17. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, A broken and a contrite heart—These, O God, You will not despise.
Confronting Misunderstandings of God: Hard Truths, Assumptions, and Accountability
I have, as we all have, heard many people ask questions or make statements about God that reveal a complete lack of understanding regarding who He truly is. Since September 21, 1522, the Bible has been the best-selling book in history—yet best-selling does not mean most-read. Some of the questions that seem to span generations are, “Why does God allow evil?”, “Did God create evil?”, and “Why does God allow bad things to happen to good people?” Ironically, these same individuals can tell you that Lucifer was cast out of heaven, that as Satan he influenced Eve to eat the forbidden fruit, and that hell is his eternal domain. However, in the Psalms, we see an epic amount of accountability—even while acknowledging sin.
One of the most profound verses in all the Psalms—perhaps the entire Bible—is David’s confession in Psalm 119:71: “My suffering was good for me, for it taught me to pay attention to your decrees.” The fruit of God’s discipline was not lost on the New Testament writers; in fact, their understanding was just as strong as David’s. James 1:2-4 declares: “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” So does God find satisfaction in a broken spirit and a contrite heart because, as some suggest, He allows bad things to happen to good people? Or as time has gone on, have the hard truths about God been sanitized by a modern-day version of Him who exists simply to serve, comfort, and answer prayers?
The Forgotten Weight of Sin: When Self-Pity Replaces Accountability
It is said that time heals all wounds. David—like all the Old Testament writers—understood how deeply God’s children wounded Him through idolatry and every manner of rebellion and sin against Him. And although separated by generations, the New Testament writers lived in the shadow of those transgressions and understood the debt their ancestors left behind. Jesus Himself spoke to this reality when He declared in Matthew 23:31-32: “So you testify against yourselves that you are the descendants of those who murdered the prophets. Go ahead, then, and complete what your ancestors started!” God’s discipline and chastisement toward those He loves was not lost on them—nor was the pain God endured. This is why the Jews of the New Testament clung to the law. They carried a deeply profound understanding of the suffering sin produced and the corrective measures God used to lead His children back to Himself.
Today, separated by thousands of years from biblical writers, we seem to have forgotten the wounds our sins still cause God—and the corrective measures He continues to use toward His children. Where David once cried in Psalm 13:1: “How long, LORD? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me?”, today, when suffering comes, it is far more common to ask, “Why is this happening to me?” The sense of entitlement that has become customary has replaced the weight of sin in our lives. But Hebrews 12:6 reminds us: “For the LORD disciplines those He loves, and He punishes each one He accepts as His child.” This is no different than the way parents discipline their children in order to correct them.
When Pain Leads to Repentance: Distinguishing Between Discipline and Affliction
When we fail to recognize that difficult circumstances are often the result of our own actions, we tend to assume that God is the cause of suffering. Some even say it is God’s will when life does not go as they’ve planned. While this may be true in certain cases, the believer must learn to discern the difference between self-pity and actual affliction. God’s will and God’s discipline should never be mistaken one for the other. God does not delight in the heart that is broken, but He does delight in the heart that comes to Him because it is broken. He finds pleasure in the contrite heart not because He delights in pain, but because the contrite heart is truly remorseful and recognizes the weight of sin. Contrition leads to repentance—and David understood this deeply. God knows just how much loss, pain, and suffering each of His children can bear, and may need to experience before they finally surrender their heart to Him. As 2 Peter 3:9 reminds us: “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.”
In Psalm 51:17 we find the Holy Spirit inspiring David to be vulnerable in order to confront a flaw in the human condition—because God is perfect, we tend to expect Him to make our lives perfect, regardless of our own actions. This is no different than when the person who, in pain, suffering, or loss turns to someone they know will pity them and take their side, even if they are at fault. And should that person refuse to take their side, they quickly become the target of the hurt individual’s anger and frustration. We expect God to understand our pain, but we first must understand the pain we cause God. He sacrificed His only begotten Son, and in doing so poured out the wrath meant for us, onto Him, so that all who believe may have eternal life with Him. And sometimes, we must sacrifice pleasure for a broken heart in order to truly understand the unconditional love God has for us.
The Path Back to God Through Discipline, Repentance, and Resting in Grace
Job 5:17
“Blessed is the one whom God corrects; so do not despise the discipline of the Almighty.”
Revelation 3:19
“As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent.”
Joel 2:12
“Even now,” declares the LORD, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning.”
Luke 15:10
“Likewise, I say to you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”
Hebrews 4:16
“Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.”
A Prayer for God’s Grace, Mercy, and Protection
Father God in Heaven, even though I am a broken sinner, You never keep Your love from me. When my fleshly desires lead to regret that only pain makes known, You are there. When my spirit is weak and my path hidden from me, I seek You and You are there. When evil works through those around me, my strength is hard to keep. I pray that Your mercy and grace cover and protect me. In the name of my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen.
Trinitarian Benediction
May God’s grace and mercy follow you through all your days.
May the peace of Christ Jesus be your anchor to righteousness.
And may the Holy Spirit empower you to overcome every temptation.