Isaiah 57:15 says, “For thus says the One who is high and lifted up, who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: “I dwell in the high and holy place, and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly, and to revive the heart of the contrite.”
It’s almost bewildering. Why would a holy God, with whom there is judgement and wrath, declare in the same breathe that He will make His home with those whose hearts have been shattered and crushed?
This excerpt from J.R. Miller’s, “The Beatitude for the Unsuccessful” expresses so elegantly the gentle heart of a holy and righteous God towards sinful man. Surely, the words of the Psalmist are true, “The Lord is near the broken-hearted.” (Psalm 34:18).
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“The God of the Bible, is the God of the broken-hearted. The world cares little for the broken hearts. Indeed, people oftentimes break hearts by their cruelty, their falseness, their injustice, their coldness–and then move on as heedlessly as if they had trodden only on a worm! But God cares. Broken-heartedness attracts Him. The plaint of grief on earth–draws Him down from heaven.
Physicians in their rounds, do not stop at the homes of the well–but of the sick. So it is with God in His movements through this world. It is not to the whole and the well–but to the wounded and stricken, that He comes with sweetest tenderness! Jesus said of His mission: “He has sent Me to bind up the broken-hearted.” Isaiah 61:1
We look upon trouble as misfortune. We say that the life is being destroyed, which is passing through adversity. But the truth which we find in the Bible, does not so represent suffering. God is a repairer and restorer of the hurt and ruined life. He takes the bruised reed–and by His gentle skill makes it whole again, until it grows into fairest beauty. The love, pity, and grace of God, minister sweet blessing of comfort and healing–to restore the broken and wounded hearts of His people.
Much of the most beautiful life in this world, comes out of sorrow. As “fair flowers bloom upon rough stalks,” so many of the fairest flowers of human life, grow upon the rough stalks of suffering. We see that those who in heaven wear the whitest robes, and sing the loudest songs of victory–are those who have come out of great tribulation. Heaven’s highest places are filling, not from earth’s homes of glad festivity and tearless joy–but from its chambers of pain; its valleys of struggle where the battle is hard; and its scenes of sorrow, where pale cheeks are wet with tears, and where hearts are broken. The God of the Bible–is the God of the bowed down–whom He lifts up into His strength.
God is the God of those who fail. Not that He loves those who stumble and fall, better than those who walk erect without stumbling; but He helps them more. The weak believers get more of His grace–than those who are strong believers. There is a special divine promise, which says, “My divine power is made perfect in weakness.” When we are conscious of our own insufficiency, then we are ready to receive of the divine sufficiency. Thus our very weakness is an element of strength. Our weakness is an empty cup–which God fills with His own strength.
You may think that your weakness unfits you for noble, strong, beautiful living–or for sweet, gentle, helpful serving. You wish you could get clear of it. It seems to burden you–an ugly spiritual deformity. But really it is something which–if you give it to Christ–He can transform into a blessing, a source of His power. The friend by your side, whom you envy because he seems so much stronger than you are–does not get so much of Christ’s strength as you do. You are weaker than him–but your weakness draws to you divine power, and makes you strong.”
“He heals the broken-hearted and binds up their wounds.” Psalm 147:3
Thank you posting this, Christina. I can testify that God does heal the broken-hearted.
Me too, Pilgrim Mommy.
Lord bless you this week.
“We look upon trouble as misfortune. We say that the life is being destroyed, which is passing through adversity. But the truth which we find in the Bible, does not so represent suffering.” Amen and amen!
Mr. Miller is on the mark when he says that many of us do not look at trouble aright. James says, “Count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations, knowing that the trying of your faith worketh patience.” In that I oft times declare, O tribulation, how I long for your perfect work; not in some popish, penitent, Romanish way, flogging myself to earn salvation, but embracing the circumstance that suffering and trial brings so that I may once again bow in humility to God’s providence, realizing He is working a far greater work to refine me.
This week, my physical being was very, very bad indeed (& it may turn out that we must look into the possibility that this is PLS, now that ALS has been ruled out– please pray for that); yet, it was in my times of weakness this week that I had the sweetest prayers in His presence, the most profound meditations upon His Word, and the most tremendous joy in delighting in all that Christ is and all my little mind can conceive of what great things He hath done.
Dear sister, thank you for sharing this and sharing your own thoughts. Thank you for your prayers. I’m overjoyed and I’m humbled that the Lord would use a wretch like me, restore me for His glory, and love and delight in me with an everlasting love. Hallelujah, What a Saviour!
Blessings to you and my dear brother, Steve. Though you’re probably in church right now, greet your pastor from me and let him know I’m praying for all of you on the next occasion or opportunity.
With love for you because of love for Him, and most especially, love from Him, jon
Brother Jon,
Thank you so much for you sharing.
Earlier last week I found myself meditating on the 3rd verse to the hymn “Blood Washed Pilgrim”.
I saw him in the furnace;he doubted not, nor feared,
And in the flames beside him, the Son of God appeared;
Though seven times ’twas heated, with all the tempter’s might,
He cried, “The yoke is easy, the burden, it is light.”
I kept thinking about the furnace being made as hot as possible. Yet, it was that very heat — the thing designed for their destruction, that propelled them into the presence of the Savior. May you continue to find yourself in His sweet presence, just like the Hebrew men did, as a consequence of this great trial. God has seen you fit for great testing and consequently there is great grace for you. I thank you for walking through this affliction with such humility and dignity.
Steven and I (and many others, no doubt) continue to pray for you and lift you and Lisa to the throne of grace.
“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.” (Romans 15:13).
“God is the God of those who fail… Our weakness is an empty cup–which God fills with His own strength.”
This piece is so encouraging, Christina! Thank you! And thank you, brother Jon for expounding it further on such a personal level. I also will keep you in my prayers.
Bless you, Petra!
May you have a beautiful week in the Lord.
Thanks Christina for this soothing reminder!
Surely I am one whose brokeness has been both consoled and healed by our gracious God…. So is our God dwelling with the downcast…. in Him there is always, comfort, healing and hope!
Have a most blessed week!
Shaan
Amen, Shaan. And, may God grant you a beautiful week in the Lord, too!