The Sacrifices Of God

“The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; and broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.”  (Psalms 51:17, NIV 1984)

My Musings – A “broken spirit and a contrite heart” are those in which the obstinacy of pride has been replaced by the humility of repentance. (Smith, J. E. (1996). The wisdom literature and Psalms (p. 295). Joplin, MO: College Press Pub. Co.).  I watched a lot of westerns when I was young (still do when I can).  A spirited horse had to be broken before it could be of any use.  A poor analogy perhaps, but the one that came to mind when I read this verse.  Our pride and self-centeredness must be broken before we can be of any use for the Kingdom.

The sense of broken and contrite in the original language is shattered and crushed.  Seems pretty severe, yet it brings…