PRE-426-426. He Will Not Break a Bruised Reed

426. He Will Not Break a Bruised Reed

He Will Not Break a Bruised Reed

by David Wilkerson

June 13, 2005

[May 19, 1931 '96 April 27, 2011]

'93Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles.

'93He shall not cry, nor lift up, nor cause his voice to be heard in the street. A bruised reed shall he not break, and the smoking flax shall he not quench: he shall bring forth judgment unto truth.

'93He shall not fail nor be discouraged, till he have set judgment in the earth: and the isles shall wait for his law'94 (Isa_42:1-4).

This passage is all about Jesus. The Holy Spirit had moved upon the prophet Isaiah to bring forth a revelation of what Christ would be like when he comes. And Isaiah'92s opening word here, '93Behold,'94 signals to his listeners: '93Prepare for a new revelation about the Messiah.'94

The image that comes into focus from these four verses is clear: Christ wasn'92t coming to force people to hear him. He wouldn'92t come with a loud clamor or noise. He would come as a tender, loving Savior.

We find the fulfillment of Isaiah'92s prophecy in Mat_12:1-50. The Pharisees had just held a council to plan how they might kill Jesus, all because he had healed a man with a withered hand on the sabbath. Matthew tells us that '93when Jesus knew [discovered] it, he withdrew'94 (12:15).

Christ didn'92t retaliate in anger. We don'92t see him railing against those who plotted his death. He wasn'92t like the disciples, who wanted to call down fire on his opponents, even though Christ could have done that. He could have summoned a legion of angels to deal with his enemies. But Jesus wasn'92t out to take revenge.

It was this tender spirit, Matthew says, that reveals the fulfillment of Isaiah'92s prophecy: '93He shall not strive, nor cry; neither shall any man hear his voice in the streets'94 (Mat_12:19).

Isaiah was saying, in essence, '93The Savior isn'92t coming to force anybody into his kingdom. He'92s not coming as a loud, boisterous, overpowering personality. No, you'92ll hear him speak with a still, small voice in your inner man.'94

So, what did Jesus do after he quietly withdrew from Jerusalem? Matthew says he immediately went outside the city and continued to heal all who crowded in on him: '93Great multitudes followed him, and he healed them all'94 (12:15).

As we search through the gospel accounts, we'92re struck by the number of times Jesus performed miracles but instructed the people, '93Do not tell anyone about this. Don'92t let this news be spread abroad.'94 After healing two blind men, Christ told the men to keep the miracle to themselves: '93Jesus straitly charged them, saying, See that no man know it'94 (9:30). After he fed a crowd of 5,000 and the people tried to force him to be king, '93He departed again into a mountain himself alone'94 (Joh_6:14-15).

You see, Jesus didn'92t want the people following him for his miracles. He wanted their devotion because his tender words had captured their hearts. He wanted all of humankind, including every future generation, to know he came into the world not as a judge, but as a Savior: '93For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved'94 (Joh_3:17).

Consider Jesus'92 tenderness in two areas: toward America and a sinful world, and toward his own people.

I hear a question being asked by many believers today: '93Why hasn'92t God turned America over to judgment? Why hasn'92t he dealt with us according to our sins? He gave Noah'92s generation 120 years of warnings, but after that he said, '91Enough,'92 and brought a flood. God has suffered America'92s sins for a long time now, so why haven'92t we seen his righteous judgment on us?'94

I love this country, and I for one don'92t want to see God'92s final judgment come upon America. I would so much rather enjoy the longsuffering of the Lord. I don'92t want to see tears in the eyes of my children and grandchildren over what is coming upon a society like ours. Yet, like many Christians, I am completely amazed at why God'92s judgment has been delayed.

I do believe we are seeing the beginnings of judgment. I see the terrible calamities taking place in the world as warnings. Yet, because America'92s economy hasn'92t collapsed, and our nation is still able to function as it has, we seem to stumble along from crisis to crisis, given chance after chance.

I'92m convinced there is only one answer to this perplexity: it'92s all because of the tenderness and longsuffering of our Savior. We find the proof in Isaiah'92s prophecy: '93A bruised reed shall he not break, and the smoking flax shall he not quench'94 (Isa_42:3). America has become a nation of bruised reeds!

A reed is a tall stalk or plant with a hollow stem, usually found in marshy areas or near a supply of water. It'92s a tender plant, so it bends easily when high winds or swift waters strike. Yet the reed can only bend so far before it finally breaks and is carried away with the flood.

