From: January 17, 2024
“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” (Matthew 12:20-21 ESV).
The Spirit inspired Matthew to quote the Messianic prophecy from Isaiah 42:3 as being fulfilled in Jesus. For the type of justice and victory that Christ would bring was not as worldly kings would. For Christ’s kingdom did not come with violence and destruction. King Jesus was so gentle that He would not break the weakest reed (Literally, “a bruised reed”). A bruised reed already being in such a weakened state that the slightest touch might break it.
Did this refer to the Pharisees who were plotting against Him? Perhaps. Certainly, their power was already so weakened by Rome that it would soon break. Rather than breaking them, He withdrew from them. Or perhaps the reed signified the weak and poor crowds that followed Him. For He healed and fed them, and instructed them to not to make Him known. For His time had not yet come, and He would not become king by a rioting crowd.
And what of the “smoldering wick?” This describes the wick of an oil lamp that has run out of oil. It no longer provides light, it only smokes as the dry flax burns, and that for only a short while. Again, this might point to the Pharisees or the Jewish nation, who would soon be destroyed by Rome. For God had intended for them to be a light to the world, but they had become only a smoldering wick. Jesus was so meek that He would not even quench a smoking wick. For His focus was on being the true light and bringing forth true justice and victory, so that even the Gentiles would put their hope in Him.
Jesus was the fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy of a gentle Messiah who would bring victory in a new way. For instead of the troops dying for the king, King Jesus died for them. He did not die to defeat the Pharisees, nor Rome, nor any other worldly kingdom. He died and rose again to defeat sin, death, and Satan. Jesus won a better victory for us (1 Cor. 15:57)! Have you placed your trust in Him?
PRAYER: Dear Father, we believe in Your Son, Jesus. For He is the Messiah of whom Isaiah prophesied and of whom Matthew saw with his own eyes. Now, we have believed in Him. We have not seen Him, but we have believed in Him and have received His Spirit by which we cry out to You, Abba, Father! May we live in this world as Jesus did. For we are citizens of His kingdom. In Jesus’ name, amen.
From: January 17, 2023
“But Jesus knew what they were planning. So he left that area, and many people followed him” (Matthew 12:15 NLT).
Jesus and His disciples were preaching town to town, when they entered a certain town on the Sabbath and entered the synagogue there. The Pharisees heard that Jesus was there and in order to accuse Him, they asked whether it was lawful to heal on the Sabbath. He answered that it was always lawful to do good. And seeing a man with a paralyzed hand, he healed him. From that time, the Pharisees plotted against Jesus to kill him. Becoming aware of this, Jesus left that area.
Would you notice if Jesus left? When Jesus withdraws from a place, we should pursue Him. No effective work can be done without Him. We should run after Him, praying that He might return to our churches, our cities and our land to bring revival.
Yet, for many, they wouldn’t even notice that He had gone. Would you?
PRAYER: Dear Father, give us Jesus and we will have all we need. For without Him, we can do nothing. Forgive us when we make it about the work or the results. For it is always about Your Son. We focus our attention on Jesus again today. Wherever Jesus is at work, that’s where we want to be. Even so, Lord bring revival to our city and nation. Do not withdraw from this place. In Jesus’ name, amen.
From: January 17, 2017
Jacob, whose name became Israel, had finally found a place to pitch his tent. The place was called the “tower of Eder” (Hebrew: “Migdal Eder),” which literally means “Tower of the Flock.” It described a hill with a tower where the shepherds could watch over their sheep. Migdal Eder was located between Jerusalem and Bethlehem. It was a area of beautiful pastures and streams where Jacob’s flocks could graze and where he could finally be at rest from his running. Yet, it was also a place of grief and disappointment as he mourned the death of his wife Rachel and heard of the sinful incest of his son, Reuben. Migdal Eder was not mentioned again in the Scriptures until the prophet Micah, who wrote that it would be the place where the Messiah would be announced (Micah 4:8). And so, the gospel writer Luke reported that it was in the fields “nearby” Bethlehem that the angel appeared announcing the Messiah’s birth to the shepherds keeping watch over their “flocks by night” (Luke 2:8). Migdal Eder, the place where Israel found rest, was ultimately the place where the whole world could find rest. The place where Jesus Christ was first revealed.
From: January 17, 2016
The Pharisees (A strict Jewish sect) questioned Jesus, whether he would heal on the Sabbath. Jesus answered them, first with a question, and then with an action. The question revealed the hypocrisy of the Pharisees application of the 4th commandment (Remember the Sabbath and keep it holy), implying that they treat their animals better than they do their people. The Pharisees were strict law-keepers, not only of the written books of Moses, but also of the oral law (The Talmud and the Mishnah) which the rabbis had written as a commentary on how the commandments of the Torah were to be carried out. Jesus’ question revealed not only the hypocrisy, but the inaccuracy of their oral traditions. Then his action, to actually heal the man with the withered hand, answered not only their question concerning the Sabbath, but also revealed his identity as the Lord of the Sabbath. Yet, this only led to their further determination to kill him.
I’ve had the privilege of visiting Israel. They still have many Sabbath laws. They even run their elevators differently on the Sabbath, making them stop on every floor, so that no one has to lift a finger to work by pressing a button. How sad to focus so hard on law-keeping, yet miss the Lord to which the law was written to reveal.
From: January 17, 2015
God appeared to Jacob again at Bethel (“Beth” Hebrew for “house,” + “El,” “god.” Literally, “House of God.”) and He officially changed his name. Jacob, whose name was given to describe the way he grasped the heel of his twin brother Esau at birth, was now to be called “Israel.” This reflected a new start for Jacob. He was no longer Jacob (“Supplanter,” “heel-grabber”), but “Israel” (One who wrestled with God, one who prevailed with God). As Jacob (The phrase “you’re pulling my leg” may have arisen from his name), he tricked his brother Esau out of his blessing and birthright. But he met his match at deception in his father-in-law, Laban, who pulled a bridal night switch on him. Yet, even here, he out-smarted Laban in the end. But now his deceptive days are over. From now on he would not be living by his wits, but walking with a limp, leaning on God’s wisdom. And his twelve sons would become the Twelve Tribes of Israel.