Spurgeon’s Morning & Evening Devotions

Evening, July 19

"A bruised reed shall he not break, and smoking flax shall he
not quench." – Matthew 12:20

What is weaker than the bruised reed or the smoking flax? A reed
that groweth in the fen or marsh, let but the wild duck light upon it,
and it snaps; let but the foot of man brush against it, and it is
bruised and broken; every wind that flits across the river moves it to
and fro. You can conceive of nothing more frail or brittle, or whose
existence is more in jeopardy, than a bruised reed. Then look at the
smoking flax-what is it? It has a spark within it, it is true, but it is
almost smothered; an infant’s breath might blow it out; nothing has a
more precarious existence than its flame.

Weak things are here described, yet Jesus says of them, "The
smoking flax I will not quench; the bruised reed I will not break."
Some of God’s children are made strong to do mighty works for him; God
has his Samsons here and there who can pull up Gaza’s gates, and carry
them to the top of the hill; he has a few mighties who are lion-like
men, but the majority of his people are a timid, trembling race. They
are like starlings, frightened at every passer by; a little fearful
flock.

If temptation comes, they are taken like birds in a snare; if trial
threatens, they are ready to faint; their frail skiff is tossed up and
down by every wave, they are drifted along like a sea bird on the crest
of the billows-weak things, without strength, without wisdom, without
foresight. Yet, weak as they are, and because they are so weak, they
have this promise made specially to them. Herein is grace and
graciousness! Herein is love and lovingkindness! How it opens to us the
compassion of Jesus-so gentle, tender, considerate! We need never shrink
back from his touch.

We need never fear a harsh word from him; though he might well chide
us for our weakness, he rebuketh not. Bruised reeds shall have no blows
from him, and the smoking flax no damping frowns.