Like a reed in calm weather, America once stood proud and tall, full of purpose and promise. Our entire society honored God, and the Bible was held up as the standard for our laws and judicial system. Even during my lifetime, school textbooks consisted of lessons and stories from the Bible. Jesus was acknowledged as the Son of God, the One who gives our country favor and untold blessings.

Yet, in our prosperity, we became like ancient Israel: proud and unthankful. And we'92ve fallen a long way in a short time. God has been pushed out of our court systems, out of our schools, his name mocked and ridiculed. In New York City, a teacher can place a copy of the Koran or even a Playboy magazine on his desk, but if he brings a Bible to class, he could lose his job.

Our society has totally lost its moral compass. As a result, the America that once stood tall is now crippled, like a bruised reed.

Even the hardest, most ungodly American today knows this country is growing more corrupt by the hour. Everyone knows we'92re living on borrowed time. How long can an empire last when it kills off its unborn'85where fathers rape their daughters, mothers molest their sons, and child molestation has become a national disgrace'85where policemen commit suicide because of fear and despair (which eight officers did recently in New York City alone)'85where so many teenagers have become barbarians'85where all that reflects God and Christ is not only ignored but cruelly mocked? How long can the violence, the murder, the molestations continue?

If we got what we deserved, America should be lying in ruins, devastated by anarchy. But Isaiah says our tender Jesus would not break a bruised reed. And even as America sits in utter confusion, bent over and bruised by our many sins, we are not yet broken. In his tenderness, our Lord has not let that happen.

Jesus himself was born into a bruised society.

When Christ came to earth, Israel was living under the crushing rule of Rome. The Jews were heavily burdened by Roman taxes and laws. Meanwhile, a greedy priesthood was taking advantage of widows and the poor. The downtrodden were mocked and ridiculed, and the people were blinded by corruption. All of this is why so many of the prophets said Christ would come in an hour of darkness, bringing great light.

Jesus came into a society plagued by hypocrisy and rampant with sin. As he beheld the nation'92s condition, he wept over Jerusalem, prophesying that its house would become desolate. Yet he gave that society seventy more years of gospel preaching. And those years would be filled with Spirit-anointed witnesses on the streets, performing miracles, preaching hope and repentance, and issuing a powerful call to the kingdom. Jesus simply would not break the bruised reed that Israel had become.

Right now, that is a picture of America: a society completely bruised in its morality. We'92re also a nation that is depressed and disturbed, with people living in fear and mental agony. There are more psychologists, psychiatrists, social workers and counselors than ever in history, yet they can'92t keep up with all the people begging for just a single hour of help. This is true even in the church: Christian counseling teams across the land are overburdened by the press of people needing help for their problems.

Our children are being bruised by broken families, abuse and molestation. Teenagers are being bruised by immorality, materialism and numbness. Satan has unleashed a flood of evil upon the land, and it has left in its wake a bent and bruised people.

Much of the church itself has this same bruised spirit. In letter after letter, I read of Christians drying up in mega-churches where there is no longer preaching of sin or righteousness. They'92re bewildered, wondering, '93Where can I find true worship? There'92s no sense of Christ'92s presence here. There'92s no brokenness.'94 Pastors also write, confessing, '93Brother Dave, I'92m backslidden.'94

The New York Times ran a story recently about a Pentecostal church of 10,000 whose message is, '93We'92re here to make you happy.'94 But that message is bringing false hope and only temporary relief.

'93The smoking flax shall he not quench'94 (Isa_42:3). Somewhere in this nation, God sees wicks that are smoldering. These wicks once were on fire, aflame with fervor for his purposes and concerns. But now they'92re barely smoking.

Could it be that as God looks on America, he sees just a little spark of devotion left?

Is there still a people who remember the Lord and are willing to take a stand for his name? Does there yet remain a small remnant who will fight to rekindle the flame of God'92s righteousness?

The Lord has said, '93If I see a wick that'92s smoldering, I won'92t snuff it out. The flame may be gone, with no appearance of fire, but if I still see embers burning, I will not allow it to go out. As long as I hear even a faint cry from faithful servants somewhere, I will not allow that bruised reed to break.'94

God has not yet given up on us. But the fact is, we are living on tender-mercy time. I see this everywhere I travel, especially in Europe. That continent is far more secular than the United States, a land that by its own choice has become absolutely godless. As you walk through the streets in some countries, you sense a spirit of antichrist, an arrogance against God.

