Broken-hearted?

The phrase broken-hearted appears in the Bible four times. If we read these verses with the common understanding of the word heart, we will likely assume it is merely referring to emotional wounds or lost love. Yet, if we read it with the proper Biblical understanding of the word, we will realize it goes far deeper than that. With the heart being more about personality, and our spiritual center, we can see our very self is broken when our heart is.

The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. -Psalm 34:18

Here, we see a direct correlation between heart and spirit. Do we have the same compassion for the broken as the Lord does though?

For he never thought of doing a kindness, but hounded to death the poor and the needy and the brokenhearted. -Psalm 109:16

Here, David is talking about the wicked, and how they tend to victimize the broken-hearted, instead of show compassion. What will happen to the broken-hearted if believers don't intervene?

He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. -Psalm 147:3

What the Lord wants to do with the broken-hearted, not enable or indulge their brokenness, but heal it.

The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, -Isaiah 61:1

A prophecy about the Messiah, and his mission, and how the broken-hearted fit into that. Which reveals something what it means to be truly Christ like.

Do you have a better perspective on what it means to be broken-hearted and its potential ramifications on the spirit? That if one is broken they may be unable to conceptualize the way, and the importance of the spirit; especially if they have been routinely used by the world. Why it's important to address the brokenness in the heart first, instead of start with obedience that takes a strong spirit to achieve. However, a better question would be, what are you going to do about that?

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