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Hope for Every Season Mg 5
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      • Psalm 34:15–19NIV2011

  • Hope for Every Season
    A journey through Psalm 34
    Message 5

    Hope for the Brokenhearted

    Psalm 34:15-19

    Brokenhearted

    Ever had your heart broken?
    Probably most in this room
    I looked for a definition, but when it happens you know it.
    Church camp.
    Here’s one definition
    A broken heart is the deep pain that comes when life shatters our hopes, wounds our soul, or exposes our helplessness.
    A biblical definition
    A broken heart is an inner condition where suffering, loss, sin, or disappointment has stripped away our self-sufficiency and left us desperate for God.

    The Hebrew Word.

    Show image
    Shatter, smash, break
    “When life breaks our hearts, God draws near to those who seek Him and delivers those who trust Him.”

    God Sees Our Pain (vv. 15-16)

    God is attentive
    Psalm 34:15 (NIV) — 15 The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous, and his ears are attentive to their cry;
    Psalm 34:15 NIV
    The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are attentive to their cry;
    Did you ever talk to someone and you knew they wasn’t paying attention?
    It’s infuriating
    God’s not like that!
    Nothing escapes His notice.
    Every tear you shed
    Every sleepless night
    Every whispered prayer
    When our children were little, they could roll over and Tina would hear them.
    Me I can sleep through a tornado
    God never misses the cry of His children.
    If you have ever said God is not listening guess who said that?
    Peter repeats this very psalm in 1 Peter 3:12
    Psalm 34:17 (NLT) — 17 The LORD hears his people when they call to him for help.
    Psalm 34:17 NLT
    The Lord hears his people when they call to him for help.
    God also sees evil
    Psalm 34:16 (NLT) — 16 But the LORD turns his face against those who do evil; he will erase their memory from the earth.
    Psalm 34:16 NLT
    But the Lord turns his face against those who do evil; he will erase their memory from the earth.
    No evil escapes His notice.
    No wrong goes unanswered.
    Leave the getting even to God

    God Draws Near to the Broken (vv. 18)

    This may be one of the most comforting promises in Scripture.
    Psalm 34:18 (NLT) — 18 The LORD is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed.
    Psalm 34:18 NLT
    The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed.
    Psalm 34:18 (MSG) — 18 If your heart is broken, you’ll find GOD right there; if you’re kicked in the gut, he’ll help you catch your breath.
    Psalm 34:18 MSG
    If your heart is broken, you’ll find God right there; if you’re kicked in the gut, he’ll help you catch your breath.
    You’ll find God right there!
    God picks up and dusts us off.
    It doesn't say:
    "God is near to the strong."
    "God is near to the successful."
    "God is near to those who have it all together."
    Instead...
    He is near the broken
    He is near the shattered
    He is near the crushed
    Brokenness attracts God's presence

    Brokenhearted

    Such a powerful word.
    Life can leave some deep wounds.
    I have trust issues
    A drug addict once told the reason that started drugs to stop the pain.
    You have not been abandoned

    A Crushed Spirit

    V:18 “he rescues those whose spirits are crushed.”
    A crushed spirit recognizes its need for God.
    When you hit bottom…
    Brokenness often becomes the doorway to deeper intimacy with Christ.
    Isaiah 61:1 (NLT) — 1 The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is upon me, for the LORD has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to comfort the brokenhearted and to proclaim that captives will be released and prisoners will be freed.
    Isaiah 61:1 NLT
    The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is upon me, for the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to comfort the brokenhearted and to proclaim that captives will be released and prisoners will be freed.
    Unfortunately it can have the opposite effect

    God Delivers His People (vv. 17, 19)

    Not only is He near but He also delivers
    Psalm 34:17 (NLT) — 17 He rescues them from all their troubles.
    Psalm 34:17 NLT
    He rescues them from all their troubles.
    Psalm 34:19 (NLT) — 19 The righteous person faces many troubles, but the LORD comes to the rescue each time.
    Psalm 34:19 NLT
    The righteous person faces many troubles, but the Lord comes to the rescue each time.

    Faithfulness does not Eliminate Affliction.

    Not a verse preached in the prosperity gospel churches.
    Notice it says many are the troubles.
    Jesus promised they would come.
    Paul experienced trouble on a giant scale.
    Peter explained it to us.
    1 Peter 4:12 (NLT) — 12 Dear friends, don’t be surprised at the fiery trials you are going through, as if something strange were happening to you.
    1 Peter 4:12 NLT
    Dear friends, don’t be surprised at the fiery trials you are going through, as if something strange were happening to you.
    The bible doesn’t hide this reality
    Affliction never has the final word.

    “BUT”

    What a wonderful word… But what?

    “but the LORD comes to the rescue each time.”

    “But” is a conjunction. It’s true we have many afflictions not denying it.
    “But” here’s a greater truth. Or however, the Lord delivers.
    Romans 6:23 (NLT) — 23 For the wages of sin is death, BUT the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.
    Romans 6:23 NLT
    For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.

    “But” turns despair into hope!

    Even Jesus was afflicted
    Three things

    God sees your pain

    God draws near the broken

    God delivers us from our affection

      • Psalm 34:15NIV2011

      • Psalm 34:17NIV2011

      • Psalm 34:16NIV2011

      • Psalm 34:18NIV2011

      • Psalm 34:18NIV2011

      • Isaiah 61:1NIV2011

      • Psalm 34:17NIV2011

      • Psalm 34:19NIV2011

      • 1 Peter 4:12NIV2011

      • Romans 6:23NIV2011

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