A Bruised Reed

Isaiah 42:1-4:

¹ “Behold! My Servant whom I uphold,

My Elect One in whom My soul delights!

I have put My Spirit upon Him;

He will bring forth justice to the Gentiles.

² He will not cry out, nor raise His voice,

Nor cause His voice to be heard in the street.

³ A bruised reed He will not break,

And smoking flax He will not quench;

He will bring forth justice for truth.

⁴ He will not fail nor be discouraged,

Till He has established justice in the earth;

And the coastlands shall wait for His law.”

About a month ago I meditated on Romans 12:11 and came to the conclusion that a small spark of fervour for God is not enough. That spark must grow bigger into a roaring fire of zeal for Him. However Isaiah 42:3 (cf. Matthew 12:20) gives much encouragement for those who have only a small spark.

The terms 'bruised weed' and 'smoking flax' are figurative for the weak and helpless, those of little faith etc. The 'Servant' or 'Elect One' is Jesus Christ. Our Lord cares for the weak and poor in spirit. If we see a flower all bent over and withered we will break it off the plant and throw it out. It is useless in its present state. Jesus, however, doesn't. He prunes us (John 15:2) but doesn't break us off completely if we are weak.

How comforting it is to read Psalm 34:18: “The LORD is near to those who have a broken heart, And saves such as have a contrite spirit.” If you feel like your spiritual light is not shining out like a bright lamp, don't be discouraged. Christ will not quench a smoking flax. He will blow on it and fan it into a roaring forest fire of zeal and faith. He will lead His struggling sheep and feed them and gather them to Himself (Isaiah 40:11). Isaiah 40:29-31:

“He gives power to the weak,
And to those who have no might He increases strength.
Even the youths shall faint and be weary,
And the young men shall utterly fall,
But those who wait on the LORD
Shall renew their strength;
They shall mount up with wings like eagles,
They shall run and not be weary,
They shall walk and not faint.”

John Piper, in his book Desiring God (1986, Multnomah Publishers, pp. 96-97), offers three different stages of zeal for God. You can get up in the morning and feel red-hot in zeal; eager and hungry to praise God and obey Him (Psalm 63:5). Or you can get up and not feel that, however you do feel a longing for this red-hot zeal (Psalm 42:5). Or you can get up and, for whatever reason, you don't even feel this longing. However you feel repentant and sorrowful about so little zeal (Psalm 73:21-22). Offer whatever you have to God, whatever stage you are at. He will not condemn you for your lack of fervency, but will increase your zeal for Him.

These are comforting thoughts. However they aren't there for everybody. Not everyone will be cared for and fanned by Christ. John 15:2 said “Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away.” The bruised reed and smoking flax are weak Christians. They are the poor in spirit who mourn (Matthew 5:3,4). These people will receive tenderness and healing and comfort. Those who do not bear any fruit, however, don't get this comfort and care. Unrepentant sinners will be cut off and cast into the fire (John 15:6). Those who don't offer a repentant and sorrowful heart to God will be quenched. Be warned! Don't become complacent because of this text.

Christians are crushed in this world. Christ says in John 15:20, “Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you.” Paul echoes this statement in 2 Timothy 3:12, “Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.” See also Acts 14:22; Matthew 10:25. There will be a time when all this will end. Isaiah 42:4 says Christ will continue “Till He has established justice in the earth.” There is no justice in the earth when sinners prosper and godly men are bruised and crushed. Let's look forward to the day when God will eternally bind up the broken and sick, and destroy the fat and strong (Ezekiel 34:16)!

“Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls.

Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.” (Hebrews 12:1-3, 11).