Title 『Gratitude of the Broken Reed』
< Nov. 20, 2011 Las Vegas Blessed Church / 3rd Sunday after Pentecost / Thanksgiving Sunday / 2nd Worship >
< Nov. 20, 2011 / This message is for twenty three Lord's Day after Pentecost. >
Isaiah 42:1-9, 『Thanksgiving of the bruised reed』
Wouldn't it be nice to have someone like Dr. Fleming who saves us from crises at every turn in our lives? It will be a very grateful and heart-wrenching day. However, we believers have a strong protector that cannot be compared to Dr. Fleming, and that person is our God. Please believe that God helps us from time to time and protects us like the pupil of the eye.
There are four poems in the book of Isaiah called “the song of the servants of the Lord” (42:1-9; 49:1-7; 50:4-9; 52:13-52:12). These songs introduce Jesus Christ, the servant of God, whom God will send specially to save the world. Isaiah 42:1-9, which we read today, is one of the 'Songs of the Servant of the Lord', which records the nature and work of the coming Messiah. The Messiah, who comes as Jehovah's servant, is fully guaranteed by God and shows the assurance that through him he will save the world.
In the text I read, the character and work of the Messiah, Jesus Christ, he said, “He will not break a bruised reed, nor put out a smoldering lamp.”
In the text, the Israelites were taken captive to Babylon. The people who have lost their country, the miserable people who want to gather at the temple to offer sacrifices but cannot do so, and the reality that they cannot gather together and share stories of national love or faith. Israel's fate in the midst of such captivity was tragic. Referring to Israel in such a situation, the prophet Isaiah described it as “a bruised reed” and “a burning lamp.” Under the colonial rule, my heart was broken, my body was broken, and everything was broken. In this situation, God says, “I do not break a bruised reed”, “I do not put out a lamp that is going out.” you promised.
“Reed” is a common plant that grows in marshes and watersides, and is also common in the lower Euphrates and around the Nile and along the Jordan River in Palestine. It is a plant that appears frequently as a symbolic and figurative expression in ancient Near Eastern literature and the Bible. Reeds are fragile and easily sway in the wind, and their branches are easy to break, so they symbolize the fragile human figure. The word 'a bruised reed' referred to in the text literally refers to a reed that is half-broken.
How is this world? Use it when it is profitable. However, if there is a slight wound and there is a blemish, it is thrown away. If the teeth of the dishes used at home come out, won't they go into the trash without any regrets?
Someone was working hard for the company from early morning until late in the evening. However, when he collapsed from overwork and was hospitalized, he was fired. I saw you mourn over that heartless reality. This is the world. The world has no mercy. It's ruthless. How often are people turned away, abandoned, and trampled upon in this cold world? In fact, we are fragile people who can become “lagging people” at any time in the world.
There was a man who was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho and was struck by a robber. The robber wounded him and took everything lightly. The priest and the Levite also passed by. The world throws away those who are hurt like that. But Jesus finds out people who are wounded in various ways in this world, and never breaks them like a bruised reed and takes care of them. He calls the brokenhearted and heals their wounds. He weeps, comforts, and accompanies those who weep. He does not break the heart broken by sin, but restores it and saves us.
When the wind blows or waves hit, the reeds are inevitably bent and damaged. We ourselves are these fragile, bruised, reed-like beings. In the Bible, our life is described as a mist, grass, and shadow that appears for a short time and then disappears. It speaks of the fragility of our lives like a reed. As the storms of life pass while you live in this world, your mind and body are wounded and broken. Sometimes we get sick and have a sick body, our heart is very broken, or we live under the pressure of worries and anxieties. Sometimes in our lives, dark clouds of pain, frustration, and loneliness fall over us. If you open a person's heart, you will find sorrow, lamentation, and struggles of despair. So we are all bruised reeds. The Lord of love has come here today and has compassion on us who are like bruised reeds and shows mercy. He heals all the wounds of our pain and despair and sets us free to do amazing things.
The reed is a weak but characteristic plant. Although it is common, Jesus used to find and speak of the dignity of that value. Salt is common. However, salt has a precious value, both as a preventative for rotting, as a remedy, and as a flavoring agent for all foods. The same goes for reeds. Reeds are commonly found wherever you go, such as in wetlands and riverbanks. The reeds are simply swept to and fro by the wind and appear to be of no use. However, such reeds were used as the material for writing the Bible. The paper on which the Bible was written is a reed called 'Papyrus'. The Bible was written and passed down on this reed. Please keep in mind that even though we are bruised reeds, we are reeds with the Word of God written on them. The Lord did not write or leave His Word in a book. Why? This is because the truth is engraved directly into our hearts like a bruised reed. Didn't our Lord save countless lives and this world with the truth that he has engraved in us? How amazing is that?
Our Lord does not break man as such a bruised reed. Rather, he chooses, loves, and builds. He heals us like that bruised reed, sets us free, and uses them wonderfully. We may appear to the world as fragile and insignificant bruised reeds, but our Lord fires us with a strong hand. So we can overcome our weakness and stand strong.
The Apostle Paul knew that he was a bruised reed, a reed that was easily overturned by the wind. But at the same time, when I realized that it was a reed that was held in the Lord's hand, I knew that it was something that could never be destroyed, but rather that it was possible to taste and enjoy the power, authority, and glory of heaven. Therein lies the hope and joy of those who follow Jesus. We are all bruised reeds. Physical illness, business failure, heartbreak, family difficulties, and sin-stained souls are all wounded reeds. But we are not discouraged and despairing. Because the hand of the Almighty is holding us, the bruised reed. Please believe that our saints who are healed and free with the truth are vessels and instruments through which the authority and power of Jesus are exercised.
There is a famous American novelist, Pearl Buck, who wrote the novel The Earth. My Korean name is Park Jin-joo. Pearl Comfort Buck (June 26, 189 March 3, 1973, Korean name Park Jin-ju) wrote a novel about Korea. The novel is titled "The Living Reed". A living reed, that is, our nation, was described as a reed. The novel tells us that our nation may look weak like a reed, but it has an indomitable vitality and tremendous vitality.
Descartes, a world-renowned French thinker