Feeling bruised, battered, bent? Like a fragile reed? Have you been crushed or hurt by cruel words or unkind actions? Jesus will strengthen you with his tender care. He doesn’t shoot the wounded or break those already fractured.

Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen one in whom I delight; I will put my Spirit on him, and he will bring justice to the nations. He will not shout or cry out, or raise his voice in the streets. A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out. In faithfulness he will bring forth justice; he will not falter or be discouraged till he establishes justice on earth. In his teaching the islands will put their hope.

Isaiah 42:1–4

• He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young. (Is 40:11)
• The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners. (Is 60:1)
• The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. (Ps 34:18)
• He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. (Ps 147:3)

Feeling useless and discarded? Like a smoking wick about to go out? Has your light gone dim? Are you giving off more smoke than fire? Jesus will gently blow on you, igniting your flame with the oil of his Spirit. He won’t snuff you out or write you off.

• I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being. (Eph 3:16)
• My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart you, God, will not despise.
• Those the Father has given me will come to me, and I will never reject them. (Jn 6:37 NET)

He is not dismissive of others: however useless or beyond repair (bruised reed), however ‘past it’ and near extinction (smoldering wick) they may seem…he can mend the broken reed, fan into flame the smoldering wick. The former has been internally damaged, the latter lacks the external nourishment of oil. The Servant is competent both to cure and to supply.

J. Alec Motyer

Do you relate to the reed or the wick? How? Jesus—the Servant—will not break you. He will not cast you aside. Trust him to gently care for you.

PRAYER

Gentle servant, my Jesus, when I am bruised by life and by others I can forget how gracious, patient, and tender you are. You don’t yell at me nor crush me. When I have nothing left to give, you don’t throw me away. Heal me, bind up my wounds, and strengthen me with power through your Spirit so my light can burn brightly again.

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Motyer quote from: https://enduringword.com/bible-commentary/isaiah-42

All scripture is from the New International Version with emphasis added.