'Lo, thou trustest in the staff of this broken reed, on Egypt; whereon

if a man lean, it will go into his hand, and pierce it: so is Pharaoh

king of Egypt to all that trust in him' (Isa. 36:6).

In the parallel passage of 2 Kings 18:21 the Authorized Version translates

the same words 'bruised reed' where Isaiah reads 'broken reed'.  The

disciples were very bruised reeds.  At the hour of His trial, they all

forsook Him and fled.  Peter who promised so much, denied His Lord with

oaths, but it is written:

'Jesus ... having loved His Own which were in the world ... loved them

unto the end' (John 13:1).

Peter was converted and strengthened his brethren, besides feeding the lambs

and the sheep of the flock.

The Lord might have broken these bruised reeds and flung them aside,

but in love He held them fast until that very love sent them out into the

pagan world as conquerors in His strength.  Instead of extinguishing such

failing and feeble flames, He poured in more oil.  To the very ones that

forsook Him and fled did He send the gift and power of the Holy Ghost!

Strange characteristics these for conquest.  Unnatural forerunners these of

victory, but a patient prayerful reading of Matthew 12:19,20 provides such a

testimony that all who can take it to heart are already 'more than

One of the characteristics of fallen human nature is its impatience,

its overhaste, its inability to wait.  Perhaps the loss of immortality, and

the consciousness of the brevity of life and the enormous amount of work that

lies ahead, may account for this trait.  Moreover, impatience is not a fault

that is limited to the ungodly; it is also a common failing among the

often calls upon the believer to wait, and there are nineteen

different words

thus translated in the Old and New Testaments.  We hope to

touch upon some

of them and trust that our brief studies may be blessed of

God and used by

Him to provide help and encouragement.

Blessing is promised in Isaiah 30:18 to him that waits for the Lord,

while in Isaiah 40:31 we read that 'they that wait upon the Lord shall renew

their strength'.  We also read in Isaiah 49:23: 'They shall not be ashamed

that wait for Me', and in Lamentations 3:25: 'The Lord is good unto them that

wait for Him, to the soul that seeketh Him'.

Waiting on the Lord does not give much room for exhibitionism; it is

more likely to bring down the censure of those whose only conception of

service is to be 'up and doing'.  Let us consider that waiting upon God, that

is Silent, Restful, and Uncomplaining.

The passage to which we would draw the reader's attention is found in

Psalm 62:1: