Psalm 51:17 states “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.” This verse comes from King David’s psalm of repentance after his adultery with Bathsheba and arranging the death of her husband Uriah. David had sinned greatly, but he cried out to God with a repentant heart, asking for forgiveness and renewal. God honored David’s sincere repentance and desire to be cleansed from his sin.
A “broken spirit” refers to a spirit that is grieved over sin, no longer prideful or rebellious against God. A “contrite heart” is one that is crushed with sorrow and regret over disobedience to God. Rather than offering ritual sacrifices, David knew that what God truly desired was inward repentance and humility. God is close to those with this attitude, because they realize their dependence on His mercy and grace (Psalm 34:18).
The sacrifices of God are not merely external rituals, but a heart turned toward Him in humility and repentance. These inner qualities are more important to God than outward ceremonies or offerings. He will not despise, or reject, the person who comes to Him with genuine sorrow for their sin and a desire to change.
There are several important implications we can draw from Psalm 51:17:
- God cares first and foremost about our heart condition over outward religious practices. Rituals and offerings presented to God mean nothing if the heart is not sincerely repentant (see Isaiah 1:11-17).
- God will forgive anyone who comes to Him with humility and true repentance, no matter how grievous the sin. David was guilty of adultery and murder, yet found forgiveness from God.
- Repentance requires honesty with oneself and God about the seriousness of one’s sin. Only when the heart is “broken” over the gravity of sin can one find God’s grace.
- Repentance is necessary for cleansing, renewal, and restored fellowship with God. David cried out for God to purge him and wash him clean (Psalm 51:2, 7).
- A repentant heart is one that turns away from sin and turns toward obedience to God. David prayed for a renewed steadfast spirit and willing spirit to obey God (Psalm 51:10, 12).
- When we sin as believers, we cannot let pride or shame keep us from running to God. Just like David, we must cry out to Him for mercy, cleansing, and restoration.
In the New Testament, Jesus reiterates that God desires mercy, not ritual sacrifice (Matthew 9:13, 12:7). Jesus came to heal and forgive broken, contrite hearts – He said the Father sent Him to bind up broken hearts (Luke 4:18). We can only receive cleansing and salvation through repentance and faith in Christ.
In summary, Psalm 51:17 teaches us that God values a heart of humility and sincerity above all else. When we admit our sin and turn to Him in repentance, He will not reject us. God will forgive and restore the broken and contrite in heart who put their trust in Him.
1. The meaning of a “broken spirit”
What does it mean to have a “broken spirit” before God? A broken spirit speaks of an inner spirit that is completely humbled and submissive to God. The hard heart that is stubborn and self-willed is now crushed and yielded. Pride, self-righteousness, and self-sufficiency have been broken down through godly sorrow over sin.
Some characteristics of a broken spirit include:
- Deep sorrow for sin and repentance
- Honest self-examination and awareness of guilt
- Contrition and remorse over the effects of sin
- Emptiness of self and desperate need for God’s mercy
- Humility and spiritual poverty
- Crying out to God for forgiveness and inner cleansing
- Pain and anguish over the gravity of offenses against a holy God
A broken spirit is called for numerous times in Scripture. For example:
The LORD is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit. (Psalm 34:18)
You save the humble but bring low those whose eyes are haughty. (Psalm 18:27)
It is better to be lowly in spirit with the poor than to divide the spoil with the proud. (Proverbs 16:19)
When our spirit is broken and humbled before the Lord, He can then revive, renew, and restore us by His Spirit. Our brokenness leads to wholeness when we turn to God.
2. The meaning of a “contrite heart”
What does it mean to have a contrite heart? The word contrite in Hebrew means “crushed, broken into pieces.” A contrite heart is one that is crushed with grief and sorrow over sin. It is a heart that mourns over offenses against God, rather than make excuses.
Characteristics of a contrite heart include:
- Sincere remorse and regret for sin
- Taking full responsibility for wrong thoughts, attitudes, and actions
- A repentant spirit that hates evil and desires to change
- Acknowledgment of unworthiness before a holy God
- Earnest pleading for God’s grace and restoration
- Seeking holiness and purity before the Lord
Like a broken spirit, a contrite heart demonstrates godly sorrow that leads to repentance. For example:
The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise. (Psalm 51:17)
For all those things My hand has made, and all those things exist,” says the LORD. “But on this one will I look: on him who is poor and of a contrite spirit, and who trembles at My word. (Isaiah 66:2)
Therefore I despise myself, and repent in dust and ashes. (Job 42:6)
When we come before God with a contrite heart, fully repenting and grieving over our sin, He hears our prayers and grants us forgiveness.
3. God will not despise a broken and contrite heart
One of the most beautiful truths of Psalm 51:17 is that God will not despise, reject, or spurn a broken and contrite heart. Even though we may have sinned grievously and disappointed God, He will never turn away the person who comes to Him in humility and repentance.
Here are some of the blessings God promises to the broken and contrite:
- Forgiveness and cleansing – He pardons iniquity and washes us whiter than snow when we repent (Psalm 51:7, Isaiah 1:18)
- Nearness of His presence – He is close to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit (Psalm 34:18)
- Spiritual restoration – He binds up the brokenhearted, comforts all who mourn, and gives a crown of beauty for ashes (Isaiah 61:1-3)
- Exaltation – He lifts up the humble and gives grace to the lowly (James 4:10, 1 Peter 5:5-6)
- Joy and gladness – He turns wailing into dancing and gives joy for mourning (Psalm 30:11)
- Spiritual renewal – He revives the humble and contrite ones and gives new life by His Spirit (Isaiah 57:15)
God honors and receives the one who comes to Him in humility and repentance. When we recognize our spiritual poverty and desperation for Him, He meets us in our brokenness and gives us His abundant grace.