Sweden is now one of the most affluent European nations, and the richer it grows the more apostate it becomes. At the same time, the evangelical church there is in danger of growing apathetic in its walk with Christ. Ireland, a nation that for decades suffered crushing poverty, is now becoming more prosperous. Yet the spiritual climate there is also one of apathy, with secularism creeping in.

The whole attitude in Europe seems to be, '93So what if judgment comes? Let'92s live it up, eat, drink and be merry.'94 There is no sense of urgency, no need of God.

I believe the Lord is speaking a clear message to the whole world right now. He has the power to stop any potential terrorist attack at any time. He could merely speak a word, and angels would bring down every evil power. Instead, he has chosen to send or permit international calamities, and all are signs that we are on his tender mercy time.

Consider the Lord'92s tenderness toward his own people.

We have seen what Jesus did when he went outside Jerusalem: '93Great multitudes followed him, and he healed them all'94 (Mat_12:15). In this brief verse, we see the fulfillment of Isaiah'92s prophecy, '93A bruised reed shall he not break'94 (Isa_42:3).

The word '93bruised'94 has a number of definitions. It means hurt, pounded to pieces, having injured feelings, crushed by unfulfilled expectations. In my spirit, I sense that many of God'92s people today need a word about our Savior'92s tender mercies, because they themselves have become bruised reeds.

Every week, sincere, devoted Christians go to church to raise their voices and hands in worship to the Lord. Yet many of these same people have been bruised deeply and are close to a breaking point. The fire in their hearts has ebbed so low that all they can see left in their lives is a tiny bit of smoke.

One dedicated couple who recently returned from the mission field wrote to me of how bruised they'92ve been. Years before, they had left everything they owned to spend seven years overseas, ministering and giving their all. When they returned, they came home with nothing, having left all their substance in the land to which they were called.

Now, as they began looking for jobs, every door before them was shut. Both the husband and wife were well educated, with a great supply of skills. Whenever they put in applications for a position, theirs always rose to the top. But these talented people were rejected in every place, always ending up as second or third choice.

Finally, a Christian company asked the husband to interview for a job, one he was well qualified for. The company spent a full day courting him, and they all but assured him the position was his. But once again, the job went to another person.

That couple is deeply bruised now in heart and spirit. They'92ve been left wondering, '93We gave our lives faithfully on the mission field. There is nothing in our walk that would cause a controversy with God. We have prayed and believed. So, why are we at this point?'94

If you want to see a biblical example of someone who was bruised deeply in body and spirit, consider the prophet Elijah. This man was brought to an absolute breaking point.

Elijah knew God and heard his voice as few people did. His prayers opened and shut heaven. He had such spiritual authority that he fearlessly confronted 400 idolatrous priests of Baal and slew them all single-handedly. He was so full of God'92s Spirit that he outran a chariot over a stretch of twenty miles.

Yet, after all these feats, Elijah received word that wicked Queen Jezebel was on his trail to kill him. Fear came over the mighty prophet, and the next time we see him he'92s sitting exhausted under a juniper tree, weary and discouraged.

God'92s mighty servant had been mentally and physically bruised. Elijah must have thought, '93Why is this happening to me? God'92s hand has been on my life for all these years, and I'92ve seen him perform miracle after miracle. But now I'92m facing a hopeless situation, and it'92s testing me beyond all my human capacity.'94

This same man, who once stood against the powers of hell and called down God'92s fire, now cried out in distress: '93It is enough; now, O Lord, take away my life, for I am not better than my fathers'94 (1Ki_19:4). Elijah broke down, crying, '93Lord, I can'92t take any more.'94

Some are even now under Elijah'92s juniper tree, too tired to pray.

Maybe you'92re at this place of bruising, an absolute breaking point. You have lived as a faithful servant, you have prayed diligently, and you have known God'92s voice. You have won victories in the past, and you deeply love the Lord. But now you'92re bruised deeply, wounded as never before, and you can'92t even bring yourself to pray.

You think, '93I have sought God faithfully, I'92ve pored over his Word, I'92ve prayed diligently. Yet this trial has come out of nowhere, and my soul has been bent further than anything I'92ve ever known.'94 Now all your tears have dried up. You look and feel worn out, discouraged, rejected and alone. Like Elijah, you'92re bowed down under a juniper tree, discouraged and distressed, holding on for dear life.

