Bruised reed

[toad]

“A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out.” ISAIAH 42:3 NIV

In the book of Isaiah this verse speaks to me loud and clear. For me it speaks of a God who will not pass over those who have been bruised and broken, and those in which the fire is almost gone out. In fact God uses these believers to carry on His work if they will only allow it to happen. God has used the blind, the deaf, the paralyzed, the ones with birth defects, the ones that because of accidents and war are maimed, and those who by the grace of God are recovering from the death grips of alcoholism and addictions. When a bruised reed speaks of the love and grace of God, the words seem to cut through the superficial outward appearance of beauty that we all see on the surface. God uses bruised reeds to get His message across with out all the flowery words that many use. When in the presence of an anointed bruised reed, listen. Unconditional gratitude carries the message from a loving God. Thanks for letting me share, God is doing for me what I could not do for myself...........toad

[IO Storm]

“A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out.” ISAIAH 42:3 NIV


Toad...

This verse literally jumped out from the pages of the Bible long

ago when I was struggling with my faith. I "saw" a reed bent

over where man had stepped on it and saw the hand of God

shoring it up to strenthen it until it would grow on it's own.

I "saw" a flax..smoking and about to go out and the breath

of God gently breathing on it to whip up the fire once again.

Thank you so much for sharing this here.

Love,

IO

[cmc]

toad,
I have some grass plants next to my patio that were dying out. These are the plants that the birds come for- to eat seeds and perch on the reeds.

I have another part of the yard where they grow freely but when I moved some of those more fragile stalks they needed the older stronger- but bruised reeds to keep them standing.

I'm now very glad that I didn't tear out all the older more unsightly stalks...one had been beaten by three hurricanes and still survived. That is the one I use to plant the babies next to...it protects them from the wind, the heat and....the lawn mower!

I had never visualized the scripture this way before- I saw it only as His tenderness towards someone who is hurting. This verse has always been a comfort to me when I feel 'bruised' and broken. As usual, what you have written has brought forth to my mind and spirit a greater depth of meaning to the scripture.

God bless you and thanks for sharing with us.
cmc

[best]

What wonderful sharing.
I have never done a study on that verse and only gathered from it that of my own thoughts. Scripture talks to each of us in many ways. There is the intended message of the original and then the message that each individual can gather from where they are in that moment in life when they read or re-read a same verse.
I have always thought of that verse to say...God won't kick a man when he is down. God's passion for those who are hurting is so great that He looks for an opportunity to lift such a person up. A broken/bruised reed... a person who has found their bottom.
A bruised reed and a wick about to go out can find new life with a quickening of spirit... God will provide such.
Doing a proper study for myself may find that a bit of what we all shared fits the verses or it may gain me an even deeper understanding of things. I so love how God's word talks to us all.

[caileesnana]

I love this verse. thanks

[Rusty G]

Just want to share this from a book I have.



What a beautiful picture of God's gentleness and power are these verses quoted from Isaiah !

Jesus, the Beloved Servant, was God in the flesh. His actions and life while He was on the earth show us clearly God's character and concerns. He was so compassionate toward the downtrodden that Isaiah describes Him as careful not to break a battered reed. He would not extinquish a wick struggling to stay lit. He proved again and again His compassion for saint and sinner alike. But that gentleness was underscored by His great and awesome power. The very Savior who could speak kind and encouraging words to a woman caught in adultery could as easily raise the dead, drive out demons, and control the very forces of nature.


The power that resurrected Jesus from the dead is the same power that He offers to resurrect us from the living death of our dependencies and to alter the course of our lives.

[BigSis]

“A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out.” ISAIAH 42:3 NIV

I needed this reminder very much today, Toad. Thank you.