Covenanter Witness Vol. 86 - Rparchives.org

earthly prince, in a regal procession, with marchingsoldiers, and preceded by heralds who will announce Hiscoming with a blare of trumpets. Instead, He came intoJerusalem riding upon an ass. He made no pronouncementconcerning Himself, but the people spread their garmentsand palm branches in the street and cried out, "Blessed ishe that cometh in the name of the Lord." It is in this spiritthat His kingdom is going forth in the world today.//. HE WILL SUPPORT THOSE WHO AREWEAK OR BRUISED"A bruised reed He will not break."Here is the picture of a slender bulrush growing in amarsh. Its sides have been crushed by the passing winds,or perhaps bent by the foot of an animal. The head ishanging by a slender thread, butit is not broken from thestem. This metaphor suggests the solemn thought thatwith all the bruises the human race has suffered becauseof sin, it will not be cut off from God. The claws of sinhave never been so securely fixed in any man that hecannot be set free by the atoning work of Christ.As we look out upon our 20th century culture withits imperfections, we realize that we are bruised reeds, butwe are not without hope, for God's faithful "Servant" isable to restore. Did you ever watch a gardener as he tendsa broken plant? Supports may be placed about the injuredstem, and the branch may be severely pruned, but in thecourse of time the healing processes of nature do theirwork and the plant is restored.Another thought that may be suggested concernsthose who are crushed and broken by sin, and who feelthat they are without hope. In Psalm 51, which is thegreatest of the penitential Psalms, David declares, "Thesacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and acontrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise." The Hebrewword that is translated "broken" is one which suggestssomething which has been crushed and pulverized in amortar. It suggests the depth of feeling which the Psalmistexperienced, but even though he had been broken orcrushed, he had the assurance of the healing power ofGod.When our Lord began His ministry, He came to thesynagogue in Capernaum and was invited to read from theScriptures. The passage which He chose was Isaiah 61,"He hath sent Me to heal the broken hearted, to preachdeliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to theblind, to set at liberty them that are bruised." He came toMatthew the publican, to Mary Magdalene, and to Paulthe persecutor, men and women who were crushed andbroken by sin. He did not cast them off, but healed all whowere willing to come to Him. Today, He looks down uponaweary, sin-sick world, a world from which He might turnaway in His wrath, but instead He comes bringing healingto those who are crushed and bruised.///. HE WILL REVIVE A DIM LIGHT OFTRUTH"Smoking flax he will not quench."The smoking flax pictures an ancient oil lamp with aJUNE 9, 1971wick made of flax. The oil in the lamp was exhausted, butthe flax wick continued to smoke from a tiny spark. Thismeans that wherever the Lord finds in men a little light,He will not extinguish it, but will provide the oil of theSpirit that the spark may revive and spring into flame.Maclaren, in commenting on this passage says, "There isno man out of hell but has in him something that needs tobe brought to sovereign power in his life, in order to makehim a light in the world."Through the centuries which preceded theReformation, the dim light of the gospel might have beencompared to "smoking flax." Because of the apostasy thatprevailed, God might have extinguished the feeble spark.But instead, He raised up Luther, Calvin, Knox, andothers, who became as flames, and who in turn were ableto revive the light in other men of their generation. As welook upon the world today, we become discouraged anddisheartened by the clouds of darkness in the skies. Wesee churches which once stood for the Inspiration ofScripture and the Deity of the Lord Jesus Christ, turningfrom these basic truths. However, in the midst of thisdarkness, there are evangelical groups whichstill proclaimthe eternal hope for men, through the atonement of JesusChrist. They may be likened to the "smoking flax" which isnot quenched.We believeit is significant that at a time when manyof the large churches, which are noted for their liberalism,are reporting substantial losses in membership, there areat the same time, evangelical churches which arereporting increases. When we read history, we find thatthis is the very thing which has been going on since theestablishing of the New Testament church. The years ofpersecution in Scotland were dark days for theCovenanters, and the "smoking flax" was almost quenched,but God causedit to be revived. From Scotland thisflame was transplanted to the New World and we find theestablishment of the Reformed Presbyterian Church. Foralmost 200 yearsit has been standing for the truth of God'sWord. But as we look at the stature of our church in theworld today,it sometimes appears that we are but a dimlyburning flax. However, we have the assurance that thelight shall not be quenched. We believe that Godstill has apurpose for the Reformed Presbyterian Church, and thatshe will be used in the days ahead.IV. HE SHALL BRLNG FORTH JUDGMENT ANDJUSTICE IN THE EARTHIn verse 1, we have the promise, "He shall bringforth justice to the Gentiles"; in verse 3, "He shall bringforth judgment unto truth"; in verse 4, "till He have setjudgment in the earth." These statements may be interpretedas applying to the gospel asit goes forth in manyforms and in all parts of the earth. They are positive affirmationsthat the gospel will succeed in the world. It isthe same concept as that which is set forth in Psalm 72,"Give the king Thy judgments, O God, and Thyrighteousness to the king's son. He shall judge Thy peoplewith righteousness, and Thy poor with judgment. . .menshall be blessed in Him: all nations shall call Him blessed."see page 107