"The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, a broken and a contrite heart-- These, O God, You will not despise." (Psalm 51:17)
The word for, "broken," means, "broken in pieces, break down." The word for, "contrite," means, "crushed." The state of, "broken in pieces, break down," and, "crushed," is a very severe state, indeed, but it is the, "spirit... and ...heart," which our Lord Jesus Christ, "....will not despise."
In recent years there has been a lot of talk about "brokenness." People say, "O, that person is so broken." But according to our text, that's good. Maybe behind that "poor self image," that defeated countenance is a prospect for, "a broken and a contrite heart," a heart which walks in repentance. Since this is the person Jesus, "will not despise," then brokenness and contrition is good.
I once met a member of the German Government who was also a member of the EU Parliament, and was a friend of Ex German Chancellor Gerard Schroder. Both men were born during the last days of WW 2. He said, "We were the generation who grew up and asked, "What have you done?!?"------ what chilling words. Too many Germans are not, however, "broken," nor do they have a, "crushed heart," as our text expresses. They were a people group which was "found out." Now let me say that no American has any right to disparage them. Post WW 1 Germany was beyond horrendous. They had no history of democratic government, violence, murder, conspiracy ruled the streets. Yet generations of militarism and anti Semitism finally caught up with them, along with the ego appeal of Hitler that the German was the "master race." They bought it, elected it, went along with it. Then, as they walked through their devastated cities and countryside, despair, discouragement, embarrassment, and anger ruled in most hearts------- and is still too prevalent today. This is not Biblical, "a broken spirit and a contrite heart," nor repentance. I recently heard a young German say, "Sometimes it's embarrassing to say I'm German." I pray for her and the German People.
I wonder what would have happened to David if he had not been caught. This is true with most. They believe that saving their own reputation is more important than, "Against You, You only, have I sinned, and done this evil in Your sight...." Regardless, Nathan was Jesus' gift to David. His, "Good Shepherd," confronted him in his sin and David's, "....broken and...contrite heart," which is another way of describing repentance, set him up for forgiveness and restoration. When life does not turn out the way you wanted and/or expected, when our sin "catches up" with us, there are two ways to deal with it: Live in resentment and blame, or have a, "broken in pieces, crushed heart." The reward has no equal: "These, O God, You will not despise."
Father, in Jesus' Name, I pray for a continual, "broken and a contrite heart." Amen.
The word for, "broken," means, "broken in pieces, break down." The word for, "contrite," means, "crushed." The state of, "broken in pieces, break down," and, "crushed," is a very severe state, indeed, but it is the, "spirit... and ...heart," which our Lord Jesus Christ, "....will not despise."
In recent years there has been a lot of talk about "brokenness." People say, "O, that person is so broken." But according to our text, that's good. Maybe behind that "poor self image," that defeated countenance is a prospect for, "a broken and a contrite heart," a heart which walks in repentance. Since this is the person Jesus, "will not despise," then brokenness and contrition is good.
I once met a member of the German Government who was also a member of the EU Parliament, and was a friend of Ex German Chancellor Gerard Schroder. Both men were born during the last days of WW 2. He said, "We were the generation who grew up and asked, "What have you done?!?"------ what chilling words. Too many Germans are not, however, "broken," nor do they have a, "crushed heart," as our text expresses. They were a people group which was "found out." Now let me say that no American has any right to disparage them. Post WW 1 Germany was beyond horrendous. They had no history of democratic government, violence, murder, conspiracy ruled the streets. Yet generations of militarism and anti Semitism finally caught up with them, along with the ego appeal of Hitler that the German was the "master race." They bought it, elected it, went along with it. Then, as they walked through their devastated cities and countryside, despair, discouragement, embarrassment, and anger ruled in most hearts------- and is still too prevalent today. This is not Biblical, "a broken spirit and a contrite heart," nor repentance. I recently heard a young German say, "Sometimes it's embarrassing to say I'm German." I pray for her and the German People.
I wonder what would have happened to David if he had not been caught. This is true with most. They believe that saving their own reputation is more important than, "Against You, You only, have I sinned, and done this evil in Your sight...." Regardless, Nathan was Jesus' gift to David. His, "Good Shepherd," confronted him in his sin and David's, "....broken and...contrite heart," which is another way of describing repentance, set him up for forgiveness and restoration. When life does not turn out the way you wanted and/or expected, when our sin "catches up" with us, there are two ways to deal with it: Live in resentment and blame, or have a, "broken in pieces, crushed heart." The reward has no equal: "These, O God, You will not despise."
Father, in Jesus' Name, I pray for a continual, "broken and a contrite heart." Amen.
When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"
"Looking unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2
"Looking unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2
