Bruised Reeds And Smoldering Wicks

Scripture Reading: Isaiah 42; John 21

Isaiah 42: 1 – 4: A bruised reed He will not break,
and a smoldering wick He will not snuff out.

The Old Testament writings are deeply inspiring in their authors’ ability to portray the gentleness of God as the world awaits the advent of the Messiah. God is a shepherd who has patient disregard for the slowness of the sheep; portrays the human condition; and indicates the endless love the coming Messiah will require. Then the long-awaited revelation of Divine love arrives as an innocent and helpless Child.  Isaiah teaches his followers to sing: “Unto us, a child is born, unto us, a Son is given, and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, the mighty God, the everlasting Father, the Prince of peace.”

No Scripture captures more succinctly and thoroughly the awesome beauty of the New Testament God, which Jesus conveys, than the image in the Old Testament of the bruised reed and the smoldering wick.

The reed once stood tall. It danced in the gales and shone in the sun. Its beauty changed with each passing season. It nestled safely against the earth’s breast when winter bore down upon it with fury. It sang and swayed gently to the music of spring’s return. The reed preached eloquently to all passing by, of the Providential care of a gentle unseen hand.

The wick, on the other hand, was a human-made object. It is true that in the beginning, the wick is the inspiration of the Creator of celestial and everlasting light. Now it fulfills its function in the home, in the town, in the streets, and in the world. It gives light to all. It brings comfort on a stormy night when the visibility is diminishing. It is a gift that can never receive value in common currency when the shadows of the evening lengthen, and the darkness in the valley is made less dark because of the glowing wick.

But nothing remains unchanged in this world. Time passes swiftly by and sweeps everything along with it. All too soon, both the reed and the wick are mere shadows of their former being and find a place on the heap of discarded things.

But wait! Turn the page! ‘The bruised reed and the smoldering wick’ is not a parable about expendable things. It is rather a parable about God’s way of dealing with people.
The bruised reed tells the story of individuals who were once standing straight and tall, but now the vivaciousness of youth has fled, and time lays its burden upon them. Or it may be a more nefarious burden in youth that weighs the heart and stoops the shoulders.
Now the actual meaning of the parable of the bruised reed appears: “The bruised reed He will not break.” The Gospel immortalizes the tenderness of God through Jesus Christ, who embraces those with drooping heads, and heavy hearts, and strengthens them by His Cross. “The bruised reed He will not break.”

“The smoldering wick He will not snuff out.” Once more, the Gospel captures the tenderness of God in Jesus Christ, as He rekindles a new flame of devotion in tired and weary spirits. Peter, the disciple of Jesus, was contemplating a return to his fishing boat because for him everything had changed with the death of Jesus. But by the sea of Galilee, and in response to Jesus’ question, “Peter do you love me?” Peter becomes ‘The Rock’ upon which the church is built. The smoldering wick He will not snuff out.

When our day is over, and we can no longer engage in sharing His Light with others, be assured that the wick is not extinguished. In the shelter of His Presence, it will glow with perpetual light, and from heaven, one more light will be added to lessen the world’s darkness.

Reoice, the Lord is King;
Your Lord and King adore;
Mortals, give thanks and sing
And triumph evermore:
Lift up your heart, lift up
your voice;
Rejoice; again I say Rejoice!
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1. Here and throughout this text, the Scripture quotations are from The New International Version. NIV.
2. Charles Wesley. In “Rejoice The Lord Is King.” Stanza 1,
#112. ” The Hymnary” The United Church Of Canada.”
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