The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart

Psalm 34:18

The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.

What a word of comfort is before us today! What strength it imparts to us! What encouragement it brings! What new life it breathes into us, to be reminded that the Lord of Heaven and earth would choose to be in close proximity to the hurting! In fact, he “binds up the brokenhearted,” He “heals the broken in heart,” and He “binds up their wounds.” He seems to have a special affinity to those who are of a broken heart and contrite spirit. Hear the words of the Psalmist: “A broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise” (Psalm 51:17).

Has your heart been broken? Has it been shattered? Has it been blowed apart into many fragmentations? The Lord has a special interest in you! He desires to be close to you! He doesn’t want you to suffer alone! He wants to bind up your wounds. Perhaps it is a very deep wound. Were His wounds not deep? Were the holes in His hands and side shallow? Did He bear light wounds for us? It was His own familiar friend that wounded Him. He was wounded in the house of His friends. No heart has been broken more than the heart of the Savior hanging on the tree. For He was wounded for our transgressions and was bruised for our iniquities. The Lord understands the broken heart and was sent to bind up the brokenhearted. See Isaiah 61:1-2 and Luke 4:18-19. Christ experienced every thing ahead of us, so that He would be made like unto His brethren.

Dear friend, there may be nothing more weighty, nothing more sorrowful, nothing more discouraging than a broken heart. But I want to tell you, the Lord is nigh unto the broken hearted! He saveth such as be of a contrite spirit! Draw nigh to Him and He will draw nigh to you! No one can encourage you like the Savior! No one has been broken like the Savior has! No one understands your grief like Jesus does! John W. Peterson was greatly inspired by God to write these words:

“No one understands like Jesus;

Every woe He sees and feels;

Tenderly He whispers comfort,

And the broken heart He heals.

No one understands like Jesus

When the days are dark and grim;

No one is so near, so dear as Jesus—

Cast your every care on him!”

“Dear Father, thank you for the comfort that you bring as no other does. Thank you for our Savior, Who suffered every thing for us, that He could understand our grief and brokenness. Now we come to Him, and seek the comfort and peace that comes from His presence and nearness. We crave to find companionship and solace in Him. Bind up the wounds that our hearts have received, and remind us of your wounds that you endured on Calvary. We thank Thee for Thy love and care for us. In Jesus’ wonderful name, Amen.”