# 41 2016 Dev. Ps.34:18. The purpose of these devotionals is to draw closer to God by memorizing selected passages of Scripture. Further, to view the passage in context and grow spiritually by applying His Word to our daily living with family, friends and others. All passages are taken from the NIV.
Psalm 34:18
“The Lord is close to the brokenhearted
and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”
Ps. 34 is part of the first of five Books making up 150 Psalms that cover prayers, laments, praise, blessings and instruction for believers as well as curses for the wicked. Book I including Ps.34 is predominately Godly instruction. Further, Ps. 34 is part of a small sections of Psalms that are framed by two “alphabetic acrostics poems” 34 and 37 framing two prayers that address scoffers and the second is about godlessness. We look at verse 18 but standing alone takes the verse out of its context and its qualifying factors diminishing the comfort that it provides. The thought begins in verse 15 and is completed in verse 22. Let’s read verse 15-22 before concentrating on verse 18.
15 The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous,
and his ears are attentive to their cry;
16 but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil,
to blot out their name from the earth.
17 The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them;
he delivers them from all their troubles.
18 The Lord is close to the brokenhearted
and saves those who are crushed in spirit.
19 The righteous person may have many troubles,
but the Lord delivers him from them all;
20 he protects all his bones,
not one of them will be broken.
21 Evil will slay the wicked;
the foes of the righteous will be condemned.
22 The Lord will rescue his servants;
no one who takes refuge in him will be condemned.
V. 18 “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted” God is so close that He is in us by His Holy Spirit. Further, we are qualified with righteousness by our faith. Truly the brokenhearted are crushed in spirit but we have the Creator of the universe not only comforting us but saving us as well. All this translates into eternal life with Him. Verse 8: “Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.” Lord, comfort us?
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