You are a Pain in the Neck!
2 Corinthians 12:7 And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure.(NKJ)
Many years ago we went to see a famous prophet speak, and this prophet told a story of two guys following him around to every meeting he had.
Now, these two guys did not approve of his style of preaching, much less his prophetic gifting. These two had a mission, and it was to irritate him while he was speaking. To make matters worse, they always made sure they had the front row seats.
Reading the above passage, do you think Paul had people harrasing him? I had read that the thorn in his side was slang for the day of someone being a pain in the neck. Would you think, like the famous prophet we went to see, had a thorn on his side by his two buddies sitting in the front row?
If you read the verse carefully, Paul was operating in an abundance of revelations. This guy was a walking MRI! If this prophet we went to see had a couple of messengers of a Satan to buffet him, I am sure Paul had his share.
Consider the verse in Matthew 3:11 “I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.(NKJ)
All this is saying is that John the Baptist cannot walk in the shoes that Jesus walked in. Slang for the day.
Sometimes we try to get too anaylytical regarding the Bible, and miss the message. But if we read it in it´s full context and ask the Holy Spirit for guidance, He will do His job, and we understand the word better.
With that said, doing so makes it easier for us to understand His word and we continue growing in Him.
Blessings in Him.
Exactly. The word “thorn” has been used in the OT just as you said as a phrase to refer to “persecution”.
“But if you do not drive out the inhabitants of the land, those you allow to remain will become barbs in your eyes and thorns in your sides. They will give you trouble in the land where you will live.” [Numbers 33:55]
Judges 2:3: “Now therefore I tell you that I will not drive them out before you; they will be thorns in your sides and their gods will be a snare to you.”
Joshua 23:12-13: “But if you turn away and ally yourselves with the survivors of these nations…then you may be sure that the Lord your God will no longer drive out these nations before you. Instead, they will become snares and traps for you, whips on your backs and thorns in your eyes, until you perish from this good land, which the Lord your God has given you.
In all these three references, thorn refers to a persecutor. The persecutor in Paul’s case was a messenger of satan. It simply represents the enemy of God sent to harass Paul.
Consider 2 Corinthians 11, and you will find that the same used for “infirmity” in 2 Cor 12 is used in 2 Cor 11 to refer to Paul’s weakness’. Analyzing the weaknesses he mentions there would make us wonder how someone could bring such a blatant lie as Paul writing of having Opthalmia!
Sidharth
I agree with you sis only the Holy Spirit can make you see the true and hidden meaning of God’s Holy Word, Mr/Mrs flesh cannot do that.
Godbless
I agree with you sis only the Holy Spirit can make you see the true and hidden meaning of God’s Holy Word, Mr/Mrs flesh cannot do that.
Godbless
Well said my friend! Well said! God bless you! Love you
Glory to God!!! you Have recieved an award sis