Blessings for the Brokenhearted and Humble in Scripture
Scripture consistently presents blessings for those who are brokenhearted and humble, emphasizing God's special regard for them. The Lord is described as being "near to the brokenhearted" and saving "those who are crushed in spirit" [4]. This closeness signifies divine comfort and intervention for those in deep distress.
The Psalms frequently highlight God's compassion for the afflicted. Psalm 147:3 states that God "heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds" [2]. Similarly, Psalm 72:13 notes that God "shall be merciful to the poor and needy, and shall preserve the souls of the poor" [1]. This divine mercy extends to those who are humble in spirit, as Psalm 147:6 indicates that "The Lord gives help to the poor in spirit" [5].
Those who are brokenhearted are understood to possess "a spirit of deep contrition and dependence on the Lord" [12]. This attitude is considered a proper sacrifice to God, as seen in Psalm 51:17 [12]. God's power is specifically directed toward the good of the "meek and suffering pious" [11]. This divine care is contrasted with the wicked, who often hate the brokenhearted [12].
The concept of mercy is central to these blessings. Torrey's Topical Textbook notes that mercy is enjoined upon believers, to be shown to those in distress, to the poor, and to backsliders [7]. This reflects God's own character, as Christ's compassion and sympathy were manifested for the weary, heavy-laden, weak in faith, tempted, afflicted, diseased, and poor [6]. Such mercy is not merely an emotional response but a necessary aspect of God's holy character in response to sin [8].
The blessings for the brokenhearted and humble are not merely a promise of comfort but also an encouragement to prayer [6]. Those who act with "disinterested, god-like compassion for the wretched" are considered blessed [10]. This aligns with the teaching that "Blessed is he who considers the poor. Yahweh will deliver him in the day of evil" [3]. Humble penitents are objects of God's special tender regard [9].
Sources
- Psalms “Psalms 72:13 (Geneva1599) — He shalbe mercifull to the poore and needie, and shall preserue the soules of the poore.”
- Psalms “Psalms 147:3 (NASB) — He heals the brokenhearted And binds up their wounds.”
- Psalms “Blessed is he who considers the poor. Yahweh will deliver him in the day of evil. -- Psalms 41:1”
- Psalms “Psalms 34:18 (NASB) — The LORD is near to the brokenhearted And saves those who are crushed in spirit.”
- Psalms “Psalms 147:6 (BBE) — The Lord gives help to the poor in spirit; but he sends sinners down in shame.”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Compassion and Sympathy of Christ, The — Necessary to his priestly office -- Heb 5:2,7. Manifested for the Weary and heavy-laden. -- Mt 11:28-30. Weak in faith. -- Isa 40:11; 42:3; Mt 12:20. Tempted. -- Heb 2:18. Afflicted. -- Lu 7:13; Joh 11:33,35. Diseased. -- Mt 14:14; Mr 1:41. Poor. -- Mr 8:2. Perishing sinners. -- Mt 9:36; Lu 19:41; Joh 3:16. An encouragement to prayer -- Heb 4:15.”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Mercy — After the example of God -- Lu 6:36. Enjoined -- 2Ki 6:21-23; Ho 12:6; Ro 12:20,21; Col 3:12. To be engraved on the heart -- Pr 3:3. Characteristic of saints -- Ps 37:26; Isa 57:1. Should be shown With cheerfulness. -- Ro 12:8. To our brethren. -- Zec 7:9. to those that are in distress. -- Lu 10:37. To the poor. -- Pr 14:31; Da 4:27. To backsliders. -- Lu 15:18-20; 2Co 2:6-8. To animals. -- Pr 12:10. Upholds the throne of kings -- Pr 20:28. Beneficial to those who exercise -- Pr 11:17. Blessedness of showing -- Pr 14:21; Mt 5:7. Hypocrites devoid of -- Mt 23:”
- Romans (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Romans 1:18: 1:18–3:20 Paul delays exploring the theme of righteousness through faith (see 3:21) until after he first teaches about universal sinfulness. Gentiles (1:18-32) and Jews (2:1–3:8) are equally under sin’s power and cannot find favor with God by any action of their own (3:9-20). 1:18 God’s anger is not a spontaneous emotional outburst, but the holy God’s necessary response to sin. The Old Testament often depicts God’s anger (Exod 32:10-12; Num 11:1; Jer 21:3-7) and predicts a decisive outpouring of God’s wrath on human sin at the end of history. While Paul usually de”
- Psalms (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Psalms 34:17: Humble penitents are objects of God's special tender regard (Psa 51:19; Isa 57:15).”
- Luke (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Luke 14:14: blessed--acting from disinterested, god-like compassion for the wretched.”
- Psalms (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Psalms 147:6: That power is put forth for the good of the meek and suffering pious, and confusion of the wicked (Psa 146:8-9).”
- Psalms (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Psalms 34:18: 34:18 Those who are brokenhearted possess a spirit of deep contrition and dependence on the Lord. God accepts this spirit as a proper sacrifice (51:17). The wicked hate the brokenhearted (109:16), but the Lord heals them (147:3; see Isa 57:15; 61:1).”