Book in Review: "The Bruised Reed"

I picked up this 99 cent copy after running across Jesus’ remarks in Matthew 12, in which he quotes the prophet Isaiah: “A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out.” Uncertain in the ambiguity, I found out Richard Sibbes had written an entire book on the topic. I had never read anything by Richard Sibbes before, but with an increasing personal interest in the Puritans I decided to give it a try. I was, frankly, blown away.

The Bruised Reed is less a commentary on Matthew 12:20, and more of a blueprint of the Christian walk. It begins by discussing the tenderness of Christ. The heart of the Father. “As a mother tendereth most the most diseased and weakest child, so doth Christ most mercifully incline to the weakest child, and likewise putteth an instinct into the weakest things to rely upon something stronger than themselves for support.” Sibbes instructs that we not consider ourselves loftier than Christ, but in likewise manner, condescend to those individuals within which there is a spark of the divine work. “The Holy Ghost is content to dwell in smoky, offensive souls. O that that Spirit would breathe into our spirits the like merciful disposition!”

Sibbes throughout delves into the riches of “weakness” in the economy of God. “A pearl, though little, yet is of much esteem: nothing in the world is of so good use, as the least dram of grace.” He welcomes a faltering and struggling faith and urges that we do so as well: “A weak hand may receive a rich jewel; a few grapes will show that the plant is a vine, and not a thorn. It is one thing to be wanting in grace, and another thing to want grace altogether.” Correspondingly it is the haughty that are in greater danger: “Hypocrites need stronger conviction than gross sinners, because their will is naught, and thereupon usually their conversion is violent.” Sibbes calls us to not despise the day of small things in weak Christians, but in the model of our Savior, help fan into flame the sparks.

The bruised reeds and smoldering wicks do not remain bruised and smoldering, however. The final chapters discuss the eventual outcome of the judgment or rule of God in the hearts of man. “Christ sets up his chair in the very heart, and alters the frame of that, and makes his subjects good, together with teaching of them to be good. Other princes can make good laws, but they cannot write them into people’s hearts.” The joy of the Christian walk is that our Lord does not leave us the way he finds us, but through his transformative work, He will makes us something we are not.

Perhaps what I appreciated most in this volume is the Christian, pastoral wisdom offered to those striving to live the Christian walk. How do we call our minds to live in a manner worthy of Christ? How do we battle discouragement when we see so little fruit within us? How do fight complacency through the seasons where we experience apparent ease? This rather short book is a fountain of such wisdom, and something I will go back to and read again.

I will say that though The Bruised Reed is short, it takes time to read. The older language and depth of topic require a little more focus than typical books require. While I am by no means a quick reader, I found myself frequently mouthing the words to track with the flow. All in all, an amazing (life changing?) work. One I will reread again and again, as well as pass on to friends.

I really recommend it to you faithful readers of the blog!

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“A father looks not so much at the blemishes of his child, as at his own nature in him; so Christ finds matter of love from that which is his own in us.”