A bruised reed shall he not break, and smoking flax shall he not quench, till he send forth judgment unto victory.
Christ withdrew from those plotting to destroy Him and quietly healed multitudes, fulfilling the prophecy of God's chosen Servant who bears His Spirit and shows gentle compassion without striving or outcry. A damaged stalk about to snap and a dim wick about to go out picture crushed and faintly burning people with only the smallest spark of faith and hope remaining. He does not crush or extinguish such souls but treats them with tenderness, patience and pity, sustaining the weakest who trust Him and lifting them to wholeness, victory and rest. He carries this saving work forward until right prevails, while outsiders who need light learn to trust in His name and His followers carry that gentle healing to the world without delay.
Setting and Prophetic Fulfillment
When the Pharisees held a council together how they might destroy Him, He did not strive nor cry nor cause His voice to be heard in the streets, but withdrew Himself from open conflict with them. Great multitudes followed Him in that withdrawal, and He healed them all. He charged them that they should not make Him known.
This was the fulfillment of what was spoken by Isaiah concerning God's chosen Servant and Beloved in whom His soul is well pleased. Upon that Servant He puts His Spirit to show judgment to the Gentiles. That prophecy was fulfilled in His meek, lowly life and in His compassion for people in suffering.
He preserves His work and carries it forward until He sends forth judgment unto victory. The verse promises that the Gentiles, outsiders outside the church who need light, will trust in His name. Therefore the work must not be bound about, but truth must go quickly to all the world in fulfilment of the divine commission.
Tender Savior of the Weak
The bruised reed is one crushed, weakened, and broken, and the smoking flax is faith that is bruised and dim, the faintest hope, the smallest spark of faith, and the little light that remains, even in someone who appears ruined. He treats damaged, weak, wounded, discouraged, and faintly burning souls with gentleness, tenderness, compassion, patience, and pity, preserving and sustaining them rather than crushing or extinguishing them. He deals in this same gentle way with the weak and fainthearted and those near despair and close to losing hope, keeping alive what is barely alive and the little strength that remains.
He loves the afflicted soul and died for that person, offering a sacrifice fully sufficient so the person may be complete in Him. As a loving and mighty Savior He helps those who stop relying on personal merit, trust His righteousness, surrender wholly to Him, and take hold of His strength. When those who have followed their own will and way see their need of the guidance of the Spirit and return unto the Lord and place themselves wholly on His side, He will help them break the delusive snare of cherished unbelief and obtain victory over it by cultivating faith even under discouraging circumstances.
To His heart the very presence of trouble is a call for help, and His new commandment of love was given in behalf of the weak, the wretched, and the helpless. So the poor, the sick, the desolate, the outcasts, the discouraged, and the desponding find mercy and healing in Him. He identifies His interests with suffering humanity so that whatever is done to relieve a sufferer is done for Him. He is patient and longsuffering and full of pity, guiding those who entrust themselves to Him safely into truth with gracious instruction. Even the weakest person who asks for His help in faith may live and find hope and sufficiency in God with grace, peace, and rest.
Though Mary seemed hopeless and ruined, He did not extinguish her faint spark of hope but saw her capacity for good and lifted her from despair. Through His grace she overcame the powers that had controlled her and was restored to close fellowship and service with Him. God, whose name is Holy, will do His pleasure in holiness and will not fail in His work, measuring every act and weighing every motive and making selfish gain as chaff which the wind drives away. Yet He will not break the bruised reed nor quench the smoking flax till He has brought forth judgment unto victory, working by keen searching in hearts and humiliating discoveries so sin is cleansed from the soul temple and faith that works by love and purifies the soul takes possession and human attributes are molded after the divine similitude.
The flax image also shows that when the love of Jesus is not kept alive in the soul, piety vanishes like flax before a flame. The broken reed image expresses one who feels weak, broken, crushed, and heartbroken yet trusts that the Holy Spirit will vindicate righteousness and truth until they prevail. In Jesus' strength the person will no longer remain in that condition but will act freely.
Following His Gentle Example
His followers are to mirror that care by speaking kindly and encouraging hope and faith, presenting freedom and healing rather than condemnation or discouragement. Help is to be patient and persistent, with kind counsel that preserves even a small measure of courage instead of crushing the faintest hope or extinguishing the smallest spark of faith.
Fathers as His human agents are to display that same tender love and perfection in outward manner and inward grace, meek and gentle of heart. That means sparing what is bruised and weak, delighting to see children and youth happy, and never speaking an unkind or discourteous word. Even in keen and searching rebuke of the hypocrisy of the Pharisees there is no irritated temper, so gentleness makes fathers great, and only divine grace can correct harsh and objectionable tendencies.
Applied to speech, harsh, bitter, contentious and critical words do not mend or restore or win souls, but can wound and discourage weak and vulnerable people and cause dissension and sorrow. His servants are therefore to treat others gently and imitate His manner of labor rather than crushing or driving them away.
The messages of warning and mercy kindle a fire of holy activity that must keep burning through trial and opposition until He brings judgment to victory. Faith must not fail, hope must stay bright, and zeal must not be quenched. This comforts the tried and tempted in the church militant, whose conflicts and trials are not yet over, with the assurance that He sustains the weak and faint faith until judgment reaches victory.
Every church member in every country who claims advanced light has the duty to work with heart and soul and voice to win those outsiders who need light to the truth. Those who cooperate with Him in that work will find all these promises fulfilled in their own experience. Neglect of that duty will leave no excuse in the judgment.
