THE KING’S BUSINESS
272
he had good warrant for it. Nevertheless, h e 1 forebore lest some man ‘might account him above that which he actually saw in him or heard from (literally, out o f) him. Friday, March 29 . 2 Cor. 12 : 7 . The abundance of. the revelations granted to Paul made necessary afflictions to keep him humble. The; human heart is prone to pride and to self-exaltation, and it is one o f the kindest manifestations of God’s grace that He gives us those things that keep us from them (Job 33:17). If even this exceptionally holy man Paul needed some infirmity to keep him from pride, and to make him constantly feel his depend ence upon Christ, how much more do we. What the “thorn in the flesh” was we are not told. The word used in connection with this thorn in the flesh, and apparently referring to it, and translated “weakness” and “infirmity” (the same Greek word is so translated' in verse 9 in the Authorized Version, but is translated “weaknesses”—in the plural—in the Revised Version) is the usual word for sickness, and sickness could be tvell described as a “thorn in the flesh.” The natural impression is that Paul’s thorn in the flesh was some physical weakness; but in Numbers 33:55 godless men are spoken o f as “thorns in your sides,” and in Ezek. 28:24 wicked men are spoken of as a “grieving thorn,” so possibly Paul’s thorn (or stake) ’ in the flesh may have been some wicked man or woman, but that does not seem likely. This “thorn in the flesh” is also spoken of as “a messen ger o ( Satan.” This would be an appropri ate' description o f physical infirmity, for Satan is the author o f sickness (Luke 13:16; Job 2:7; Acts 10:38; Heb. , 2:14). ,We know that Paul was subject to phys ical infirmity (Gal. 4:13, 14). Though this “thorn in the flesh” was Satan’s messen ger, it was “given” by the Lord. God permits Satan to buffet His servants, and brings them blessing out o f this buffeting, especially in keeping them humble and con scious o f their entire dependence upon Himself, and in keeping them prayerful
guishes between this'man and Himself, for there was a wide difference between Paul as he was himself in his weakness, and the rapt and glorified individual he became in this wondrous experience. He was not exalted by it, as many of us would be, but humbled by it. The experience occur red fourteen years before. Some think it was at the time he was stoned at Lystra and supposed to be dead (Acts 14:19). They think that at that time his spirit actu ally left his body and was taken up into Paradise. Others think it was at the time o f his second visit to Jerusalem (cf. Acts 22:17). W e do not know. Paul himself did not know whether he was in the body or out o f the body at the time (vs. 2, 3). It is clear that Paul believed in the possi bility o f conscious existence o f the spirit “out o f the body” and “ apart from the body” (vs.- 2, 3, R. V .). At that time, whenever it was, Paul was caught up “even to the third heaven,” “ into Paradise” (cf. vs. 2, 4). On the day of Christ’s cruci fixion He went down into Paradise (Luke 23 :43), which was then “in the heart of the earth” (Matt. - 12:40). But at His ascension Christ emptied the subterranean Paradise; and took it up into heaven with Himself (Eph. 4:8-10). Paradise, the abode -o f the blessed dead, is now with Christ in heaven (cf. Phil. 1:23; 2 Cor. 5:8, R. V .). Into this Paradise Paul was caught up, either “in the body” (cf. Acts 8:39), or “apart from the body.T He heard there words which he could not speak to others, which it was not lawful to utter. They were intended for his own edification and Comfort alone. God shows us some things that He would have us tell others; other things He would have us keep to ourselves. 'Paul does no) seem to have mentioned this , wonderful experience to any one else for fourteen long years, and he even now tries to put himself out o f sight as the subject o f this remarkable experience: he says, “on behalf o f such an one will I glory: but on mine i own behalf I will not glory, save in my weakness.” But if he should desire to glory, he would not be foolish, for
Made with FlippingBook - Online catalogs