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Brokenness – God’s Purpose
The priceless perfume falls to the floor, scattered in brokenness. In disbelief we face two choices: wasted or restored. When facing our personal brokenness, any hope of restoration often eludes us. It seems safer to accept the loss -- unaware of God’s hand in brokenness.
God calls us each of us according to His purpose, assuring us that in all things, His goodness endures.
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Freed from Shame – “. . . I broke the bars of your yoke and enabled you to walk with heads held high” (Leviticus 26:13). As we walk closely with God, our burden of guilt is broken.
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Delivered from Schemes – “We escaped like a bird from a hunter’s trap. The trap is broken, and we are free!” (Psalm 124:7). Praise God for the countless times He has delivered us from our enemies.
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Rescued in Humility – “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those who are crushed in spirit” (Psalm 34:18). By surrendering our stubbornness and arrogance, He accepts our brokenness and hears the prayers of the righteous.
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Healed from Within – “But he was wounded and crushed for our sins . . . and we were healed!” (Isaiah 53:5). Those who trust in the Lord receive inner peace, as His brokenness satisfies God’s price for our sin.
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Restored Eternally – “. . . He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed” (Luke 4:18). Jesus, the long-waited Messiah, fulfills the Isaiah 61:1-2 prophesy of renewal.
Brokenness – God’s Wrath
Brokenness represents God’s authority over all other kingdoms. The mighty hunter Nimrod, tried to build a monument of human achievement above God (Genesis 11:1-4). As a result, Babel’s (Babylon) people were scattered (broken apart). Centuries later, the Babylonian kings, Nebuchadnezzar and Belshazzar, felt the crushing judgment of God’s wrath (Daniel 4:28-33; 5:22-30). Both kings experienced “The Most High God” (Daniel 4:17, 24, 25, 32, 34; 5:18, 21). Even today, Babylon still represents an economic/political system that compromises God’s will and His Word. We must guard our attitudes and actions, otherwise we also risk the consequences.
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Covetness – “‘Now at last -- look! Here come the chariots and warriors!’ Then the watchmen said, ‘Babylon is fallen! All the idols of Babylon lie broken on the ground!’” (Isaiah 21:9)
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Disceit – “This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: ‘I will break the yoke of the king of Babylon . . . (Jeremiah 28:2, 4)
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Pride – “This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘The wide walls of Babylon will be leveled to the ground . . .’” (Jeremiah 51:58).
Brokenness – God’s Love
Through brokenness, we understand sacrificial love. Mary, the sister of Martha and Lazarus, offered the broken vial of expensive perfume to express her devotion to Jesus (John 12:1-3). Jesus, the Bread of Life, broke and multiplied the loaves illustrating none would go hungry (Matthew 14:19-20; John 6:35).
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