Dear Fathers, Brothers, Sisters in Christ,
Wisdom 2:1a, 12-22
Psalm 34:17-18, 19-20, 21 and 23
John 7:1-2, 10, 25-30
The Lord is close to the brokenhearted,
and those who are crushed in spirit He saves.
(Psalm 34:19)
Psalm 34 is a comfort, a balm, a source of healing for those who suffer from deeply hurtful rejection, loss, or persecution. No matter the cause of one’s brokenheartedness, no matter the reason one is crushed in spirit, if a soul is willing to listen to the Lord, to sit at his feet like a child and to soak in words of healing, such as those offered in Psalm 34, then that soul will experience peace and healing.
The Lord saves those who are crushed in spirit. Yasha is the Hebrew word for "save" and the root of Jesus’ name in Hebrew, Jeshua. Yasha connotes liberation, freedom from oppression. It means giving open space to those who are constricted. In a New Testament application of the promise of liberation, our Lord proclaims, "Come to me all you heavily burdened and I will refresh you."
(see Matthew 11:28)
In other words, Jesus tells those who are crushed in spirit: "I will save you, I will liberate you from bondage; I will give you space and freedom from the oppressor who has you bound. I, Jeshua, your Savior, will set your spirit free."
Jesus desires to heal, to save, and to restore crushed spirits in the here and now, in this life, as well as in the final and total healing of eternity, when every tear shall be wiped away.
(Revelation 21:4)
Do not be sad and do not weep, for today is holy to our Lord. Do not be saddened this day, for rejoicing in the Lord must be your strength!
(Nehemiah 8:9-10)
Father Ed Bakker
Wisdom 2:1a, 12-22
Psalm 34:17-18, 19-20, 21 and 23
John 7:1-2, 10, 25-30
The Lord is close to the brokenhearted,
and those who are crushed in spirit He saves.
(Psalm 34:19)
Psalm 34 is a comfort, a balm, a source of healing for those who suffer from deeply hurtful rejection, loss, or persecution. No matter the cause of one’s brokenheartedness, no matter the reason one is crushed in spirit, if a soul is willing to listen to the Lord, to sit at his feet like a child and to soak in words of healing, such as those offered in Psalm 34, then that soul will experience peace and healing.
The Lord saves those who are crushed in spirit. Yasha is the Hebrew word for "save" and the root of Jesus’ name in Hebrew, Jeshua. Yasha connotes liberation, freedom from oppression. It means giving open space to those who are constricted. In a New Testament application of the promise of liberation, our Lord proclaims, "Come to me all you heavily burdened and I will refresh you."
(see Matthew 11:28)
In other words, Jesus tells those who are crushed in spirit: "I will save you, I will liberate you from bondage; I will give you space and freedom from the oppressor who has you bound. I, Jeshua, your Savior, will set your spirit free."
Jesus desires to heal, to save, and to restore crushed spirits in the here and now, in this life, as well as in the final and total healing of eternity, when every tear shall be wiped away.
(Revelation 21:4)
Do not be sad and do not weep, for today is holy to our Lord. Do not be saddened this day, for rejoicing in the Lord must be your strength!
(Nehemiah 8:9-10)
Father Ed Bakker
