He Heals the Brokenhearted

Where do we turn when we are brokenhearted? Some of us turn to entertainment to distract us. Others of us throw all our time and attention to a hobby we’re good at. We may call a couple of good friends and share why our heart is broken in hopes they will cheer us. We may take a trip to the grocery store for sweet treats to soothe us. We might even book a vacation to try and escape any reminder of our circumstances. But if we’re honest none of these things ultimately heal our broken hearts. In fact, in many cases they leave us feeling even worse. So where do we turn when our hearts are broken and we’re in need of healing? Psalm 147 answers this question. We must turn to God and remember His power, provision, and precepts.

God’s Power

Psalm 147 opens by teaching that the people of God are to praise Him. “Praise the LORD! For it is good to sing praises to our God; for it is pleasant, and a song of praise is fitting” (v. 1). The psalm goes on to reveal two of the most important acts of God—His creation and His redemption. The Lord who chose Israel to be His people and Jerusalem to be His dwelling place is the same God who has determined the number of stars and named them. How powerful our great God is! How worthy of all our praise!

               Jesus came to build His church and gather God’s people. He displayed God’s healing power and consistently spoke of the last being first and the first being last. In the pages of the New Testament, we clearly see Jesus as our Redeemer. Yet we also learn that He was intricately involved in creation, “For by him all things were created…” (Col. 1:16). As we recognize God’s power around us our hearts should soar with praise. And as we praise Him, especially in the midst of suffering, we will discover that “He heals the brokenhearted” (Ps. 147:3).     

God’s Provision

Again, Psalm 147 calls God’s people to praise Him, “Sing to the LORD with thanksgiving” (Ps. 147:7). But this time our focus is drawn to God’s provision for His creation. The same God who delights to prepare rain for the earth and give food to the young ravens that cry (vv. 8-9) is the covenant Lord who takes pleasure in those who hope in His covenant love (vv. 10-11).

               When Jesus preached His famous Sermon on the Mount, He often referred to how the Father takes care of His creation to teach the people how much He would take care of them. He argued from the lesser to the greater. If God the Father cares for the birds of the air, how much more will He care for His children (see Matt. 6:25-34). Therefore, our hope is in the Lord who has promised to be our God and dwell in our midst. He is mighty to save and worthy of all our praise. When our hearts are broken He will provide all that we need.   

God’s Precepts

One of the things that set Jerusalem apart from her neighbors was God’s presence (Ps. 147:12-18). He dwelled in her midst in Zion. During the glory days of David’s reign, followed by Solomon’s, before the kingdom divided, Jerusalem was a strong city filled with peace and blessing. But there was another thing that set Jerusalem apart from her neighbors and that was God’s precepts (vv. 19-20). The Lord initiated a covenant with Moses and Israel and gave them His precepts in the form of the Ten Commandments. The same God who spoke creation into existence also spoke commands to His covenant people.

               Jesus came as the Word, revealing God’s glory in grace and truth (John 1:14). For many ages God spoke to His people by way of prophets, but in the fullness of time He sent His Son, through whom He also created the world (Heb. 1:1-2). Jesus told Peter that He would build His church, and nothing would be able to overcome it (Matt. 16:18). Through the cross He has given us peace, joy, and innumerable spiritual blessings. Our hope is built on the foundation of the righteousness of Jesus Christ. We should be eager students of Scripture, so that we will rightly praise the Lord. But the Bible is also a balm to the brokenhearted. God uses His words to bind up our wounds. 

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               Dear reader, are you brokenhearted today? Have you tried entertainment or a hobby to distract you, only to feel emptier? Have you tried friends to cheer you only to realize they can’t heal you? Did the sweet treats and vacation satisfy for a moment, but not last? If none of these things ultimately heal our broken hearts, let’s stop turning to them. Instead let’s turn to the Lord, who by His power, provision, and precepts “heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds” (Ps. 147:3).

Sarah Ivill (ThM, Dallas Theological Seminary) is a Reformed author, wife, homeschooling mom, Bible study teacher, and conference speaker who lives in Matthews, North Carolina, and is a member of Christ Covenant Church (PCA). To learn more, please visit www.sarahivill.com.