Christ withdrew from those plotting to destroy Him and quietly healed multitudes, fulfilling the prophecy of God's chosen Servant who bears His Spirit and shows gentle compassion without striving or outcry. A damaged stalk about to snap and a dim wick about to go out picture crushed and faintly burning people with only the smallest spark of faith and hope remaining. He does not crush or extinguish such souls but treats them with tenderness, patience and pity, sustaining the weakest who trust Him and lifting them to wholeness, victory and rest. He carries this saving work forward until right prevails, while outsiders who need light learn to trust in His name and His followers carry that gentle healing to the world without delay.
Setting and Prophetic Fulfillment
When the Pharisees held a council together how they might destroy Him, He did not strive nor cry nor cause His voice to be heard in the streets, but withdrew Himself from open conflict with them. Great multitudes followed Him in that withdrawal, and He healed them all. He charged them that they should not make Him known.
This was the fulfillment of what was spoken by Isaiah concerning God's chosen Servant and Beloved in whom His soul is well pleased. Upon that Servant He puts His Spirit to show judgment to the Gentiles. That prophecy was fulfilled in His meek, lowly life and in His compassion for people in suffering.
He preserves His work and carries it forward until He sends forth judgment unto victory. The verse promises that the Gentiles, outsiders outside the church who need light, will trust in His name. Therefore the work must not be bound about, but truth must go quickly to all the world in fulfilment of the divine commission.
Tender Savior of the Weak
The bruised reed is one crushed, weakened, and broken, and the smoking flax is faith that is bruised and dim, the faintest hope, the smallest spark of faith, and the little light that remains, even in someone who appears ruined. He treats damaged, weak, wounded, discouraged, and faintly burning souls with gentleness, tenderness, compassion, patience, and pity, preserving and sustaining them rather than crushing or extinguishing them. He deals in this same gentle way with the weak and fainthearted and those near despair and close to losing hope, keeping alive what is barely alive and the little strength that remains.
He loves the afflicted soul and died for that person, offering a sacrifice fully sufficient so the person may be complete in Him. As a loving and mighty Savior He helps those who stop relying on personal merit, trust His righteousness, surrender wholly to Him, and take hold of His strength. When those who have followed their own will and way see their need of the guidance of the Spirit and return unto the Lord and place themselves wholly on His side, He will help them break the delusive snare of cherished unbelief and obtain victory over it by cultivating faith even under discouraging circumstances.
To His heart the very presence of trouble is a call for help, and His new commandment of love was given in behalf of the weak, the wretched, and the helpless. So the poor, the sick, the desolate, the outcasts, the discouraged, and the desponding find mercy and healing in Him. He identifies His interests with suffering humanity so that whatever is done to relieve a sufferer is done for Him. He is patient and longsuffering and full of pity, guiding those who entrust themselves to Him safely into truth with gracious instruction. Even the weakest person who asks for His help in faith may live and find hope and sufficiency in God with grace, peace, and rest.
Though Mary seemed hopeless and ruined, He did not extinguish her faint spark of hope but saw her capacity for good and lifted her from despair. Through His grace she overcame the powers that had controlled her and was restored to close fellowship and service with Him. God, whose name is Holy, will do His pleasure in holiness and will not fail in His work, measuring every act and weighing every motive and making selfish gain as chaff which the wind drives away. Yet He will not break the bruised reed nor quench the smoking flax till He has brought forth judgment unto victory, working by keen searching in hearts and humiliating discoveries so sin is cleansed from the soul temple and faith that works by love and purifies the soul takes possession and human attributes are molded after the divine similitude.
The flax image also shows that when the love of Jesus is not kept alive in the soul, piety vanishes like flax before a flame. The broken reed image expresses one who feels weak, broken, crushed, and heartbroken yet trusts that the Holy Spirit will vindicate righteousness and truth until they prevail. In Jesus' strength the person will no longer remain in that condition but will act freely.
Following His Gentle Example
His followers are to mirror that care by speaking kindly and encouraging hope and faith, presenting freedom and healing rather than condemnation or discouragement. Help is to be patient and persistent, with kind counsel that preserves even a small measure of courage instead of crushing the faintest hope or extinguishing the smallest spark of faith.
Fathers as His human agents are to display that same tender love and perfection in outward manner and inward grace, meek and gentle of heart. That means sparing what is bruised and weak, delighting to see children and youth happy, and never speaking an unkind or discourteous word. Even in keen and searching rebuke of the hypocrisy of the Pharisees there is no irritated temper, so gentleness makes fathers great, and only divine grace can correct harsh and objectionable tendencies.
Applied to speech, harsh, bitter, contentious and critical words do not mend or restore or win souls, but can wound and discourage weak and vulnerable people and cause dissension and sorrow. His servants are therefore to treat others gently and imitate His manner of labor rather than crushing or driving them away.
The messages of warning and mercy kindle a fire of holy activity that must keep burning through trial and opposition until He brings judgment to victory. Faith must not fail, hope must stay bright, and zeal must not be quenched. This comforts the tried and tempted in the church militant, whose conflicts and trials are not yet over, with the assurance that He sustains the weak and faint faith until judgment reaches victory.
Every church member in every country who claims advanced light has the duty to work with heart and soul and voice to win those outsiders who need light to the truth. Those who cooperate with Him in that work will find all these promises fulfilled in their own experience. Neglect of that duty will leave no excuse in the judgment.