BRUISED REEDS AND SMOLDERING WICKS

I have been hearing the Lord bring up to me in my spirit, “Don’t crush a bruised reed or quench a smoldering wick.”

Here are the passages connected to that admonition:

"A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out. In faithfulness he will bring forth justice;" [Isaiah 42:3 (NIV)]

In context:

"He will not cry out or raise His voice, Nor make His voice heard in the street. A bruised reed He will not break And a dimly burning wick He will not extinguish; He will faithfully bring forth justice. He will not be disheartened or crushed Until He has established justice in the earth; And the coastlands will wait expectantly for His law. [Isaiah 42:2-4 (NIV)]


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"A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out, till he has brought justice through to victory." [Matthew 12:20 (NIV)]

In context:

God's Chosen Servant

"He will not quarrel, nor cry out, nor will anyone hear his voice in the streets. A battered reed he will not break off and a smoldering wick he will not put out, until he leads justice to victory and in his name the gentiles will hope." [ Matthew 12:19-21 (NIV)]
These passages are associated with Messianic prophecy about one of the characteristics of the suffering servant of God, who became incarnate as Jesus of Nazareth. After I came to know the passages, the idea of the gentleness of the Lord expressed in them touched me very deeply.

Becoming aware of the passages again also reminded me of being convicted by the Holy Spirit that I wasn’t giving enough attention to a teenager that seemed to look up to me when I was first in ministry many years ago.  And I realized that I was being a know-it-all when she offered her opinion about scripture during Bible study time.  A friend who was also in ministry noticed and gently brought it to my attention.  I did my best to apologize and tried to make it up to the young woman, but still remember how ashamed I was and sad.  Instead of lifting her up and encouraging her, I hurt her feelings and seemed to be telling her that what she had to say was not worthwhile.  And I must be doing it again to someone in some way, or the Lord wouldn’t be bringing it to mind.

None of us is perfect and we all find ourselves being impatient or having bad days when we don’t feel well.  I especially feel terrible if I am crabby around my grand kids because we usually have such a great time together. 

 Of course there could be personal reasons that God is bring in the passage to my mind.  That has happened before, and I am on notice. Certainly there is enough injustice being acted out in the world today as well.  It's as if we think the Lord doesn't notice.  There's always more to do, and none of us can do it all.  But each one of us can help in some way.

What comes to your mind when you read the passages?  Have you ever heard or read anything about them you would like to share?  Do you experience the lord as being gentle, but also passionate about injustice?

Would love to hear what you think about it.  Sometimes when a passage comes to me that much and that often the Holy Spirit brings allows a situation to come into my life to teach me more about what He is showing me.  Other times there might be something important that will help me through some trial or difficulty.  The Lord is so wonderful to help us to get to know Him better through the scriptures and the teaching on them.

When I have had problems, I will often try to remember or to look up a Bible passage or narration or parable that seems similar to what I am going through.  I will ask the Lord to illuminate what it is about the passage that might help me.  And if I find no answers, I like to go to one of my Bibles with a concordance and see if there are other passages connected to the one that the Lord has brought to my mind and heart.

Our dear professor Reverend Dr. Deidre Kriewald often told us that the best way to understand the Bible was through the scriptures themselves.  If you want to try it ,find a Bible with a concordance and take some time to do what I call a "Bible Chase." You don't have to do it in one sitting.  If the Bible verse or passage has a footnote next to any of the words, see what scripture is connected to it.  Then if there are more passages keep going.

If you use Bible software or one of the online Bible resources like Blue Letter Bible, Bible Gateway or Oremus.org, you can copy and past the verses into a kind of outline and see what they all look like on the page together.  Then you might type in any thoughts or questions you have about a word or passage.  There are lexicons, commentaries and other resources that you probably already know about if you have spent time in Bible studies or on your won.

Again, I will be interested in what you have to say if you feel like commenting.  Meanwhile, I hope you have a blessed day, Beloved.  I continue to pray for you and your loved ones and am always happy to pray more specifically if you have something on your mind or heart.

May the Lord continue to bless and keep you and yours, today and always.

THE SAMARITAN WOMAN AT THE WELL

I was blessed to be reminded the other day about how important the narration about Jesus' encounter with the Samaritan woman at the well has been to me. In confirmation of that, yesterday a friend posted that that particular Bible passage the undergirding scripture for this year's Christian Unity Week.

I feel so thrilled when the Holy Spirit affirms a theme of emphasis. My spiritual ears perk up and I let Him know that I am listening. With His help I open my heart to whatever the Lord is reminding me of or teaching me.

I once heard a teaching on that passage that brought home how far we can be from the era and cultural context of life in the Levant during biblical times. The woman, identified in the Orthodox tradition as St.Photini, is the first person who was inspired to realize that Jesus is Messiah, the Holy One of God. In Western Christian tradition she is often portrayed as a sinner, but there is more we can understand about her life.

First of all, we should ask why St. Photoni, whose name means "Enlightened One," was at the well at midday. The women of Sychar, and all other women of that time whose task it was to bring home the water needed by the people in each household,rose very early to fetch the day supply of that life-sustaining necessity. They would've looked forward to the opportunity to meet with their neighbors and relations to share news and catch up on whatever was on their hearts and minds.

St. Photini had not joined the other women of Sychar because they scorned her. However, we are mistaken when we think that the problem was only that St. Photini was living with a man who was not her husband. In that age the most important reality for a woman was motherhood, and St. Photini was barren.
Because she had not been able to have a child, St. Photini had been cast out by a series of men who had married her. Finally she had given up, and the man with whom she was living had not even married her.

Jesus understood this and offered her living water that would well up within her body and give her the ability to bear children. When that happened, St. Photini would no longer be teased and scorned by the women of her community. She would be fulfilled as a woman and she would have been once more been valued in her society. She would have the joy of bearing and raising children. Provision for the necessities of life would be guaranteed even in her old age. St. Photini might even have grandchildren and enjoy the fullness of love and life.

No wonder that this beleaguered and scorned woman was excited to meet Jesus! Not only was she given the gift of discernment in order to recognize who Jesus is, but her life was completely changed from that moment on.

In Eastern Orthodox tradition St. Photini is honored and recognized as the first Evangelist, equal to the Apostles. Her excitement over her encounter with Jesus the Messiah prompted her to abandon her water jar and run to tell her family members and neighbors the most important news they could imagine. God's long-awaited Anointed One had come to them.
Even though it seemed that Jesus' disciples still did not completely understand, St. Photini and the people of Sychar did with great rejoicing. And even to this day St. Photini is blessed and celebrated even by believers who don't know her name and the history of the rest of her life.

If the thrill and joy of meeting Jesus face to face, and recognizing that He is the Son of God, the anointed Savior and Redeemed of all Creation for all human beings, I pray that you will. If you already know the Lord, I pray that you will allow Him to reveal even more of Himself to you so that you will allow Him to draw you even closer to His heart in Love and joy.

Alleluia! To God be the glory in Jesus' Holy Name. Amen.

St. Photini