"The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; A broken and a contrite heart, God, You will not despise" (Ps.51:17). What kind of brokenness is spoken of here? David, who wrote this psalm, is referring to the brokenness that is acceptable to God. But there is also another kind of brokenness which is not what is meant here. We need to know the difference.
It is true that all of us have sinned before God, living our own life and doing whatever we wanted. The consequences of this kind of life break us (Ga.6:8). This breaking corrupts us, or destroys or distorts our inner being, our personality. Something in us has become hardened, certain values have become twisted in our mind, and the power of the desires in our flesh has become stronger. We have become broken as a vessel that God was trying to make out of us. Another way of getting broken is from the result of hurt, harm or abuse by other people. This abuse can be of extreme levels or even what is usually ignored as being ordinary. But they all result in our spirit and mind getting warped in different ways. For example, our whole attitude to people or God can be distorted.
Now we need God to make us into a new vessel, as only the Potter can. That is called being born again and then getting more and more sanctified or set apart for God.
If we don't get born again, this brokenness is not acceptable to God. There are millions of people who are broken like this, but who do not even recognise it or feel ashamed about it. They blame God or other people who have hurt them. The right kind of brokenness is to recognise and admit to ourselves and to God that we are messed up. That is when we see the need for salvation. But we also see that we are unable to save ourselves. Then it is that the Gospel of Jesus Christ begins to shine in its glory before our eyes and we run to Him as our Saviour.
Without this second type of brokenness there can be no repentance. But those who see themselves as broken in this way want something more than forgiveness. They want a transformation in their lives. They want to be set free from the power of sin in their lives and also to become like Jesus in His character.
"Come to Me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest" (Mt.11:28). Have you heard this Gospel? Or, was what you heard only promising you health and wealth, and easy forgiveness? Think about yourself as God sees you, accept the reality of your brokenness and be broken before Him. "A BENT REED HE WILL NOT BREAK OFF, AND A DIMLY BURNING WICK HE WILL NOT EXTINGUISH, UNTIL HE LEADS JUSTICE TO VICTORY" (Mt.12:20). He will not reject anyone who goes to Him in this brokenness (Jn.6:37).
Don't remain in your hardened condition, blaming God, the world, your parents or other people. Come to the Saviour who gave Himself and died in order to provide salvation for us. There is hope for everyone who goes to Him in humility. Your life can be transformed and become like Jesus.