Today we are giving thought to Psalm 51:16, 17.
16 You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it;
you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings.
17 The sacrifices of God are [c] a broken spirit;
a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.
The devotion that lights up God’s eyes is in your spirit and heart. Sure, it is easier to bring the external devotion. Attending church is much easier than attending one’s own heart issues. Resurrection Sunday is much easier than the cross just days before.
“A broken spirit,” from my perspective, is the spirit who has determined that self denial, the crucified life, and total and complete dependency upon God is the only true life. Paul was demonstrating a broken spirit when he said, “I am crucified with Christ, never the less, I live.”
One way of saying this idea is, “If there is still a whole lot of you left in your spirit, then you have some more brokenness of spirit to develop.”
By the way. A broken spirit is actually a healthy spirit. As self reliance is broken from the spirit and total dependance upon God is developed, the spirit is both broken and most whole. Again, back to Paul. “When I am weak, then I am strong.”