2 Corinthians 12:7, commentary and pictures

Paul was given visions of heavenly glory even to the third heaven, and because that abundance put him in danger of pride he was given a bodily affliction in the eyes that had looked upon Christ, a messenger of Satan to buffet him and keep him humble. He prayed earnestly for its removal, but God answered not by taking it away but by giving sufficient grace and strength to endure it, showing that prayer for healing is answered with what is best for the person and for God's glory. A thorn in the flesh troubles and tests faith, yet it is meant to deepen conscious dependence on God and is to be accepted with humble trust rather than murmuring. Rising above God's Spirit and relying on one's own strength leaves a person exposed to Satan's assaults, while humble dependence keeps in the path of truth, and when ministers take credit and become self-sufficient they are given up to such buffetings to keep them from being exalted. Christ does not abandon erring people to Satan's buffeting but continues to bear with them and welcome them back, and encouragement from others sustains courage under its anguish and discouragement.

Thorn's Meaning and Purpose

The abundance of revelations was visions of heavenly glory, including being received into the third heaven. That abundance put Paul in danger of being exalted above measure through pride, so that those who seek to walk with God and share spiritual blessings are likewise exposed to pride and Satan's wiles and need caution, humility, watchfulness, and fervent prayer. The thorn in the flesh was a bodily affliction, poor eyesight in the very eyes that had looked upon Christ, which the Lord allowed him to bear for a purpose though He often gave him visions of heavenly things. It is described as a messenger of Satan sent to buffet Paul, and that buffeting affliction was the means of keeping him from exaltation, an experience overcome through Christ's strengthening.

It was given after great honor had been placed upon him to keep him from becoming proud through revelations, gifts, or a special calling, and to preserve humility and draw him to God. After great honor is the time to walk humbly with God, letting the assurance of blessing lead to exalting God and not self, delivering the message faithfully and enduring to the end, with sickness at times laid upon the person by God's hand in answer to prayer for protection from pride. God prepares His people for temptation by giving before a great trial a more than usually clear revelation of His presence, compassion, and love, with strength sufficient for the trial for those who work in humility and faith so that through Christ and the weapon It is written they can answer wisely and firmly and not be overcome. Paul prayed earnestly for the thorn to be removed, and God answered not by removal but by grace and strength sufficient to bear and endure the infirmity.

This teaches that prayer for temporal blessings such as healing is answered with what is best for the person and for God's glory rather than exactly what is desired, so when the sick pray for health and are not immediately healed they receive the more valuable gift of grace to bear sickness. God does not lead all minds to Himself in the same way to save souls, for one may gain spiritual strength and discernment easily while another must contend with a thorn in the flesh, struggling hard and at times seeming ready to step off the heights over a precipice, yet such sore besetment does not mean God has ceased to love him as His child, and His hand is still stretched out to save him. Rising above God's Spirit and relying on one's own strength leaves a person exposed to Satan's assaults and buffetings, while humble dependence on God keeps in the humble path of truth.

When God makes known wonderful truth and gives abundance of light through human agents, He permits those who turn from light and despise warnings to oppress His people, and this painful trial and oppression keeps His servants contrite and humble and prevents exaltation by the light given, and will not destroy them if they hold fast to faith. When ministers take credit to themselves for their work and think God is favoring them, they become independent and self-sufficient, and the Lord gives them up to the buffetings of Satan to keep them from being exalted above measure, for to do God's work with acceptance ministers must have meekness and lowliness of mind, each esteeming others better than himself. When church members cast aside God's counsel and take church difficulties to unbelieving lawyers, insulting His holy name and crucifying Christ afresh, God does not hear their prayers but leaves them to be harassed by Satan's buffetings as disciplinary correction until they see their folly, confess sin, and seek the Lord. Christ does not abandon erring people to Satan's buffeting but continues to bear with them and welcome them back.

Enduring the Thorn Faithfully

A thorn in the flesh troubles a person and tests faith, yet it can deepen conscious dependence on God and draw the person to Him. Applied to feeble health, such an affliction humbles and keeps awareness of need, teaching trust and acceptance of the trial. It is not a reason to murmur but is to be endured without murmuring in humble, trustful walking before God.

Being buffeted brings anguish and discouragement, and the affliction and suffering may continue. In that trial help and encouragement from others sustain courage and strength to continue the work. Satan fiercely buffets every effort to labor for God and oppose his work. The needed response is strong faith that looks beyond outward appearances and trusts that God will raise up and restore gradually.

Satan's buffetings are afflictions from which one may pray to be delivered, and prayer can bring some relief from the trouble. Yet dwelling on past wrongs makes the thorn feel more deeply embedded and magnifies suffering, so a continuing painful pressure upon the spirit becomes worse through brooding over it. Parents who yield to Satan's temptations through irritability and loss of self-control make their children suffer, as seen in the buffeting Paul endured. Therefore parents are urged to pray that they and their children not be left exposed to Satan's buffetings in the day of conflict.