“PAUL’S THORN IN THE FLESH”
By Dr. Hoyt W. Allen, Jr.
God uses various
methods to keep His
people humble, as
well as to advance
those who have Him
at the top of their
priority list.
The apostle was
pained with a thorn
in the flesh, and
bewildered with an
agent of Satan (II
Corinthians 12:7).
Theologians are
perplexed as to what
this thorn is. Some
interpretations have
been: a) A vast
trouble or a great
temptation b) An
acute bodily pain or
sickness c) The
untruths spread
about him by the
false apostles d)
The strife he met
with from his fellow
Jews
This thorn seemingly
was to keep the
apostle humble, lest
it should keep him
from becoming
conceited (v.7).
Paul knew the
problem of pride in
one’s life. He
realized he had not
yet attained
perfection, and he
was in danger of
being overcome with
pride. If God loves
us, he will hide
pride from us, and
keep us from
becoming conceited,
and thus spiritual
burdens are ordered,
to cure spiritual
pride. This thorn in
the flesh is said to
be a messenger of
Satan, which He did
not send with a good
design, but on the
contrary, with
perverted intentions
to discourage the
apostle and hinder
him in his work. But
God designed this
for good, and he
overruled it for
good.
The apostle prayed
earnestly to God for
the removal of this
thorn. Prayer is an
ointment for every
injury, a treatment
for every
affliction, and when
we are ailing with
“thorns in the
flesh” we should
give ourselves to
prayer. Therefore we
are sometimes
tempted so that we
may learn to pray.
The apostle
approached the Lord
three times, that it
might depart from
him (v.8). Though
afflictions are sent
for our spiritual
advantage, yet we
may pray to God for
the removal of them.
We should desire
also that they may
reach the end for
which they are
designed. As
troubles are sent to
teach us to pray, so
they are continued
to teach us to
continue to be
constant in prayer.
“My grace is
sufficient for you,
for my power is made
perfect in weakness”
(v.9). This was the
answer Paul received
from the Lord. God
provides ample
strength to comfort
us, to sustain our
souls and cheer up
our spirits, in all
afflictions and
distresses. God’s
grace is sufficient
for his children.
Christ Jesus
understands our
predicament, and
knows our needs, and
will provide the
support needed for
our affliction. Paul
glorified God in his
infirmities (v. 9),
and took pleasure in
them (v.10). When we
are weak in
ourselves, then we
are strong in the
grace of our Lord
Jesus Christ; when
we see ourselves
weak in ourselves,
then we go out of
ourselves to Christ,
and are qualified to
receive strength
from him, and
experience His
divine strength and
grace (See I
Corinthians 10:13).
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