D E E P D ES I R ES TO B E C LOT H E D W I T H L I F E
as to what Pauls thorn actually was describing. I personally do not see this as a mystery. To me it is very clear that the thorn was the constant persecution that Paul faced everywhere he went. The context is obvious if you study the preceding chapter along with the entire book of 2nd Corinthians. The thorn was not some special mysterious entity that God in His infinite wisdom thought to place upon Paul. If we view it this way then it loses all relevance to our daily lives. God wishes to relate this to every place in our lives. When an issue exist that does not respond to us asking for it to go away, God would have us to turn to the sufficiency of grace. He would have us die to our own strength so that the power of Christ would rest upon us and bring resurrection life. If you understand 2nd Corinthians chapters 1 and 4 , then you understand Paul’s thorn. Chastening of the Lord Before we leave this chapter I think this is the appropriate time to address the chastening of the Lord. I do not think you can truly understand the subject of chastening until we talked about these things in 2nd Corinthians. Chastening is mentioned in Job on more than one occasion and overtly in chapter 33. If you will recall the chastening of the Lord was mentioned in the context of man going his own way, in his own works and purposes. Remember the words of Elihu in Job 33. “Then He opens the ears of men, and seals their instruction. In order to turn man from his deed, and conceal pride from man, He keeps back his soul from the Pit, and his life from perishing by the sword. “Man is also chastened with pain on his bed, and with strong pain in many of his bones...” (Job 33:16-19).
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