He Does Not Quench the Smoking Flax

Minister:
Date: AM
Text: Isaiah 42:3
Psalters: 114, 105, 218, 243
Sacrament of the Lord's Supper
  1. Who He is.
    1. “The servant of Jehovah” is a slave whose entire life was put into the service of his owner/master.
    2. This expression refers to the nation of Israel (41:8), the elect kernel (44:1,2,21,22), prophets (44:26) and Messiah (49:1-10; 50:4-10; 52:13-53:12).
    3. The central “Servant of Jehovah” was most humble.
      1. Jesus had just declared Himself to be “meek and lowly in heart” (Matt. 11:29).
      2. He was bruised by the Pharisees and He sought no attention, not promoting Himself, but was retiring (2).
  2. What He does?
    1. He does not break the bruised reed nor quench the smoking flax, is a figure which speaks of those children of God who are troubled and burdened either by circumstances or the consciousness of their sins and sinfulness.
    2.  The Spirit’s use of the doubt negative (not break, not quench) is a way to state the positive emphatically.
      1. Instead of just destroying something so useless, Jesus lifts us up and renews our strength.
      2. Instead of blowing us out and throwing us away, God causes His light to burn within us.
  3. The Servant of Jehovah is Himself a tender, gentle Savior.
    1. Jesus stands in sharp contrast to the Pharisees (Matt. 2:2,11,14).
    2. Jesus had and has profound sympathy and genuine concern for the sick and lost.
    3. But Jesus experienced, via prayer, that God upheld Him and delighted in Him, calling Jesus His elect and His beloved, giving Him a great measure of the Spirit.