August 2021

 My wife and I recently planted a little redbud tree in our yard. We’ve wanted one for a while, so we decided that we were going to buy one and plant it just on the edge of a little woods that we have on our property. Unfortunately, when I bought the little tree, I didn’t realize that the main trunk of it was pretty much dead. Like, dead as a doornail dead. We talked about just returning it to the store and getting our money back to buy a different one, but it wasn’t that expensive so we decided instead to just plant it and see what happened. A day or so later, these little green shoots came up around the base of the dry, dead trunk and within a week they were six inches or so tall. The wait for a big, beautiful redbud tree might be a little longer, but, in the end, I’m glad we decided to keep it.

I’m reminded of a passage from Isaiah 42 as I think about this little tree (and, if I’m being honest, a lot of the little baby trees we’ve been coaxing along at our house). It’s one of many messianic passages in Isaiah, a Jesus passage, and it moves my soul with the gentleness and tender love that’s in it every time I read it. It goes like this:

 

“Here is my servant, whom I uphold,

my chosen one in whom I delight;

I will put my Spirit on him,

and he will bring justice to the nations.

He will not shout or cry out,

or raise his voice in the streets.

A bruised reed he will not break,

and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out.

In faithfulness he will bring forth justice;

he will not falter or be discouraged

till he establishes justice on earth.

In his teaching the islands will put their hope.”

 

There’s more to it and I encourage you to read the whole chapter and even the whole book if you find the time. Throughout the whole book and through this chapter specifically, Isaiah is calling out through time toward the day when this peaceful deliverer will show up to set things right because things are very not right. There is something so beautiful to me about this image specifically. Here is a Person with power and authority, but His power is found in His gentleness and His authority in His tenderness. Here is a savior whose gentleness keeps His hand from breaking off a broken little twig or from putting out a smoldering little wick.

 

I don’t know about you, but I sometimes feel like that sad little twig or that smoky little wick. I sometimes feel like my little redbud tree. I look alright, I maybe even look promising, but, really, I’m just this little collection of shoots that are hoping to someday be a tree. I sometimes feel like the fire’s all out and all that’s left is the smoke.

 

But there’s a particular beauty in that kind of weakness. Paul even talks about it in 2 Corinthians 12:9 when he says that God says, “my power is made perfect in weakness.” That’s maybe for another time, though. For now, just dwell in this: God has a tender spot in His heart for the broken ones. He has a special care for those who hurt. Isaiah says that the Servant, the Savior, the guy who is coming to set things right, won’t put us out, or snap us off, or till us under. He is gentle and He is bringing justice for the whole world, even the little broken ones like you and me.