Psalm 34:18

Commentary

Psalm 34:18 (NKJV):
“The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart,
And saves such as have a contrite spirit.”

1. Context of Psalm 34

Psalm 34[i] is a psalm of David, written after his deliverance from Abimelech (recorded in 1 Samuel 21:10–15[ii]). It is a psalm of thanksgiving and instruction, calling God’s people to trust Him in times of fear and affliction.

Psalm 34:1–3 (NKJV):
“I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul shall make its boast in the Lord; The humble shall hear of it and be glad. Oh, magnify the Lord with me, And let us exalt His name together.”

David begins with praise, then moves to testimony of God’s deliverance, and finally exhorts the faithful to trust in God’s goodness. Verse 18 sits within the section where David assures the righteous of God’s care in their suffering.

2. Exegesis of Psalm 34:18

• “The Lord is near”: This phrase emphasises God’s immanence. He is not distant or indifferent but present with His people in their suffering. In Christian theology, this reflects God’s covenantal faithfulness—He draws near to His people in Christ.
• “Broken heart”: This does not mean emotional fragility alone but a deep recognition of sin, weakness, and dependence upon God. It echoes Isaiah 57:15 (NKJV): “For thus says the High and Lofty One Who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: ‘I dwell in the high and holy place, With him who has a contrite and humble spirit, To revive the spirit of the humble, And to revive the heart of the contrite ones.’”
• “Contrite spirit”: Contrition is repentance, sorrow for sin, and humility before God. This is not self-pity but Spirit-wrought recognition of our need for grace.
• “Saves”: Salvation here is both temporal (deliverance from affliction) and eternal (redemption through Christ). David’s experience of rescue foreshadows the greater salvation found in Jesus Christ.

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3. Theological Insights

• God’s Nearness in Christ: In the New Testament, God’s nearness is fulfilled in Jesus Christ. John 1:14 (NKJV): “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.”
• Brokenness as the Path to Grace: Christian theology teaches that repentance and faith are gifts of God’s Spirit. A broken heart is not a human achievement but evidence of God’s work.
• Salvation for the Contrite: The verse assures believers that God saves those who repent. This aligns with the doctrine of justification by faith alone. Romans 5:8 (NKJV): “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

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4. Application to Modern Christian Living

• Comfort in Affliction: Believers facing grief, depression, or hardship can rest in God’s nearness. He is not absent in suffering but present to comfort and sustain.
• Repentance and Humility: Christians must cultivate contrition, acknowledge sin and seek forgiveness. This guards against pride and self-reliance.
• Community Encouragement: Psalm 34 calls believers to magnify the Lord together. In modern church life, this means supporting one another in brokenness, pointing each other to Christ.
• Witness to the World: A broken and contrite spirit is countercultural in a society that prizes self-sufficiency. Christians demonstrate God’s grace by living humbly and dependently on Him.

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5. Meditation Guide

• Reflect: Consider times when your heart has been broken by sin or suffering. How did God draw near?
• Pray: Ask God to give you a contrite spirit, sensitive to sin and open to His grace.
• Rest: Meditate on God’s nearness in Christ. He is not far off but present in your daily life.
• Act: Encourage someone who is broken-hearted, reminding them of God’s saving presence.

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[i] Psalm 34

New King James Version

The Happiness of Those Who Trust in God

A Psalm of David when he pretended madness before Abimelech, who drove him away, and he departed.

34 I will bless the Lord at all times;
His praise shall continually be in my mouth.
2 My soul shall make its boast in the Lord;
The humble shall hear of it and be glad.
3 Oh, magnify the Lord with me,
And let us exalt His name together.

4 I sought the Lord, and He heard me,
And delivered me from all my fears.
5 They looked to Him and were radiant,
And their faces were not ashamed.
6 This poor man cried out, and the Lord heard him,
And saved him out of all his troubles.
7 The angel of the Lord encamps all around those who fear Him,
And delivers them.

8 Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good;
Blessed is the man who trusts in Him!
9 Oh, fear the Lord, you His saints!
There is no want to those who fear Him.
10 The young lions lack and suffer hunger;
But those who seek the Lord shall not lack any good thing.

11 Come, you children, listen to me;
I will teach you the fear of the Lord.
12 Who is the man who desires life,
And loves many days, that he may see good?
13 Keep your tongue from evil,
And your lips from speaking deceit.
14 Depart from evil and do good;
Seek peace and pursue it.

15 The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous,
And His ears are open to their cry.
16 The face of the Lord is against those who do evil,
To cut off the remembrance of them from the earth.

17 The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears,
And delivers them out of all their troubles.
18 The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart,
And saves such as have a contrite spirit.

19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous,
But the Lord delivers him out of them all.
20 He guards all his bones;
Not one of them is broken.
21 Evil shall slay the wicked,
And those who hate the righteous shall be condemned.
22 The Lord redeems the soul of His servants,
And none of those who trust in Him shall be condemned.

[ii] 1 Samuel 21:10-15

New King James Version

David Flees to Gath

10 Then David arose and fled that day from before Saul, and went to Achish the king of Gath. 11 And the servants of Achish said to him, “Is this not David the king of the land? Did they not sing of him to one another in dances, saying:

‘Saul has slain his thousands,
And David his ten thousands’?”

12 Now David took these words to heart, and was very much afraid of Achish the king of Gath. 13 So he changed his behavior before them, pretended madness in their hands, scratched on the doors of the gate, and let his saliva fall down on his beard. 14 Then Achish said to his servants, “Look, you see the man is insane. Why have you brought him to me? 15 Have I need of madmen, that you have brought this fellow to play the madman in my presence? Shall this fellow come into my house?”