“You will not be delight in sacrifice, or I would give it; you will not be pleased with a burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and a contrite heart, O God, You will not despise” – Psalm 51:16, 17
Kintsugi Pottery: (金継ぎ)
Kintsugi is a Japanese art form that involves repairing broken pottery with lacquered resin generally mixed with gold dust. Kintsugi means, “Golden Joinery.” This work restores pottery to be useful again, but also enhances its aesthetic appeal by highlighting cracks and imperfections. The Japanese philosophy behind “Kintsugi” believes the idea that brokenness and repair are part of an object’s history. The end is greater than the beginning, as it becomes beautiful and extremely valuable, more than in its original state.
Kintsugi Pottery is a beautiful picture of Christ’s redemption, taking our brokenness, and putting us back together, giving us His wholeness and salvation.
The Paradox of Brokenness
Broken things are generally worthless things. A thing broken has lost its ability to function as it once did. But to God, a broken life can be a story of His grace and redemption, and it can reflect His workmanship and repairing of a broken heart. In this text, we can read David’s true heart of repentance before God. David realized that God would never be honored with a sacrifice or offering that doesn’t come from the heart. How many times have I seen in my own life, that I was trying to give something to God, or do something for Him, as my own idea of an offering to God, to try and compensate for sins and failures and feelings of unworthiness. God however, was always looking for my heart to be broken, humble, and repentant. That is always His greatest delight.
Understanding Psalm 51:16,17
Sacrifice vs. True Repentance: In Israel, sacrifices were an daily part of worship and atonement for sins, but an Israelite could wholly comply with the law and offer a ritual sacrifice, yet void of any true heartfelt repentance. When David wrote the phrase “the sacrifices of God are a broken spirit …” he had a revelation of what God truly desires from us His followers, and this isn’t an external compliant sacrifice, but an inward transformation of the heart, that affects our life and lifestyle. For the sacrifices of brokenness, Jesus gives us the exchance of: a changed life. Broken, yet made whole by His atoning blood.
Broken Spirit: A “broken spirit” refers to a state of humility and recognition of our failures, sins, and shortcomings before God. This is evidenced when we feel in our heart a deep sense of regret for our sins and actions that separate us from God.
Contrite Heart: A “contrite heart” is what God is looking for in us. This means that we’re crushed by our sin before God. Being contrite means that I want a change of heart, that can only come from the gift of repentance. It’s not just feeling sorry but having a sincere intention to see God work in us to change our behavior as we move forward in life.
God’s Response: The great beauty of David’s revelation is seen at the end of the verse, where He prophetically declares the heart of God towards us. David says concerning a contrite heart and broken spirit, that “God – “You will not despise.” Settle this in your heart, God does not despise you. He invites you and welcomes you to be restored to Him. He is filled with mercy and compassion rather than disdain. He will not reject you. He receives you. “He that comes to me, I will no in way, cast out.” – John 6:39(b)
Have you given all the broken pieces of your life to Christ? If you surrender in brokenness and humility, Jesus will receive your repentant heart. You will become His valued prized possession, and now as a child of God, He will put the pieces of all of your failures back together. His work in you will display His beauty.
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