The LORD is near to those who have a broken heart,
And saves such as have a contrite spirit.—Psalm 34:18
I don’t know who needs to hear this today, but I did…and I didn’t even know I did until I read it. I love knowing that as I shelter under the shadow of His wings and make Him my strong habitation He heals my broken heart and binds up my wounds, BUT what I love thinking on even more is simply that He is near. Knowing that makes everything all right. Knowing that fills my heart with peace and and enables me to take courage and trust Him. These two verses bookend the Gospel of Matthew.
So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying: "Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel," which is translated, "God with us."—Matthew 1:22-23
and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen.—Matthew 28:20
Isaiah 41:10 says this:
Fear not, for I am with you;
Be not dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you,
Yes, I will help you,
I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.'
And Joshua 1:9 this:
Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go."
Earlier in Psalm 34, David reminds us that the angel (or Angel) of the Lord encamps all around those who fear Him, and delivers them.
Beloved…The goodness of God endures continually. The Lord is near to all who call upon Him…To all who call upon Him in truth. He will fulfill the desire of those who fear Him; He also will hear their cry and save them. He is our hiding place. We are hid in the secret place of His presence. He preserves us from trouble and surrounds us with songs of deliverance. He is our help and our shield. We will wait for Him and rejoice because we have trusted in His holy name. May His mercy, be upon us, just as we hope in Him.
But it is good for me to draw near to God;
I have put my trust in the Lord GOD,
That I may declare all Your works.—Psalm 73:28
Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.—James 4:7-10
Have you not known?
Have you not heard?
The everlasting God, the LORD,
The Creator of the ends of the earth,
Neither faints nor is weary.
His understanding is unsearchable.
He gives power to the weak,
And to those who have no might He increases strength.
Even the youths shall faint and be weary,
And the young men shall utterly fall,
But those who wait on the LORD
Shall renew their strength;
They shall mount up with wings like eagles,
They shall run and not be weary,
They shall walk and not faint.—Isaiah 40:28-31
