The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit;
a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.

Psalm 51:17

How is a life broken and whole at the same time? As David composed this Psalm, he had just finished a period in his life that had ignored the clear teaching of Scripture.  When he was caught in his sin, he could have attempted to follow the letter of the law and formally repent by offering sacrifices to God, but in those days when David had pursued God with all of his heart, he recognized what many did not: God was not interested in sacrifices for the sake of a burnt offering. No, God was interested in relationship with David.  God was interested in David’s return through genuine repentance.

In James 4: 6, we are reminded that “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”

The proud live in a way that fails to acknowledge God and remain broken whether they realize or not. The broken man recognizes his undoing and seeks the mercy and grace that makes him whole.

We are all broken, it is our response that makes the difference.