Monday 23 April 2007

A bruised reed

“A bruised reed shall he not break, and smoking flax shall he not quench, till he send forth judgment unto victory.” - Matthew 12v20

I had never thought much about this passage until I read the book “The Bruised Reed” by the Puritan writer Richard Sibbes. It was one of those things I just read over without paying much attention. However, after reading the book and careful reflection this has become a very special passage of scripture.

The bruised reed and the smoking flax are both things that are seen as useless and worth nothing other than to be discarded. A bruised reed was no good for the shepherds flute and a smoking flax gave no light. Why bother? Just throw them in the bin.

There are a lot of people who the world sees as broken reeds and smoking flax. There are people we see who just don’t look like there is any hope or any use for them. The wonderful thing is this is exactly the kind of person that the Lord wants to use. God wants to use the weak, the humble, and the base things of this world. No wonder He does not break the bruised reed or put out the smoking flax. He instead seeks to restore them.

Praise God that He uses the useless!

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