Isaiah 42:1, 3 Behold, My Servant, whom I uphold; My chosen one in whom My soul delights. I have put My *Spirit upon Him; He will bring forth justice to the nations. … A bruised reed He will not break, and a smoldering wick He will not snuff out. In faithfulness He will bring forth justice;
Beloved
I know you feel the darkness covering the earth
A thick, heavy darkness
A gross darkness that tries to crush and snuff out all life.
Beloved do not fight this darkness in your own strength
Come to Me; Rely on Me; Lean on Me alone and remember
The bruised reed that feels as if it’s being crushed
… I will not break
The smoldering wick that feels faint about to go out
… I will not snuff out.
The LORD Himself goes before you and will be with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. -Deut 31:8
The bruised reed helpless and weak
Can make no music on its own
But My breath of life restores
Beloved wait on Me
I will lift you up and breathe a new song thru your mouth
A sweet song of praise
Many will see and trust in Me. –Ps 40:1-3
The smoldering wick, faint, growing dim
Can shine no light on its own.
But My wind ignites and fans into flame -2 Tim 1:6
I will light your candle turning darkness to light
A city on a hill shining bright with My glory
A city on a hill that cannot be hidden
The light of the world. -Mt 5:14
See, darkness covers the earth and thick darkness is over the peoples, BUT the LORD rises upon you and His glory appears over you. -Isa 60:2
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You, O LORD, will light my candle; my God turns my darkness into light. -Ps 18:28

Shepherd boys used to cut reeds and turn them into flutes. Straight unbroken reeds were picked; they made the best flutes. Reeds were plentiful so there was no need to repair a bruised or broken reed which would make no music, a new unbroken one could quickly be found. The shepherd boy would probably just snap the bruised reed and throw it away as useless.
The Lord chooses to breathe His breath of life into the bruised reed causing it to make sweet music again and into the smoldering wick igniting it into flame. His power made perfect in weakness. In your weakness, surrender to Him, let His breath of life rest upon you, then you will shine in His strength and glory.
God has chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; and the base things of the world and the despised God has chosen, the things that are not, so that He may nullify the things that are,
so that no man may boast before God.
-1 Cor 1:27-29
And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong. – 2 Cor 12:9-10
I am the LORD, that is My name; I will not give My glory to another, Nor My praise to graven images. -Isa 42:8
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Song 7:7-9
The Palm Tree and the Palm Tree Climber
The Lover to His Beloved:
7Your stature is like a palm tree, And your breasts are like its clusters. 8I said, ‘I will climb the palm tree, I will take hold of its fruit stalks.’ Oh, may your breasts be like clusters of the vine, And the fragrance of your breath like apples 9And your mouth like the best wine!” “It goes down smoothly for my beloved, Flowing gently through the lips of those who fall *asleep.
From Netbible: *asleep – yashen [03462]
Sleep is a blessing it provides rest and refreshment
Another word for sleep here is smolders |
The smoldering wick only needs His breath to rest on it
Breath like fragrant apples
His apples of gold
His sweet fruit and scent to restore and refresh
The smoldering wick then bursts into flame
Shining the strength and glory of the Lord!
Proverbs 25:11
A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold In settings of silver.
Isaiah 50:4
The Lord GOD has given me an instructed tongue, That I may know how to sustain the weary one with a word. He awakens me morning by morning, He awakens my ear to listen like one being taught..
Song 2:4-5
He has brought me to his banquet hall, And his banner over me is love. Sustain me with cakes of raisins, Refresh me with apples, For I am lovesick.