How We Can Be Sure That “the Lord Is Close to the Brokenhearted”?

Taking a look at the original Hebrew, the word used for “close” is qārôb, which means close to, approaching, or nearby. The word for “brokenhearted” is the Hebrew šābar, meaning desolate, grieving, smashed, shattered, or broken into pieces. And the word for “crushed” is dakkā, which also means contrite, as one who has repentance.

In essence, the verse means that God, the Lord above all, is fully with those who are distraught, and He saves those who fear Him and repent of their wrongs. He’s with those who belong to Him who experience hardship and suffering, whose hearts are crushed by the tragedies and discords of life. He sees, He cares, and He provides.

What Is the Context of Psalm 34?

Psalm 34 is described at the start as being “of David,” which either means he wrote the psalm himself or, more likely, that it was inspired by him and his life circumstances. We also know it was about a dark time in his life, “when he pretended to be insane before Abimelek, who drove him away, and he left.”

A mixed praise/instructional-type psalm, the psalm is written from the perspective of the speaker – David or someone similar – who is explaining his story to readers. He begins by talking about how great the Lord is and how deserving the Lord is of our praise. In his situation, he tells us “This poor man called, and the Lord heard him; he saved him out of all his troubles” (v. 6). Then he goes on to explain that such things happen to those who fear the Lord and steer clear of evil, for, he says, “The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are attentive to their cry” (v. 15).

This ties in with verse 18, for the brokenhearted and crushed in spirit he refers to are the righteous ones, suffering most likely because of the wrongs of the world or because of evil people and situations that befell them, and not through much fault of their own.

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We know God was close to David in his time of distress for a few reasons, one of them being the outcome of this very psalm. Clearly, he’s now in a better position, writing from the perspective of one who is now grateful for the help he received and whose troubles have passed. Indeed, he uses words like “blessed” and “refuge” (v. 8) to indicate his current situation.

But we also know of other instances in David’s life, both those recorded in the psalms and in accounts by the prophet Samuel about David’s life, that also indicate similar closeness.

For instance, we know King Saul tried three times to seize and kill David, but he was not successful; God protected David, exhibiting His closeness to David (1 Samuel 23, 24, 26). Later, after David’s great sin with Bathsheba and the murder of her husband, Uriah, David faces the consequences of his wrongdoing by losing his newborn son (2 Samuel 12:14-18). But God shows He is close by, soon blessing the repentant couple with another son, Solomon, who we know later went on to become a great king.   

Many other times throughout David’s life we see this — such as when David’s son Absalom leads a conspiracy against his father, but then is murdered by his cousin Joab, David’s general (1 Samuel 18).

By protecting David and forgiving David, we see God’s love for him. God is always there, watching, helping, rescuing. As Psalm 139:7 reflects, “Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence?”

The answer is nowhere, for God is always there, particularly for those who love and fear Him.

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God didn’t only exhibit this love, protection and forgiveness toward David. Repeatedly in Scripture, we are offered other examples of God drawing close to the brokenhearted, helping the lost, the needy, the humble, and the poor.

For instance, before he entered the Promised Land, Joshua and many of the other wandering Israelites were grief-stricken at the loss of their longtime leader, Moses. Surely, Joshua was plagued with doubt about his ability to take the helm. But God assured Joshua that he should take heart, for “No one will be able to stand against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you” (Joshua 1:5).

In the Book of Job, we see how Job lost everything he cared about, but after his speech of heartfelt repentance, God drew near to him, restoring his fortunes and making the latter part of his life even more blessed than the former part (Job 42:12).

In John 9, we learn of the man born blind from birth, not because of anything he did to deserve this but because, as Jesus told his disciples, “So that the works of God might be displayed in him” (John 9:3). Then Jesus healed the man, blessing him with the ability to see.

And of course the very gift of Jesus himself — born into poverty, Word become flesh (John 1:14) — is an example of how God draws close to us.

As we’re told, God so loved the world even while we were sinners that “he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him” (John 3:16-17).

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God designed us to be in a close, intimate relationship with Him. But suffering is a part of this world — that is a certainty.

However, God promises that He is always with us. Through His son, Jesus, He tells us, “Surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age” (Matthew 28:20).

Jesus echoes this in Matthew 11:28-30, offering, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

Even when the disciples were brokenhearted at the prospect of Jesus’s death, God once again provides a way of drawing near, this time in the form of the Holy Spirit, the advocate, which Jesus tells them God will send in His name when He is gone (John 14:25-27).

Today, we have this advocate in the Holy Spirit, too. The Spirit lives in our hearts and steers and guides us, bringing us peace even in the face of despair.

We can trust in the words of Romans 8:28, which tells us that “in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”

God is always here, caring for us, loving us. Through His son, Jesus, He is walking with us. And through His Holy Spirit, He is alive in our hearts.

A Prayer for When Your Heart Is Breaking

If you are feeling brokenhearted, I offer a prayer of comfort and peace:

Dear Lord,

You alone know the depths of my pain and the source of my anguish. You alone can give me the peace and the protection I crave. Be with me and care for me, Lord, and help me to have comfort in my soul knowing You are beside me every moment.

In Your name I pray,

Amen.

God loved David, and God loves us, too. So take heart that whatever pain you are going through, one day, you will rest safe in the arms of the Lord. Then, as Revelation 21:4 promises, “He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”

Thanks be to God.

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