4. Examples of brokenness and contrition in the Bible
Many figures in the Bible demonstrate what it means to have a broken and contrite spirit before God:
- David – In Psalm 51, he cried out to God from the depths of repentance and pleaded for inward cleansing.
- Peter – After denying Christ, he wept bitterly, humbled by his own weakness (Luke 22:54-62).
- Job – At the end of his suffering, he repented in dust and ashes before God (Job 42:1-6).
- Isaiah – Seeing the glory of the Lord, he lamented his sinfulness and unclean lips (Isaiah 6:1-7).
- The tax collector – He beat his breast and pleaded for mercy with humility (Luke 18:9-14).
- The prodigal son – Returning home, he recognized his unworthiness as a son (Luke 15:11-32).
Their hearts were not proud and self-justifying. They mourned over their sins, they acknowledged their guilt, and they came before God emptied of self-righteousness to seek His grace and forgiveness.
5. How to develop a broken and contrite heart
Cultivating a broken and contrite spirit happens over time as we walk with God. Here are some ways we can nurture contrition and humility:
- Ask God to reveal areas of sin and convict you of specific offenses against Him.
- Examine your life prayerfully before God to recognize patterns of sin.
- Study Scripture to understand God’s holy character and His hatred of sin.
- Take time to grieve and feel sorrow when you’ve sinned, rather than rush to ask for forgiveness.
- Realize the gravity and consequences of sin and rebellion against your Creator.
- Cultivate spiritual poverty – recognize your inability to please God in your own strength.
- Ask God to break down areas of stubbornness, pride, and self-will.
- Flee from sinful influences and avoid compromising situations.
- Fill your heart with gratitude and praise for God’s mercy, grace, and patience.
As we grow closer to the Lord, we become more aware of our weaknesses, failures, and tendencies to sin. This produces godly sorrow and repentance. But remember, we should never wallow in discouragement – God is ready to lift up those who humble themselves before Him!
6. Repentance is a lifelong attitude
Possessing a heart of continual contrition and humility before God is not a one-time deal – it’s meant to be the attitude of a believer’s whole life. Just as we grow and mature, we must also grow in awareness of our sinfulness and dependence on the Lord.
Here are some reasons why repentance must become a lifestyle:
- We will continue to struggle with sin until we are glorified in heaven.
- Pride can subtly creep back in if we do not vigilantly walk in humility.
- God often allows failures to remind us not to rely on our own wisdom and strength.
- The closer we draw to God’s holiness, the more we see the remaining impurities in our own life.
- A heart that is quick to repent of newly revealed sins pleases the Lord.
- Confession and repentance maintain fellowship with God when we stumble.
- Jesus calls us to daily deny ourselves, pick up our cross, and follow Him.
Repentance and contrition are essential parts of the normal Christian life. Like the tax collector, we cry out, “God, have mercy on me, a sinner” as we walk in humility before our God (Luke 18:13).
7. Balance contrition with faith in God’s grace
While a broken and contrite heart is exalted by God, we must be careful not to go too far into despair. Though we should grieve over our sin, an excessive hopeless focus on our own depravity is unhealthy. As we humble ourselves, we must also keep our eyes on Jesus and maintain faith in God’s amazing grace.
Here are some ways to maintain balance as we walk in repentance:
- Remember that Christ’s blood washes us clean and gives us new life.
- Focus on God’s promises of forgiveness and redemption for those who repent.
- Let godly sorrow lead to joyful gratitude for mercy, rather than despair.
- Allow experiencing God’s kindness to lead you to repentance (Romans 2:4).
- Focus on Christ’s righteousness given to us, not just our remaining sinfulness.
- Rejoice in the spiritual healing and restoration God brings.
- Meditate on God’s amazing grace in sending His Son for broken sinners.
Walking in humility and repentance does not mean denying that we are dearly loved children of God. Jesus came for the broken. We can have joyful confidence in our gracious Father even as we continually recognize our dependence on His mercy.
8. Examples of contrition and repentance from church history
Many great men and women of faith throughout church history have demonstrated brokenness and godly sorrow over sin. Here are a few examples:
- Martin Luther – The Reformer was relentless in warning against pride and urging humility and repentance.
- John Calvin – He promoted frequent confession and repentance and sought personal holiness and purity.
- St. Augustine – His Confessions reveal a contrite spirit over his reckless early years of sin.
- Charles Spurgeon – Called the “Prince of Preachers,” he preached the need for a humble and contrite heart.
- Sarah Edwards – The wife of Jonathan Edwards sought to cultivate humility, contrition, and self-denial.
- David Brainerd – The missionary cried out in his diary for more holiness, humility, and purity of heart.
From the earliest Desert Fathers to modern times, many devoted followers of Christ have recognized their own brokenness and sought to walk in humble repentance by God’s grace.
9. How does this point us to Christ?
As the perfect Lamb of God, Jesus alone had the truly broken spirit and crushed heart we need to be made right with God. Though He was sinless, Christ took on the excruciating sorrow and grief for sin that we deserve:
Surely He took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered Him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted. But He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on Him, and by His wounds we are healed. (Isaiah 53:4-5)
Only through faith in Christ’s sacrifice can we find forgiveness and cleansing for our sin. The brokenness we experience over our own sin should point us to Christ’s once-for-all brokenness for us.
Turning to Jesus in repentance and faith means finding mercy, renewal, and transformation for our hearts. We can rejoice that His perfect righteousness covers our sinfulness.
Our lifelong contrition finds its comfort and hope in the Savior who was crushed for our iniquities so we could be made new. As we humble ourselves, we receive more grace and share more profoundly in Christ’s death and resurrection life (James 4:6-10).
A heart broken over sin is blessed because it leads us to the healing and redemption found only in the Savior’s love.