The Bruised Reed

Shepherds used to make sweet music with reeds. But these reeds became useless if they were bent, because then the air could no longer flow through them; and if one was too damaged, the shepherd simply threw it away.

Are you a kinked pipe? Are you no longer able to make "beautiful music" in the service of the Lord? If your life, spirit, heart or body is so bruised that you feel you are no longer useful to anyone, then the Lord Jesus says to you, "Come to me; bring me that bruised heart, spirit or body and I will use it. I will never break a bruised reed."

The Lord Jesus wants us to be "music" to this broken world! Paul and Silas - beaten and abused, thrown into prison, their feet in the stocks - prayed and sang praises to God at midnight and the prisoners heard them (Acts 16:25). They were imprisoned because of their faithfulness to the living God, but he put a song in their hearts. Suppose they had not sung at midnight. Then we would not have Acts 16:31: "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household." When you sing at midnight, through the darkness of your sorrow and trials, through disappointment and misunderstanding, there will always be captives of sin, fears, worries or doubts who will hear you - and the Lord may deliver them because of the song. Psalm 147:1 reminds us, "Praise the Lord! For it is good to sing praises to our God; for it is pleasant, and praise is beautiful." Another psalm says: "I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth." (PsalmPsalm simply means "song." In the Old Testament, this word only occurs in connection with the Psalms of David and the Book of Psalms. Singers sang a psalm with instrumental... More 34:1).

Does the fire of suffering and tribulationIn the Bible, tribulation stands for oppression and persecution, such as the first Christians had to go through (2 Thes 1:4) and in particular the earthly people of God, Israel,... More cause such a beautiful song to spring from your heart? If you are going through a trialA trial is a test of the authenticity, value, or durability of something. God uses trials in the lives of believers to test and confirm their faith and perseverance and... More or suffering, remember: He will not break a bruised reed! He allows this pressure so that we can sing out of Him and praise Him.