How is the Lord near to the brokenhearted (Psalm 34:18)?

Answer

Where is God in the midst of our troubles? According to Psalm 34:18, He is close by: “The Lord is near the brokenhearted; he saves those crushed in spirit” (CSB).

The question of evil and suffering remains one of the critic’s quickest objections to the existence of God, or at least to the existence of the Christian God. Many Christian thinkers have written insightful books on the subject, and there’s a lot to gain from these resources. However, knowing that suffering can coexist with a good God only solves part of the problem. What about when we are suffering? Theodicy may not help much. We need more than that.

The Christian is expected to run to God’s Word for help. Among other passages that bring comfort, Psalm 34:18 offers a reassurance that “the Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”

How does this work? How does God stay close to the brokenhearted? If He’s God and we’re not, shouldn’t He be far away?

A distant god is the deistic conception. The God of the Bible is nothing like that. While He’s self-sufficient, He is interested and vested in His creation. In the pages of Scripture, we see God taking an active role in human history. He communicates with people, gives instruction for proper behavior, judges when needed, and ultimately comes down to redeem them from the guilt of sin Ephesians 1:7.

Multiple passages show God’s heart for the downtrodden and oppressed. Examples are Psalm 82:3, Zechariah 7:10, Proverbs 22:22–23, Amos 5:11, Deuteronomy 10:18, Psalm 146:7–9, and Matthew 25:34–39.

Here are some ways God remains near the brokenhearted:

1. He offers comfort. The apostle Paul is not a stranger to suffering, pain, and persecution. In 2 Corinthians 11:24–28, we get a glimpse of what life was like.

It was no walk in the park for the apostle. It certainly wasn’t the American Dream:

Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was pelted with stones, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my fellow Jews, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false believers. I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked. Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches.