserving that contrite, humble spirit day by day is safe and lets Him work His will in and through a person and revive the heart.
He comes very near to the person of contrite heart to teach wisdom, and He works for the humble who hear Him. The humble who seek Him receive wisdom unto eternal life. Those who ascribe to Him all honor and glory for success, receive and practice His words as the true light, and exalt Him above money, praise, or glory will gain precious victories.
Repentance and Confession
The Lord draws near to those whose hearts are broken by a true sense of sin and saves those who are humble and contrite in spirit. Heartfelt confession flows from deep inward sorrow and is poured out from the inmost soul, freely expressed with humility. Such confession reaches His infinite pity and brings remission of sin. In that nearness there is forgiveness and also refuge and hope for those who humbly repent and trust, so that none who trust in Him are left desolate.
Pardon is lacking only when sin is not acknowledged to the One who was wounded and pierced by it. No self-imposed penance or outward offering can take the place of humbly admitting fault and need for mercy.
A broken and contrite heart marked by humility and repentance is what makes sacrifices acceptable to God. Sacrifices offered without faith and contrition have no value and are an abomination to Him.
David's experience shows that confession and trust bring forgiveness and deliverance through the uplifted Saviour.
Comfort in Affliction
Many afflictions are not a sign of abandonment nor proof that divine anger rests upon the sufferer, for trials are permitted to draw the afflicted near to God, who remains strength and salvation in trouble and does not will that any remain under a cloud. The nearness promised to the brokenhearted and the salvation promised to the contrite belong together with acknowledging and confessing wrong, receiving forgiveness, learning reverence for God, turning from evil, doing good, and seeking peace. The righteous are heard when they cry, and they are delivered out of their troubles.
Even when a person is weighed down by a sense of personal wretchedness, or pressed in mind and driven to the borders of despair by unjust censure and wrath, God has not forsaken such a one but is near to the broken heart to sustain and to bring deliverance. Separation from friends with pain and weakness does not remove that sustaining nearness, which upholds in deep distress. That same nearness extends to those who have remained in a despairing state for years.
Looking continually at self and mourning over one's own condition only heaps up pain and distress, so relief is found not in self-occupation but in seeking the Lord. He hears and delivers from all fears, rebukes the adversary of the soul, redeems the life of His servants, and leaves none who trust in Him desolate.
The promise is to be taken hold of personally, producing prayer and praise rather than gloom. It gives courage to trust that God hears and delivers all who seek Him with a humble and repentant spirit. It also gives special liberty and freedom in praying for the long-despairing, with fitting words to speak that comfort the mind and turn years of despair into thankfulness.
Humble Life and Calling
There is great advantage in humbling the heart and hiding in Jesus, with need for contrition of soul every day. Preserving a contrite, humble spirit is safe when those who hate the law rave and show a mob spirit. Instead of building up self or taking notice of opponents, keeping this humble spirit lets the Lord work His will in and through a person and revive the heart. The Bible condition for securing blessings is not making a show but doing one's part and coming to God divested of self-righteousness, humble and contrite, and to such the promise that the Lord is near and saves will never fail.
God does not approve honoring false shepherds and teachers who educate away from the truth and have no ears to hear a plain Thus saith the Lord. He dwells with him who is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble and the heart of the contrite ones. He looks to him who is poor and of a contrite spirit and trembles at His word, and the humble who seek Him receive wisdom unto eternal life. He tenderly regards those who have subdued, contrite hearts, judging righteously and showing mercy to those who fear Him from generation to generation. He scatters the proud, puts down the mighty, exalts those of low degree, and fills the hungry with good things while sending the rich empty away.
God hears the prayer of the lowly and contrite heart and is near to those whose hearts are broken. When He hears, no obstacle on earth can hinder. Learning is not essential, genius is not necessary, and eloquence may be lacking, yet that prayer is heard. Those who put away iniquity from their hearts and stretch out their hands to God in earnest supplication receive the help only He can give. Those who take God at His word, act faith, stand firmly upon the promises, and wrestle for the endowment of grace receive power without measure, and that power makes them effectual. Those who come often to the throne of grace with sincere, earnest petitions for divine wisdom and power, with humility of heart and firm reliance on Jesus, become active, useful servants who labor for the edification of the body rather than to exalt themselves and do a good work in bringing souls to Christ.
The verse gives hope to those who have done wrong and calls the erring to trust God and walk before Him in faith and righteousness. Those corrected by His Spirit should humble themselves and gladly turn from their wrong course, and Christ answers their contrite prayers, gives them rich gifts, and helps them understand themselves. The compassionate Saviour longs to receive people who are tired of sin and come to Him with broken hearts and contrite spirits, for He is their source of relief, and they are to be offered hope and courage as they turn to Him. Those attending sacred assemblies are called to come before God in prayer and contrition. Those who return with broken hearts and contrite spirits can receive His favor and go home rejoicing in the freedom the truth brings, while those who remain impenitent may leave without His approving love. To burden-bearers in every church, especially fathers and mothers who carry a burden of prayer for their children and will not cease their importunate entreaties, there is assurance that help and grace and salvation will come to their children, calling for more praying, more believing, more hope, courage, and perseverance, and less talking doubts, grumbling, and murmuring.