He Will Not Harm You
Isaiah 42:3 NASB
3 A bruised reed He will not break and a dimly burning wick He will not extinguish; He will faithfully bring forth justice.
This passage of Scripture is a front row view of the tenderness of the heart of God. The descriptive words here are beautiful and very moving penned by Isaiah, the prophet. In Isaiah 42, it is speaking of Jesus, the coming Messiah, who God, the Father delights in and upholds. Isaiah writes of His gentle heart, and of His godly character and conduct, His powerful yet compassionate nature, and of His humble ways. Father God tells us that the Spirit of God is upon Him and that He will bring forth justice to the Gentiles as well as to the Jews. When I read about Jesus, He is not an overbearing, pushy or self-absorbed person. He is quiet, kind, sympathetic, gentle and gracious. In our verse for today, is a most beautiful description of His gentle tender-hearted personality: “A bruised reed He will not break and a dimly burning wick He will not extinguish. He will faithfully bring forth justice.” It’s this last line that also gives us insight into what Jesus is able to do as well. Yes, Jesus was meek, but Jesus was not weak. Only He can demonstrate ultimate strength, and then well use that same unique strength to bring justice and rightness to wrongdoing and evil. I love the tenderness of the Lord. There can be many situations in life when the world and those around you can be mindless in their reactions and interaction with you. There are few in this world who truly care about others, and what they may be walking through on their life’s journey. It is human nature to judge and hold others to a higher standard and account than they do for themselves. There is no gentleness. When this happens, insult is added to injury. One can already be a bruised reed, doing all you can do to stand against the torrential winds and stormy winds and pressures of life. Others’ “I thinks” can inflict more pain and sorrow to already excruciating challenges. Yet, our Savior, whom the Bible tells us is acquainted with our grief and with our deepest sorrow, says He will not break an already bruised reed. Some days and circumstances, we may try our best to have a “stiff upper lip” as the saying goes, and put our best foot forward, yet the pushing and shoving of life continues on and may even get harder. Whatever dim light we may have smoldering within us, Jesus will not extinguish. He will gently blow His breath, the breath of heaven up on you. He will not bring gales, winds, and floods, but will gently shelter what flickering wick may be about to go out in you. And He promises to bring justice, His justice, His way. Release it all to Him today. Every part, from the smallest issue to the greatest. He see you. He loves you and is here right now with you. He is holding you close today.
What about you? Are you bruised and about to break? Is the light of God dimly burning in you? Remember He is with you to strengthen you, not to extinguish whatever is trying to come to a new strength. He is your strength, and He is your peace. Cast your cares on Him today. He loves you so.
