The LORD is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the LORD delivers him out of them all. Psalm 34:18-19
There are many things that can break our hearts. When we suffer loss of those things we love and consider precious, our hearts break. This is especially true when these losses are not recoverable. It is interesting that John chooses this section and applies it to Christ’s sufferings (John 19:36 from Ps 34:20). The Lord is near the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit by being broken and crushed on the cross that He might draw near. The nearness of our God to us came at a terrible cost.
He was crushed that he might comfort. He was broken that he might bless. And that blessing does not guarantee the absence of afflictions, for we are promised MANY afflictions. Rather the blessing is that the afflictions are not the last word. God’s action on our behalf is always the last word! (Isa 43:2)