The Bible specializes in ministering to some people who otherwise get little help: the broken-hearted. Jesus said of them, "Blessed [meaning, happy] are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted" (Matt. 5:4). Not just those mourning a bereavement, but those whose hearts are heavily burdened so they can't do what everybody tells them to do--"just smile!" Jesus wants to give them some hope--"you shall be comforted, you will be happy again!"
David's experiences transcended royal politics where constant smiling was mandatory. He spoke out of experience: "The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit" (Psalm 34:18). God does not delight in our brokenness of heart, but He does pay attention to it: "The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise" (51:17). Speaking of Christ, David predicted how He would feel as "the son of David": "Reproach hath broken My heart; and I am full of heaviness: and I looked for some to take pity, but there was none: and for comforters, but I found none" (69:20). Handel immortalized these words and rightly put them to be sung in the lips of Jesus in "Messiah."
Speaking prophetically of Judas Iscariot, David says that his evil purpose was to "persecute the poor and needy man, that he might even slay the broken in heart" (109:16). Anyone who doesn't "have a heart" will do that, as Judas did, in one way or the other. And lastly, we have inspired Good News for all who are broken in heart, the verse that probably inspired Jesus to preach His "Blessed are they that mourn": "Praise ye the Lord ... He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds" (147:1, 3).
Let HIM do it; give Him some personal time. Don't expect drugs or medicine, or vacations, or new clothes, or TV comedies, or "fun," or even psychology to do it. Any superficial remedy only drives the wound down deeper, to poison the soul in time to come. If you don't feel like smiling, be like Nehemiah before King Artaxerxes (Neh. 1:4-2:3; if you didn't smile in the king's presence, off came your head). Be honest, as Nehemiah was. You "shall be comforted," says Jesus, the Expert in brokenness of heart.
Copyright © 2009 by Robert J. Wieland.
Be sure to check your e-mail for "Dial Daily Bread" again tomorrow.------------------------------