Beloved, this Christian walk is warfare. It means battles, weariness, wounds, and a ferocious enemy who'92s out to destroy you. When you'92re down and bruised as Elijah was, you become drowsy and sleepy. And that'92s exactly when you'92re most vulnerable to condemning thoughts. Your tender conscience tells you:

'93You'92re not praying the way you did before. You don'92t study the Word enough. You'92re dried up and lukewarm, your fire is going out, and you'92re simply not a good testimony. Now you'92ve allowed Satan to rob you of the peace God gave you. You just don'92t have what it takes. Your fleshly nature is unchangeable after all.'94

After this, the Word of God will try you. This is just what happened with Joseph: we'92re told that until his appointed time came, the Word of the Lord tried him. And it was happening now with Elijah as well. Likewise, when we come to our own place of being bruised, our absolute breaking point, it will happen with us too. Our conscience will beat us up with the Word we'92ve hidden in our hearts.

Think about it. Throughout Scripture we read, '93Be not slothful. Pray fervently and earnestly, with all that is in you, seeking him while he may be found. Give yourself to prayer and the Word. Redeem the time. Beware of the foolish virgins'92 slothfulness. God says his people have forgotten him for days on end.'94

All of these passages and principles come rushing to our minds in our time of bruising. And we think, '93I'92ve let my Lord down. I have not obeyed his Word.'94 Your wavering faith is the wick that'92s smoldering, and the devil is eager to see it snuffed out.

Like Elijah, you'92re so worn out and discouraged, all you want to do is sleep. Scripture says that'92s just what this godly man did: '93He lay and slept'94 (1Ki_19:5). He simply couldn'92t carry the burden anymore.

But the Lord didn'92t rebuke Elijah for this. God knew his servant had come to a breaking point. I picture our precious Father saying of him, '93Look at this faithful man, bruised and hurting. He has reached the end of his rope, unable to explain his pain to anyone. I have promised him, '91I will not break a bruised reed.'92'94

So, what happened? '93The angel of the Lord came'85and touched (Elijah), and said, Arise and eat; because the journey is too great for thee'94 (19:7).

Here is an incredible word for every bruised reed who'92s reading this message. It doesn'92t matter how bruised you are, how bent down by your flood of testing. God has made you a promise: '93You will not be broken. I won'92t allow your flame to go out. Your faith will not be quenched.'94

Dear saint, this message is to you from heaven. You are being touched with a word that calls to you: '93Rise up now. God isn'92t mad at you. And he'92s not going to let you go down. He knows this situation is too great for you to handle. He will supply you with supernatural strength. He'92s going to give you what you need to move on.'94

Over forty days and nights, Elijah was slowly restored. Day by day, he still plodded along, with only enough strength for each day. Finally, the time came when the Lord said, '93What are you doing hiding in this cave, Elijah? I can'92t let you settle into this kind of despair and see it take over your life. I have restored you with my loving patience. And now I'92m going to give you direction.'94

What word do you need to hear to bring you out of your cave?

Do you expect to hear a harsh, backbreaking word in the midst of your bruised condition? Scripture says that during Elijah'92s time in the cave, '93A great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the Lord; but the Lord was not in the wind'94 (1Ki_19:11). God was not in that message.

Do you expect your soul to be shaken by a loud wake-up call? '93After the wind [was] an earthquake; but the Lord was not in the earthquake'94 (19:11). Do you expect to hear a fiery word? '93And after the earthquake a fire; but the Lord was not in the fire'94 (19:12).

God knows just the kind of word you need to hear when you'92re bruised. And it'92s not a word of judgment, not a hard word, not a red-hot sermon. I believe the Lord is telling us in this passage, '93When you are bent down by your trials, I will not treat you harshly.'94 No, Elijah needed to hear a soft, kind voice: '93After the fire [came] a still small voice'94 (19:12). Some manuscripts translate this phrase as '93a gentle blowing,'94 meaning, '93a soft, refreshing breeze.'94

This same gentle, still, small voice comes to us from the heart of the Father today. And its message is the same: '93Ye have seen the end [outcome] of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy'94 (Jam_5:11).

'93The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy. He will not always chide: neither will he keep his anger for ever. He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities. For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him'85. Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear him'94 (Psa_103:8-11; Psa_103:13).

Here is your word of deliverance: Rise up and trust! The time has come for you to believe Jesus is with you in your storm. He will give you the strength to endure it.

Don'92t believe the lie that you'92re going to be crushed. The devil will not have the upper hand. The Lord has said, '93No matter how bruised you feel, I will not allow you to be broken. I won'92t let the fire go out. My Spirit is going to blow on the embers, and your flame for me will come back again.'94

By: David Wilkerson