“The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me … He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted …”. (Isaiah 61:1)
The Lord Jesus quotes Isaiah 61:1 in Luke 4:18 regarding His own ministry. He fulfilled its prophecy Himself when He came. But what does this phrase “bind up the brokenhearted” really mean?
“Binding up the brokenhearted” was part of Jesus’ anointed ministry aim according to this passage, and since our ministries are to follow “in His steps” according to I Peter 2:21, what does it mean we are to be doing?
“Bind up” is a Hebrew word, “chabash,” which Brown, Driver & Briggs indicates means: “bind, bind on, bind up.” Exodus 29:9 uses it of the priestly headgear that was to be “bound” on Aaron and his sons, and of the turban that Ezekiel was to bind on his head (24:17). In Jonah 2:6 it is also used of the seaweeds which were wrapped around Jonah’s head. So it means to wrap something around tightly and securely. It is also used in Hosea 6:1 of wrapping a bandage around a wound. In Ezekiel 34:4 it is used of binding the broken.
The picture Isaiah uses here is of a heart that is “broken.” (BDB = “shabar” literally means “broken in pieces.”) And he says that the Messiah (Jesus) when He came would “bind” those broken hearts back together: wrap them up, bandage them; bind them back together. Psalm 147:3 says this is indeed what He does: “He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.”
Many of us as God’s people have experienced this ministry of Jesus as He has healed our own broken hearts. And as His followers, we are to do the same for others. Anointed and filled with the same Holy Spirit that filled Jesus, we are to follow “in His steps” (I Peter 2:21) and do what He did: proclaim the gospel to the humble, freedom to captives — as well as “bind up the brokenhearted.” We are to help them put their hearts back together, “wrapping them back up” with love so that they may heal. Of course, we are personally unable to heal hearts at all, but we can point them to Jesus, who fulfilled this prophecy, and who still touches and heals hearts.
But we are to take our part of this ministry seriously. In fact, in one of the uses of this word in Hebrew, in Ezekiel 34:4, God criticizes the shepherds of Israel because “the broken you have not bound up.” So this is not just a ministry that we are to commend in others. Jesus came to bind up our wounded hearts — and He is serious about us being a part of doing the same thing for others in our turn.
shawnethomas 
I’ve been seeking God’s healing from a late in life divorce. Thank you for sharing this.
How do we best position ourselves for the Holy Spirit’s healing of our heart? Sometimes people do not understand and are not always available to support us.
You are exactly right; some people don’t understand and even if they do they are not always available to help. That is why although God can use certain people to minister to us, He Himself must be our primary source of comfort — which is just what this scripture indicates, that HE (the Lord Jesus) will bind up the brokenhearted. Psalm 147 says “HE heals the broken hearted, and binds up their wounds.” The best way for us to position ourselves for His healing is to put ourselves continually before Him in His word and prayer. Psalms especially will become so real to you, and some of those scriptures, as well as others, will take on new and deeper meaning to you as they become agents of God’s healing grace to you through the power of His Holy Spirit. Take refuge in His word, and let Him minister to you continually. Don’t even think about replacing that human relationship right now — too many jump immediately into another relationship and often make huge mistakes. Seek the Lord in His word & prayer, as well as godly Christian encouragers and counselors (emphasis on “godly, Christian”, not everyone is!) and God will do what He says. Usually not in an instant, but over time, He will indeed heal your heart and bind up your wounds — and often what He will end up doing is when you are sufficiently healed, He will then use your experience to minister to others who find themselves in your same situation. But that’s for the future … for now, seek Him continually in His word and prayer. I am praying for you tonight.
Very insightful. Thank you.
You’re welcome Gina; thank you for reading and for your encouraging word.
Thank you for this. I really needed it.
Nice work — a beautiful message, engagingly delivered — thank you for putting it out there
Thank you for reading and for giving me some good feedback; I appreciate it!