The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears, and delivers them out of all their troubles. The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart, and saves such as have a contrite spirit. (Psalm 34:17-18)
There is no one, not even the simplest of people, who would serve a meal to others using broken or chipped dishes and utensils. To do something like this would be signaling that one simply doesn’t care about appearances or exhibiting thoughtful consideration for a guest. On the other hand, Scripture clearly establishes that using broken vessels is exactly what God prefers to do. As David said on another occasion and in another psalm, “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, a broken and a contrite heart—these; O God, You will not despise” (Psalm 51:17).
Yet it is more than just a willingness to use broken vessels; God draws near to those who are broken and contrite. When they cry out to Him in their despair, He is quick to turn His ear and attention to them because His heart is attentive to those who have been afflicted and oppressed. This stands in stark contrast to His posturing in regard to the proud and arrogant. As it is written, “Everyone proud in heart is an abomination to the Lord” (Proverbs 16:5) and, consequently, “He resists the proud” while giving grace to the humble (1 Peter 5:5).
There are none among us who are not broken in some way; the difference, however, is that there are some who are willing to acknowledge it as opposed to those who continue in the fantasy that they are not. But for those humble enough to call upon the Almighty, He repairs what is chipped and restores what is broken and fashions us into vessels of honor fit for His house. It is quite amazing that the Sovereign Lord of the Universe cares so much for what is broken among His creation — and yet He is. As it is written, “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” (Isaiah 57:15).
Blessings and Shalom,
Bill
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