Bruised Reed and Smoking Flax - All The LORD is near Daily Devotionals for 2026

A bruised reed He will not break, and smoking flax He will not quench, till He sends forth justice to victory.
Matthew 12:20

Bruised Reed and Smoking Flax
Matthew is the Gospel of God's mighty King who came in humility, mercy, tenderness, and compassion, as the above verse explains. John the Baptist, the King's herald, proclaimed His arrival and identified Him to the people, because He had come "incognito." God endorsed John's mission by sending the Holy Spirit from heaven to rest and remain on the Lord Jesus, God's chosen One. He is the Son of God (Mt. 3:11-17; Jn. 1:29-34). His many miracles clearly showed that He was the promised Messiah. Yet, despite the many powers He had displayed—in miracles, signs, and wonders—the Jewish leaders ascribed all to Beelzebub, that is, the devil. Because of this, they became guilty of the blasphemy against the Spirit that cannot be forgiven (Mt. 12:20-32).

In the world to come, the Lord Jesus will publicly rule in power, as many prophets had announced (Ps. 72; Isa. 32). That reign had not yet come, as God's people were in bondage to foreign powers. What to do? Some wanted a violent uprising to reverse the existing situation. No, the King called and trained disciples to be in tune with His presence, in weakness and humility. Such disciples represent Him, marked by frailty, seemingly without power, both then and today.

The bruised reed and smoldering wick denote disciples who represent the King in a way that suits Him while He is rejected by His own people and the nations of this world. He sustains such disciples, leads and helps them, despite their apparent shortcomings, failures, and weaknesses. However, soon the Master will come, the great Overcomer, who brings justice to victory.

Alfred E. Bouter
"We go" in faith, our own great weakness feeling,

And needing more each day Thy grace to know.

E. G. Cherry