Psalms 34:18

18 The LORD is close to those whose hearts have been broken. He saves those whose spirits have been crushed.

Psalms 34:18 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 34:18

The Lord [is] nigh unto them that are of a broken heart
Who are pressed and bore down with afflictions, by the sorrow of heart under which their spirits are broken, ( Proverbs 15:13 ) ; or with a sense of sin, and sorrow for it, for which their hearts smite them, and they are wounded by it, and broken with it: to these the Lord is "nigh"; not in a general way only, as he is to all men, being God omnipresent, but in a special manner; he comes and manifests himself to them in a gracious way, pours in the oil and wine of his love, and binds up their broken hearts; yea, comes and dwells with them: he does not pass by them and neglect them, much less make the breach worse; he does not break the bruised reeds, but he heals their breaches;

and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit;
not in a legal, but in an evangelical way; who are humbled under a sense of sin, and melted down in true repentance, under a view of the love and grace of God; and are poor and mean in their own eyes: to these the Lord has respect; the sacrifices of a broken and contrite spirit are not despised by him, but accepted through faith in Christ; and such he saves with an everlasting salvation in him.

Psalms 34:18 In-Context

16 The LORD doesn't look with favor on those who do evil. He removes all memory of them from the earth.

17 Godly people cry out, and the LORD hears them. He saves them from all of their troubles.

18 The LORD is close to those whose hearts have been broken. He saves those whose spirits have been crushed.

19 Anyone who does what is right may have many troubles. But the LORD saves him from all of them.

20 The LORD watches over all of his bones. Not one of them will be broken.