THE BLESSINGS OF BROKENNESS

TRETS 23-11-2017

THE BLESSINGS OF BROKENNESS

Psalms 34:18; 51:17; Isaiah 57:15

David was a man who knew how to walk with God despite all the challenges he had in his life. His problem started as a result of early success in life as a teenager-warrior who conquered the enemy of Israel at a very tender age because of the envy of King Saul. He went into self-imposed exile when he discovered that his life was in danger. His life in the land of the Philistines was filled with a lot of ups and downs. Something endeared David to God; and that is tenderness of heart also known as brokenness of heart. See him when he cut part of Saul’s skirt, his heart smote him. When he was rebuked for immorality and murder, he confessed, I have sinned. If you compare David with Saul, you’ll see a wide gap between them. When Samuel rebuked him for not being patient enough to wait for him before offering sacrifice, he was concerned about honour before his citizens. When he was also reprimanded for not carrying out God’s instruction to the letter in dealing with the Amalekites, instead of repenting, he was rationalizing his actions by shifting the blames to the soldiers that went to the battle with him. No wonder later David made this submission: “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise” (Psalms 51:17).

1.   The Peril of Hardness of Heart aob 9:4; Exodus 5:1,2; Daniel 4:28-33; 5:1-30; Acts 12:21-23; Jeremiah 19:15; 44:16 

Job asked a probing question in Job 9:4 that, “He is wise in heart, and mighty in strength: who hath hardened himself against him, and hath prospered?” God cherishes brokenness of spirit from man. Some people that hardened themselves against God in the Bible days had to pay dearly for their disobedience. Pharaoh challenged the Almighty and refused to recognize Him. God dealt with him with a lot of calamities, at the end, he forcefully released the children of Israel and perished with his host in the Red Sea. King Nebuchadnezzar heard about a judgement that was coming upon him, he didn’t amend his ways according to Daniel’s recommendation, eventually he had 7 years discipline with a change of heart before he realized that “the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men” (Daniel 4:25). Unfortunately what has been the bane of humanity since creation is man’s failure to always learn from history. His son, Belshazzar knew all that happened to his father, yet chose to tread the same path of rebellion against the God of Heaven (Daniel 5:22). He died in the prime of his life because of his recalcitrant behaviour. Herod thought he was all in all, worms ate him alive (Acts 12:21-23). In the days of Jeremiah, the Israelites walked themselves to the point of no return in their rebellion against the God of their fathers and God determined to bring irreversible evil upon them. They were so audacious enough to confront the prophet and told him in Jeremiah 44:16 that, “As for the word that thou hast spoken unto us in the name of the LORD, we will not hearken unto thee.” You also know the end of their rebellion, 70 years in captivity for the nation, many of them, including their king couldn’t see their native land again as they died in the foreign land. Is there any area of your life where God has been warning you to amend your ways and you have refused to listen to Him? Repent today before it is too late.   

2.   The Practical Disposition That Leads to Brokenness of Heart  1 Kings 21:17-24,27-29; Jonah 3:1-10; 1 Samuel 24:4,5

As wicked As Ahab was, when he heard about God’s judgement that was coming upon his house, he showed a remorse and went softly, as a result of that, God decided to postpone the evil days He spoke about. The people of Nineveh didn’t take God or His messenger for granted, they repented and turned away from their sins immediately they learnt about the looming judgement on the city. David’s heart smote him for cutting the skirt of Saul. His disposition really showed a man that is broken before God. No wonder, God saw him through all his predicaments and he was about to get to the throne.

3.   The Profits And Blessings of Brokenness Isaiah 57:15; James 4:6,7,10; Job 22:29; Proverbs 29:23; Matthew 23:12; 1 Peter 5:6; Psalms 34:18; 51:17

To be broken is to be humble and totally depend on God with simple trust in His sovereignty and ability to rule over one’s life without a rival. Those who are broken before God are also referred to as the humble ones. There are a lot of blessings in being broken and humble before the Lord.

v The broken heart will always enjoy constant touch from God - Isaiah 57:15

v The broken heart will receive more grace from God - James 4:6,7,10

v Divine elevation from God - Job 22:29; Matthew 23:12

v Divine honour - Proverbs 29:23

v Divine intervention in his hour of need - Psalms 34:18

v The broken heart will always enjoy divine attention - Psalms 51:17

v The broken heart will always enjoy fellowship with God - Isaiah 57:15

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