Vol. H-0004 September 1999 No. H-0009

A BROKEN AND CONTRITE HEART

First Posted On September 1999

​"A broken and contrite heart, O God, Thou wilt not despise." (Ps. 51:17b)

What is the condition of your heart? I don't mean physically, but spiritually. What truth resides in your heart and from where does that truth come?  Since we were born our minds have been bombarded with information. An endless list of sources compete for space in our minds - our parents, friends, schools, the church, the media, etc. Some of this information becomes a part of us and becomes the truth that resides in our heart. However, what is considered truth by man is not necessarily God's Truth. Only when we allow God's Truth to rule our hearts can we have the heart that He desires for us - a broken and contrite (repentant, sorrowful, humbled) heart.

The Heart of God is where all Truth is. We must seek His Heart if we desire to know His Truth and His Will for our lives. When God's Heart touches our heart we find His Truth. If we remain broken, humble, sorrowful and repentant before Him we will be able to discern His Truth. Then, as we walk in that Truth, we become a demonstration of God's Heart to others.

The Truth that Jesus (Yeshua) of Nazareth is the Messiah has become a line of demarcation between Judaism and Christianity: Jews do not believe that He is the Messiah; Christians do. Many well-meaning Christians who believe they know God's Heart in this matter attempt to inform Jews that they need to know their Messiah Jesus (Yeshua HaMashiach). However, when their focus becomes converting Jews to Christianity they succeed only in driving the Jews away from their Messiah Yeshua. It is not about 'converting' to Yeshua...  it is about a RELATIONSHIP with their Mashiach Yeshua. When they tell the Jews that they can no longer be Jewish after they accept Yeshua, this, too, drives them away. It is also untrue! Jews, as well as all mankind, need to know and accept their Messiah Yeshua. However, it is not necessary to relinquish Jewish identity when accepting Messiah Yeshua. Yeshua Himself never renounced Judaism. "Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill." (Matt. 5:17). He celebrated the Jewish festivals (Luke 22:8). He taught in the synagogues (Mark 6:2). He is the Messiah and He is still Jewish, and always will be. So why should those Jews who accept Him as Messiah have to renounce their Judaism? Paul continued to assert his Jewishness after accepting Yeshua as Messiah. "I am a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia" (Acts 22:3). 'For I too am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin." (Rom. 11:1) Where is the Heart of God in telling the Jews that they can no longer be Jews? Unfortunately, as a result of this un-Truth-full teaching, there are now Jewish organizations (I.e. Jews for Judaism) whose goal is to "protect" Jews from the proselytizing of Christian missionaries, as well as from those Jews who have accepted Yeshua Ha Mashiach.

What is the condition of your heart? "I am telling the truth in Christ, I am not lying, my conscience bearing me witness in the Holy Spirit, that I have great sorrow and unceasing grief in my heart. For I could wish that I myself were accursed, separated  from Christ for the sake of my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh, who are Israelites, to whom belongs the adoption as sons and the glory and the covenants and the giving of the Law and the temple service and the promises, whose are the fathers, and from whom is the Christ according to the flesh, who is over all, God blessed forever. Amen."  (Rom. 9:1-5) [Bold, mine]  Paul was willing to endure separation from his Messiah if it meant that his fellow Jews would come to know Him.  What a love, what a heart he had for all Jews and Israel! This was not something that Paul just decided one day that he was going to do.  He sought the Heart of God, within which he found His Love for Israel. He went to Arabia and spent several years "learning" the Father"s Heart. (Gal. 1:17) And in that Heart Paul found  Yahweh's everlasting love for His People Israel. "From the standpoint of the gospel they are enemies for your sake, but from the standpoint of God's choice they are beloved for the sake of the fathers; for the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable"(Rom. 11:28, 29).  Our hearts for God's Chosen People Israel should be as Paul's.  We must seek Him, His Heart. We must hear Him, His Truth. We must welcome Him, His Love for His People, into our hearts.

What about our Jewish brothers and sisters and the condition of their hearts? It was through David that Psalm 51 (quoted above) was written, as well as Psalm 34.  'The Lord is near to the brokenhearted, and saves those who are crushed (contrite) in spirit." (v.18) They, too, must have a broken and contrite heart. There is no other way to receive Yahweh's Truth concerning Messiah Yeshua. Unfortunately, in Judaism as well as in Christianity, the heart of the people is crowded with that bombardment of information that leaves little room for Yahweh's Truth. How can a people know their Messiah if they don't know His Father? They must know their Father, Yahweh, first. 

"For just as you once were disobedient to God, but now have been shown mercy because of their disobedience, so these also now have been disobedient, in order that because of the mercy shown to you they also may now be shown mercy.  For God has shut up all in disobedience that He might show mercy to all."  (Rom. 11:30-32)  The intercession of the broken and contrite heart of a believer in Messiah Yeshua is a source from which the heart of a Jew who does not believe in Messiah Yeshua can find this Truth. When we are broken and contrite before God we find His Heart for His People Israel. Once we know His Heart for them we intercede in their behalf that they, too, might be broken and contrite before Him. When they are, they will find His love for them as His People. And in His Heart they will also find that He loves them so much that He sent His Son, Messiah Yeshua, for them - FIRST (Rom.1:16).

Bottom Line

A broken and contrite heart - It's what Gentiles need in order to find God's love for His People Israel. It's what His People Israel need in order to find Him. Oh, how the enemy has manipulated the minds and hearts of man to lead him away from the heart of God! As a result there are Christians who hate Jews and Jews who hate Christians. Isn't it amazing that they share the same God but they don't share His Love for each other!?!

Choice

What is the condition of your heart? Is there room in there for Yahweh's Love for you and for His Love for His People Israel? Do you know your Messiah Yeshua? Perhaps a trip to Arabia, or Albuquerque, or Alpharetta should be on your agenda so that you can spend some time getting to know Yahweh's Heart for you. Be prepared to experience humility and repentance, for only when you are can you truly find His Heart and the Truth contained therein. It's a choice only you can make for yourself.

La Shana Tovah! As the People Israel prepare to celebrate Rosh Hashanah let us joyfully wish them a Happy New Year -   in the Hebrew calendar, year 5760. As each year passes we draw closer to the end of this age, anticipating Yeshua's return. However, with His return comes an eternity of separation from Him for those who do not know their Messiah Yeshua. Our intercession for all of them is urgent, but especially for His People Israel. In Yeshua's Heart we find the extent of that urgency.  "Oh, Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her!  How often I wanted to gather your children together the way a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were not willing.  Behold your house is being left to you desolate!  For I say to you, from now on you shall not see Me until you say, 'BLESSED IS HE WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD!'" (Matt. 23:37-39)

May we never cease our intercession so that His People Israel will know His Heart and know Him, their Messiah Yeshua.

 In Yeshua's Name, Be Blessed!

Baruch Haba B'Shem Adonai

Blessed Is He Who Comes In The Name Of The Lord!