Brokenness

This week I’ve talked with many people filled with pain and heartache.  Some have lost someone dear, others dealing with disappointment as a result of a wayward child, some hurt and dismayed by a child being abandoned by his adoptive mother.

The shooting is Arizona has scarred families I don’t even know.

All this lead me to Psalm 147 tonight.  Verse 1 says,  “Hallelujah! How good it is to sing to our God, for praise is pleasant and lovely.” That doesn’t seem to make sense does it?  The natural reaction to brokenness would seem to be anything, but singing and praising God.  I’m more inclined to pray, question, complain or just enter a state of numbness.  Singing and Praising?

However, in my life experiences – the times I have felt the lowest, and experienced the most pain – those where the times that singing and praising were the most helpful.  There is something raw about just letting go and singing aloud to God when I hurt most that brings the greatest comfort and joy.

It seems the Psalmist had experienced that too.  He continues in verse 2: “The Lord rebuilds Jerusalem; He gathers Israel’s exiled people. 3 He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.” The experience that follows praise?  Reconciliation and healing.  Our Heavenly father responds to His children with their hands lifted high in praise as a loving parent responds when a hurt child lifts their hands and cries for help: He picks us up and binds our wounds.  He heals broken hearts, He brings back the wayward, He restores sinners.

The reason He can? Verse 4 and following: “He counts the number of the stars; He gives names to all of them. 5 Our Lord is great, vast in power; His understanding is infinite. 6 The Lord helps the afflicted but brings the wicked to the ground. 7 Sing to the Lord with thanksgiving; play the lyre to our God, 8 who covers the sky with clouds, prepares rain for the earth, and causes grass to grow on the hills. 9 He provides the animals with their food, and the young ravens, what they cry for. 10 He is not impressed by the strength of a horse; He does not value the power of a man.” When all seems helpless and out of our reach, it’s comforting to know that our infinitely powerful and all-knowing God counts and names the stars.

Feeling broken today?  Remember these truths and verse 11 “The Lord values those who fear Him, those who put their hope in His faithful love.”

– Brad