A Bruised Reed and a Smoldering Wick

Matthew 12:14-21

But the Pharisees went out and conspired against him, how to destroy him. Jesus, aware of this, withdrew from there. And many followed him, and he healed them all and ordered them not to make him known. This was to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah:

“Behold, my servant whom I have chosen, my beloved with whom my soul is well pleased. I will put my Spirit upon him, and he will proclaim justice to the Nations.
He will not quarrel or cry aloud, nor will anyone hear his voice in the streets; a bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not quench, until he brings justice to victory; and in his name the Gentiles will hope.”

Tom Wright, Matthew for Everyone (Vol. 1)

But how is the Servant [of YHWH] to accomplish his task? Not by threatening and fighting. Rather, with a quiet and gentle work healing, bearing the love and grace of God to the dark parts of Israel and the world.

[Matthew] sees Jesus as the Servant, not only when he dies a cruel death, wounded for our transgressions and bruised for our iniquities, but also in the style of what he was already doing in Galilee. He was going about bringing God’s restoration wherever it was needed, not by making a fuss, but by gently leading people into God’s healing love (143).

A. Orendorff

Father, I put my faith in Jesus, the Servant whom you have chosen, the Beloved One in whom you delight. It is him whom you have anointed with Your Spirit, whom you have appointed Messiah, to declare justice—the coming of your righteousness—to the nations that walk in darkness. I place my hope in the One who does not quarrel or cry aloud, in Him whose voice is not heard in the streets. I place my hope in Jesus, for I am a bruised and damaged reed—weak and ready to break apart—a smoldering, smoking wick about to be snuffed out. I have no strength to call my own, no way to heal myself. I have no light in me by which to walk, to warm myself or light my way. Heal me, Jesus, kindle me and make me new.