Psalm 34 (33):19Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

The prophecy of Isaiah substantiates this: "The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, for whose sake He anointed Me, to preach good tidings to the poor, to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and recovery of sight to the blind" (Isaiah 61:1). Since the Healer was sent for those who are brokenhearted, the phrase "near is the Lord" gains significance. I share these words with you, humble and brokenhearted, that you may find joy and patience in the hope of what lies ahead. The brokenness of one’s heart dismantles human thoughts. The person who devalues worldly things, surrenders to God's word, and allows divine thoughts to reign within, will experience a broken heart, transforming it into an unyielding sacrifice before the Lord. "A broken and humble heart God will not despise" (Psalm 50:19). Thus, "near is the Lord to the brokenhearted, and He saves the humble in spirit." One who is free from arrogance and pride in worldly matters possesses both a broken heart and humility of spirit. It is true that one who lives in sin may also seem humble, as nothing diminishes a person like sin. Accordingly, we refer to those who have fallen from grace and lost their purity as humble. This is illustrated by Amnon, who rose against Tamar and "humbled her" (2 Sam. 13:14). Consequently, those who have been stripped of their soul's dignity, cast down by sin and weighed down like a serpent on the ground, are termed humble; yet not in spirit, as their humility lacks virtue. In contrast, those infused with the Holy Spirit willingly humble themselves before others, as the Apostle describes themselves as "servants of all" (cf.: 2 Cor. 4:5) and “to all the trampling of all things until now,” also stating, "as the world is cut off" (1 Cor. 4:13). They embrace humble service in a spiritual sense, placing themselves last to be exalted first in the kingdom of heaven. The Lord acknowledges them as blessed, declaring, "Blessed are the poor in spirit" (Matt. 5:3).

He expressed beautifully, I know how to be humble, meaning he understood where, how, to what extent, and for what purpose he was to fulfill his responsibilities and obligations. The Pharisee lacked this understanding of humility and was thus rejected, while the tax collector embraced it and was consequently justified.

It is accurate to say that everything is filled with God’s presence, for there is nowhere He does not reside; yet, in a mysterious manner unique to His nature, He often appears absent to those who do not cherish Him, particularly in times of peril. This closeness is predominantly experienced by the Saints and those who possess a contrite heart. Theodoret remarks that God favors those with humble thoughts, recognizing them as the brokenhearted. He saves the humble in spirit. Humility and contrition typically precede each other; humility manifests first, followed by a deeper humility as discussed here.

However, humility in spirit does not necessarily align with outward appearances of modesty. Rather, it is a genuine humility of soul, not merely a façade prompted by external pressure, poverty, or other conditions. It is the inner disposition of the heart and mind that reflects true humility, independent of external circumstances. As the great Basil emphasizes, those who are truly humble in spirit are those for whom, as the Savior himself states, the kingdom of heaven is promised. "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." A person who is devoid of pride and indifferent to worldly matters embodies both a broken heart and a humble spirit.

Similar to how a mother comforts her frightened child by saying, “I am with you; do not be afraid,” the Lord's omnipresence ensures His continual proximity. However, there is a unique closeness experienced by the righteous, dependent on their sincere devotion to the Lord. It is their contrite and humble hearts that invite the Lord’s presence and garner a wealth of blessings. Conversely, the arrogant and presumptuous create distance from God, leading their support to crumble like a fragile reed. As St. Augustine wisely states, “God is high; let the Christian be humbled! If you wish for the Almighty to draw close to you, practice humility.” This profound truth suggests that while God is exalted above all, no matter how much we humble ourselves, we cannot reach Him; rather, it’s through our humility that He descends to our level. St. Basil the Great articulates this sentiment through David's voice: “The Lord is near!” I communicate this to you, humble souls who have set aside your vanity, in hopes of granting you joy and patience. The one who is free from arrogance and not prideful in earthly matters possesses a broken heart and a humble spirit. Blessed Theodoret observes that the brokenhearted are the humble in their thoughts; thus the Lord draws near to them, favorably receiving their prayers. A brokenhearted individual is one whose heart is heavy with sorrow, while a humble spirit is one burdened by trials. Altogether, these traits characterize a person who perceives his life and surroundings as desolate, finding no refuge within himself or outside. Hence, in this state of brokenness and humility, fully relying on the Lord, he cries out to Him incessantly for assistance. This total reliance draws the Lord closer, prompting Him to be swift in response, for “a broken and humble heart God will not despise” (Psalm 50:19). The Lord is near to save. “I will protect him,” He promises, “I will sustain him and honor him” (Ps. 90:14-15), indicating that God does not forsake the righteous in times of suffering and persecution when they call out in their brokenness but is continually present by His grace, granting them endurance and heavenly comfort, enabling them to withstand their trials with bravery, or even lifting them from their burdens and illuminating them with joy after the shadows of sorrow (cf. Irenaeus, Archbishop of Pskov).

As our sins serve as a barrier between us and God, it is through penitential brokenness and sincere confession that this separation is removed. When it is declared that the Lord is close to the brokenhearted, we are led to understand the special closeness afforded to those who repent. We distance ourselves from God when we succumb to sin and desires but return to Him through repentance, humility, and mourning over our transgressions. In this vulnerability, the merciful Lord meets us, receiving us into His Fatherly embrace and restoring what we have forfeited. Those who feel sorrow over their sins must be reminded of the Lord’s nearness, for in profound brokenness, the enemy often instills despairing thoughts: you are lost; the Lord has forsaken you. The reminder holds true: when you are broken, the Lord draws near. Do not lose heart. Once you embark on the path of repentance, a broken heart will not depart from reverence for the Lord, guiding you through all of life’s journeys. This is why St. Basil the Great states, “The brokenness of heart dismantles human reasoning. The one who has renounced the mundane and surrendered to God’s will, captivating his thoughts with divine matters, achieves a broken heart, transforming it into an offering that God receives with favor.” It is also pertinent to note St. Basil’s reflection on the curious condition of human thoughts: “A person engrossed in sin is indeed humbled, for nothing diminishes one more than sin. Those who have lost their dignity, reduced by sin, are pinned to the ground, unable to rise straight, yet they remain oblivious to their own humiliation. Conversely, those freed by grace from sinful captivity and perfected in goodness regain their true dignity—they humbly acknowledge their status, as the Apostle declares, becoming servants to all men for Christ (cf. 2 Corinthians 4:5), shunned by the world (cf. 1 Corinthians 4:13). They may be the last in their self-perception, yet they are foremost in God’s sight, whom He blesses, declaring, “Blessed are the poor in spirit” (Matt. 5:3).

Furthermore, reiterating this idea, it is said: “Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers them from them all.” He promises to wipe away every tear from their eyes, as expressed in Revelation 21:4. Through this, we understand that while God does not assure His faithful ones complete immunity from hardship, illness, mistreatment, persecution, or slander during this life, He does promise them spiritual solace both now and in eternity. The Hebrew text refers to the singular: “many afflictions to the righteous, and the Lord shall deliver him from them all.” Nevertheless, the essence remains unchanged; the Prophet conveys that deliverance from trials is promised not just to the righteous individually, but to all of humanity.