Isaiah 42:3 A bruised reed he will not break,
and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out.
In faithfulness he will bring forth justice.

I’m currently reading A Culture of Honor, by Danny Silk, and it has given me insight on this that I haven’t had before. There’s no question that this verse is Messianic, because it’s quoted in Matthew 12:20 as specifically applying to Jesus. However, being removed in time from Jesus’ earthly ministry, we don’t have a very good grasp of what this looks like. Our concept of “justice” tends to be inextricably intertwined with “punishment,” but that’s not the way Jesus was. He warned people of the natural consequences of their actions, but He didn’t mete out punishment. A prime example is the story of the woman caught in adultery, recorded in John 8:3-11. “Justice” would have been for the woman to be punished, whether or not you agree that stoning was the appropriate punishment. Most of us today would tend to add the man who was caught with her as needing punishment. However, Jesus defused the very tense situation and then told her, “Go, and sin no more.” He was declining to snuff out a smoldering wick. I’m sure His actions caused her to burn clean and bright from that point on! Danny Silk points out that we react as we do because we are afraid of the sin itself, recognizing our own tendency toward it, but Jesus is greater than all sin, and He dealt with it on the cross. We tend to be like Peter described in 2 Peter 1:9, lacking the good qualities he listed in verses 5-8 because we have forgotten that we have been cleansed by the blood of Jesus. Jesus isn’t in the business of punishing, He’s in the business of cleansing and healing.

I’ve dealt with this issue a good bit, in myself and others. Right now I’m dealing with a mother who wants to punish her son for doing things for which she has a strong tendency herself! In my own life, I’ve gained victory over “besetting sins” only as I have accepted that Jesus really did cleanse and forgive them, so I was to stop beating myself up over them. I need to remember that as I deal with others, trusting that Jesus is in the business of transforming repentant hearts. I need to let the Holy Spirit shine His light on the root issues, rather than deal with the branches all the time, so that there may be real healing and people move on to the wholeness that God intends.

Father, thank You for the things You continue to teach me, and for preparing me to receive them. Thank You for the situations I’m involved with day by day. May I be a channel of Your cleansing, healing grace and love to all, not breaking off bruised reeds but allowing You to transform them into “oaks of righteousness” (Isaiah 61:3) for their blessing and Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!