Because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, for this reason to keep me from exalting myself, there was given me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me--to keep me from exalting myself! Concerning this I implored the Lord three times that it might leave me. And He has said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness. " Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me.
This passage follows Paul's recounting of the vision he had fourteen years earlier. I've wondered about what the thorn actually was, and maybe it's providential that it's left of to our imagination. Paul's unclearness of describing the thorn, gives us the ability to relate in many ways, whether our thorn is physical or spiritual. There's a possibility that Paul's vision, left him with not just a eye problem (as some believe), but with a demon (from passage) that literally tormented him with whatever tools it used.
The reason I bring it up, is because there is somewhat of a misunderstanding with the presence of demons. While I don't believe they have power to manipulate someone who is full of Christ, there is that struggle, and everyone knows their specific struggle, or thorn.
There's two issues that this hit me with.
1) God's sovereignty over everything, and everything moving about spiritually, and even the angels of Satan being under his control. This reminds me of a illustration from Brannon, taken from the Silmarillion by Tolkien. I've never read it, and I'm not sure I'm getting the idea correct, but there's a fascinating concept: The God-figure in the story sang a song, and the Satan-figure tried to corrupt it by singing it's own song. To the Evil One's frustration, the song's would merge, eliminating the marred song, but adding texture and power to the already and always pure song.
2) And God's knowledge that His children won't be completely happy until they are completely like Him, while Paul implored God to remove the thorn, whatever nature it was, God responded with the blessing that His grace would be enough for Paul, and that grasping onto that promise, Paul would be truly "unhindered".
It's a big piece of Scripture to work with, and I'm not hitting all the points, but I was encouraged and thought all of you would as well.
Posted by Kammer at December 15, 2003 12:51 PMi've always heard that passage preached in an apersonal way, i.e., that the thorn was some tangible or name-able struggle with the likes of poor eyesight or chronic back-ache or speech impediments or a perpetual temptation/propensity/weakness to sin in a specific way (for instance, a tendency to lean more than some might lean -- and therefore have to fight more than some might fight -- towards/against homosexuality or bitterness or gossip or alcoholism).
i am willing to consider that the messenger was a demon. after all--is the word angelos?--if so, then we interpret it angel/messenger elsewhere. i wonder why i've never heard this even suggested before. i think it's clear that christians cannot be overtaken/possessed/reclaimed by demonic forces, but they certainly are called upon to fight them, even more vehemently and soberly than we fight tangible/name-able enemies -- Ephesians 6 not being the least of such passages. the warfare is real/real-er in that realm, and yes, on a personal level.
your description of the silmarillion excerpt reminds me of passages from calvin miller's SINGER trilogy too. although in that, the satan-characters pipings are counterfeit of sorts, not so swallowed up and used redemptively. i like tolkien's better in that sense.
Posted by: joy at December 15, 2003 01:11 PMthe music allusions have reminded me of milton's *comus*. if remember things correctly, but it also has to do with the influence of song--from the satanic figure, as well as from "the savior."
i need to read it again to be more certain, however!
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