The Bruised Reed

When you are walking through a field or pushing through long grass and reeds going down to a river's edge you don't pay much attention to whether or not you trample on the grass or squash some of the reeds beside the stream. We may not think the grass and the reeds are important — we just plod on!

In the book of Isaiah chapter 42 is very important because it gives us the first of four 'Songs' about the Servant of the Lord — the Old Testament's portrait of the Lord Jesus Christ. The final Song in Isaiah 53 describes in amazing detail the sufferings and death the Lord Jesus would undergo hundreds of years later. In this first Song we are told some really encouraging details of the character of our Lord Jesus and one of these is his empathy with those Christians who find life hard and whose faith may be very fragile at times. The picture of the grass and the reeds comes in here. Jesus is someone who will care for and restore a reed someone has trampled on and bruised. He will comfort and encourage every Christian who is in need of his help. Jesus said those who mourn will be comforted. He went to the home of Martha and Mary to comfort them over the death of their brother. On another occasion he said "come to me... for I am gentle and lowly in heart and you will find rest for your souls." (Matthew 11:28-29).

Prayer

Dear Lord, when my faith is weak, help me to remember that you always care for me. Amen.