Smashed Rainbows

The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them;
he delivers them from all their troubles.
The Lord is close to the broken-hearted
and saves those who are crushed in spirit.

Psalm 34: 17–18 NIV®

The Psalms have been valued throughout the history of the Church.
Martin Luther said, ‘in the Psalms we look into the heart of every saint.’
A modern commentator put it this way: ‘Every psalm seems to have my name and address on it.’
It is the most human part of the Old Testament, which everyone can readily identify with.
The word ‘psalm’ literally means ‘twang’ or ‘pluck’,
referring to the stringed instruments that were used by the Israelites
to accompany the singing of psalms. (Unlocking the Bible by David Pawson)

Psalm 34 is one of my favourite psalms because it starts off as a psalm of praise,
a psalm in which David speaks of God’s comfort and protection over the righteous:
He is alongside us in whatever we are going through.
Also the importance of showing reverence and respect to God.
In his book Prayer, Praise and Promises Warren Wiersbe
gives an extensive commentary on the psalm; with respect to verses 17–18 entitled ‘Smashed Rainbows’.

A little girl and her Mother were walking down a sidewalk after a rainstorm.
Someone had spilled some automobile oil on the pavement.
Seeing that the little girl said, ’Mommy, look at all of the smashed rainbows!’

[As we know, during this coronavirus pandemic, the rainbow is being used and recognised as a symbol of HOPE – my comment.]

Maybe your rainbows have been smashed and you have a broken heart.
Perhaps you don’t feel close to God because of your heartache.
What can you do to be near too Him?

First: keep in mind that nearness is likeness. ‘The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart’ (v. 18).
You can get as close to Him as you want.
Draw near to Him, and He will draw near to you.
Remember God knows the meaning of a broken heart.
Jesus Christ literally experienced one. He was a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief (Isaiah 53:3 ).
Let your experiences make you more like Jesus, and he will draw near to you.

Second: remember that God gives grace to the humble.
God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble (James 4: 6).
David also said, A broken and a contrite heart — these O God, You will not despise (Psalm 51: 17).
Our Lord came to heal the broken hearted (Luke 4: 18).

Let us pray: Father God we give you all the pieces, all our brokenness,
those of us who are mourning for the loss of loved ones,
those who are fearing the results of tests,
those who are fearing the loss of income due to the loss of employment;
those who are fearful of catching the virus because of its devastating effects.
Father, we call on you for help in these tragic and challenging times;
we know that you love us and understand what we are going through
and you will comfort and protect us.
In all humility, we draw near to you,
and give you the broken pieces of our hearts, our broken rainbows.
Help us through prayer to get alongside others who are broken by grief and anxieties.
In you, Lord, we put our trust.

Lord have mercy,
Christ have mercy.

Amen

Glynne Gordon-Carter