Day by Day with Martin Luther

Read: 2nd Chronicles 32:1-33:13 Romans 15:23-16:9 Proverbs 20:16-18

“A Thorn in the Flesh”

“ So to keep me from being too elated by the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from being too elated.”
[2nd Corinthians 12:7]

The prophet David confesses, that he, too, had to learn the same thing: “I said in my prosperity: ‘I shall never be defeated.’ But when You hid Your face I was terrified” {Psalm 30:6-7}. St. Paul laments the great suffering he endured in Asia when he says: “we do no want you to be ignorant, dear brothers, of the affliction we encountered in Asia. We were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we gave up on life itself, and we had concluded that we had to die. But that happened so that we would not place our trust on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead” {2nd Corinthians 1:8-9}. He says that a thorn was given him in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to beat him with fists, to keep him from becoming conceited, because of the high revelation. Therefore, the testing of the saints is necessary, and even more necessary than eating and drinking, so that they remain in fear and humility and learn to cling only to God’s grace.