The Lord is close to the brokenhearted – Psalm 34 18
In this article, we will be looking at the meaning of two phrases; “brokenhearted” and “Crushed In Spirit”, from the book Psalm 34:18.
“The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” – Psalm 34:18 NIV “
The LORD is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit. ” – Psalm 34:18 ESV
The Lord is close to the brokenhearted
The term “Broken Hearted” is used in Psalm 34:18. The phrase refers to when a person is full of grief or sadness. The Hebrew word for the heart can mean the physical organ that pumps blood around the body but it also most commonly refers to the center of one’s being.
This center of being is not the body, but the mind and will which are integral to one’s existence. When one feels that their “heart” has been broken, it means that they feel as though there is no hope for them.
They feel so much sadness and grief that they cannot even function properly anymore. It may manifest itself in different ways.
Some people may shut down and stop caring about anything in life, others may simply become bitter and destructive, while others would just cry all the time.
Many people in the world experience broken heartedness. The causes of it are endless – loss of a loved one, losing out on something you care about, not getting what you wanted, betrayal, rejection, and many more.
People who are “broken-hearted” can turn to God for help against their sadness. This is because God is close to them; He cares about each one of us individually and knows how we feel when we are sad or grieved (Isaiah 49:14). All that they need to do is pray to Him (Psalm 34:17) and ask for His help (Matthew 7:7).
They should also know that there is hope for them again because He will give them peace (Philippians 4:7). He will take away their pain and sadness (John 14:27).
Crushed In Spirit
The other word mentioned in Psalm 34:18 is “Crushed In Spirit”. This means that the person is feeling very down and depressed. They are so weighed down by their feelings they cannot function properly anymore.
Many people in the world today feel crushed in spirit because of what they have gone through or what has happened to them. They can turn to God for help against their sadness too. The Lord knows how they are feeling (1 Samuel 16:7) and He will give them comfort when they pray to Him (Isaiah 25:4).
The Lord, will also strengthen them when times get tough – whether it be a physical, emotional, or financial difficulty (Psalm 23:4). All they need to do is ask Him for His help (Luke 11:9). He will not only remove their depression, but He will give them hope and joy instead (Romans 15:13).
Prayer For Those Broken Hearted
Most High God, I come to You with a broken heart. My sorrows are too great for words to express. Yet You know every feeling of my heart. Please hold me in Your loving embrace. Grant me peace and comfort in my time of need. Take away all my sadness and grief.
Strengthen me when times get tough so I may endure whatever comes before me with Your help. Grant me the courage to stand for what is right even though the storms of life are raging against me. Help me to not be afraid because You have given me the spirit of boldness.
In Jesus’ name, I pray, Amen.
Prayer For Crushed In Spirit
Most High God, I come to You with a crushed spirit. My feelings are overwhelming me and I feel as if life has no meaning anymore.
Please comfort me, Lord, for only you can heal the broken-hearted and the crushed in spirit.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.
What is the difference between being broken-hearted and crushed in spirit?
A person may feel broken-hearted or crushed in spirit because of loss, rejection, betrayal, not getting what they wanted, or other things. A person may feel crushed in spirit because of life circumstances that have overwhelmed them and led to feelings of depression and despair.
The difference between the two is that a person who feels “broken-hearted” is sad but can still function while a person who feels “crushed in spirit” cannot function properly. They feel overwhelmed and depressed. Both can be healed by turning to God for comfort and strength when needed.
How does the Lord comfort the brokenhearted?
The Lord comforts those who are “broken-hearted” (Psalm 34:18) through His love (Romans 5:8). He knows the pain they feel and how their hearts have been hurt (1 Samuel 16:7). Because of His great love for us, He helps us when we pray to Him in our time of need (Psalm 34:17-18; Psalm 116:1-2).
When we are feeling “broken-hearted” or “crushed in spirit”, how can we turn to God for help?
It is through the Lord alone that all our needs can be met. When we are feeling “broken-hearted” or “crushed in spirit”, we should pray to Him because He knows how we are feeling (1 Samuel 16:7) and what has happened to us (Isaiah 49:13).
He will give us comfort when we pray to Him (Isaiah 25:4) and He will strengthen us when times get tough (Psalm 23:4). The Lord knows how we feel, even though others may not. He loves us very much and wants to help us when we need it the most.
Bible Verses God Cares For Broken Hearted
There are several verses that shows God cares about us and always there to attend to us when we call on Him. One notable verse is when Jesus approached Lazarus’s tomb, “He wept” – John 11:35.
Isaiah 66:2
“The Lord God declares, To this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembles at My Word!”
John 11:33
“When He saw Mary’s tears, he was deeply moved in his spirit and greatly troubled”
Hebrews 4:15
“For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.”
Hebrews 4:16
“Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.”
Matthew 11:28-30
“Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”
Conclusion
When you are feeling “broken-hearted” or “crushed in spirit”, turn to God for help. God loves you so much that He is concerned about our well-being. Know that there are people around you who are willing to comfort you when times get tough.
No matter what your situation or challenges are, always turn to God because it’s through Him alone that all of your needs can be met for this life and eternity.
