From where comes my help?
Again, the promises of God cascade forth, one upon another: “He will not break . . . He will not quench . . . Jesus will bring forth . . . He will not fail.” This set of four promises confirms a unique King for the people of God. His uniqueness is seen in how He would deal with bruised reeds and smoking flaxes, as well as in the justice He would eventually establish upon the earth.
A bruised reed He will not break, and smoking flax He will not quench; He will bring forth justice for truth. He will not fail nor be discouraged, till He has established justice in the earth. (Isaiah 42:2-3)
Many times, people are like bruised reeds. God created humanity to be innately vulnerable, like reeds that grow by the river. “As for man, his days are like grass; As a flower of the field, so he flourishes. For the wind passes over it, and it is gone, And its place remembers it no more” (Psalm 103:15-16).
Fort the best part of our knowledge, reeds are not strong. When they are bruised, they hang over limp and helpless. It is easy for an insensitive person to break a “human bruised reed” in half, virtually destroying his life. Jesus, the unique King, does not do that; rather “bruised reeds and smoking flaxes He fixes.”
Hope for the Hopeless
The Lord Jesus has the power and He takes bruised reeds and smoking flaxes and turn them into mighty spiritual trees. “The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me, because the LORD has anointed Me to preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted . . . to console those who mourn in Zion, to give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they may be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified” (Isaiah 61:1, 3).
A rough or blustering person can easily quench the little spark that ignites. Jesus is unique and He gently ministers to that flickering wick, even Jesus fuels such persons back into a spiritual blaze. Often times people are like smoking flaxes; their spiritual fire of hope or zeal is flickering, ready to quench. In fact the disheartened disciples on the road to Emmaus experienced that. “Did not our heart burn within us while He talked with us on the road, and while He opened the Scriptures to us? ” (Luke 24:32).
Ultimately, Jesus’ uniqueness will be demonstrated when He sets up His kingdom on earth. Then, after man has brought forth injustice after injustice, true justice will be established throughout this world. “He will not fail nor be discouraged, till He has established justice in the earth.” to guide and defend the bruised reeds and smoking flaxes
Prayer:
Lord Jesus, I honor You as my unique King, You dealt kindly with me and I pray that even though I am pat of the bruised reeds and the smoking flaxes, you have strengthen me and defended me from all challenges. There is non but You and Yon only can properly reverse the injustices that I have both perpetrated and endured. I bow to You, asking for forgiveness and strengthen me to trust in you grace now and for ever.
Amen!