He Does Not Quench the Smoking Flax
Minister: | Rev. Ronald Van Overloop |
Date: | 2/14/2016 AM |
Text: | Isaiah 42:3 |
Psalters: | 114, 105, 218, 243 |
Sacrament of the Lord's Supper |
- Who He is.
- “The servant of Jehovah” is a slave whose entire life was put into the service of his owner/master.
- 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).
- The central “Servant of Jehovah” was most humble.
- Jesus had just declared Himself to be “meek and lowly in heart” (Matt. 11:29).
- He was bruised by the Pharisees and He sought no attention, not promoting Himself, but was retiring (2).
- What He does?
- 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.
- The Spirit’s use of the doubt negative (not break, not quench) is a way to state the positive emphatically.
- Instead of just destroying something so useless, Jesus lifts us up and renews our strength.
- Instead of blowing us out and throwing us away, God causes His light to burn within us.
- The Servant of Jehovah is Himself a tender, gentle Savior.
- Jesus stands in sharp contrast to the Pharisees (Matt. 2:2,11,14).
- Jesus had and has profound sympathy and genuine concern for the sick and lost.
- 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.