Broken—Contrite

Broken—Contrite

“The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart, and saves such as have a contrite spirit.” Ps. 34:18. “I dwell . . . with him who has a contrite and humble spirit . . . .” Isa. 57:15. “But on this one will I look: on him who is of a . . . contrite spirit . . . .” Isa. 66:2.

It is not so strange that it is not going well with most believers! Alas—how strong and hard and unbroken in their spirit they are, how obstinate and arrogant, how conceited and self-willed they are with a strong, unbroken will.

Consistent with the above-mentioned scriptures, God does not bother with such people. He is not near such people. He does not dwell with them, He does not see to them, and He does not save them from their sin. On the other hand, He saves those who are of a contrite spirit.

Jesus’ expression for this is (for example): “Blessed are the poor in spirit.” In my boyhood, I heard a saying that went like this: “Here come I, broad and wide!” This goes to show that even the world understands that it is extremely improper (even in the eyes of worldly people) to have a high estimation of yourself, to be big and strong, conceited, and overconfident!

In the Scriptures, the expressions “broken” and “crushed”1 are very strong expressions. For instance, something that is broken into pieces is broken into three or four pieces. But something that is crushed is usually broken into many pieces. If this is what has happened to our heart and our spirit, then we are inexpressibly far from being that big and strong and overconfident person. Then we do not have much to say. Then there isn’t much left of that big and strong fellow!!!

It is daily life that reveals the true state of an individual. The worst person can be like a fire-spewing mountain that virtually sputters when things go against his will and opinion or his or her reputation or imagined greatness! Also, there are many lesser degrees of being unbroken in heart and mind.

None of them are in a state that they can be saved or become more saved than they have been until this point in time.

Only those who are poor in spirit and lowly in their own eyes, who grieve over themselves, and who have a “crushed” spirit are in this state in which they can be saved. Only such people are truly receptive.

This in turn agrees with the word about receiving “the love of the truth, that they might be saved.” 2 Thess. 2:10. The truth about ourselves is just this: that in relation to God and in relation to absolute perfection, we are incredibly poor wretches. This is also true when it comes to what by God’s great grace we already could have been and yet have not become!!!

This means that all of us could have done much better.

This is exactly why it is fitting for all of us to be quiet and meek, humble in spirit, broken, and contrite.

The following line is in a song: “To be a nothing, nothing in myself!”

When this has ceased being a dream or a nice phrase and has become an accomplished deed instead, a marvelous work has taken place to the glory and praise and joy of God and the Lamb!!!