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"And lest I be exalted above measure."

Text: 2 Corinthians 12:7

MANY OTHER REVELATIONS GIVEN

Did Paul have other special revelations from the Lord? Very likely so! In wisdom, Paul wrote about why God gave to him “a thorn in the flesh”.

“And lest I should be exalted above measure
by the abundance of the revelations,
a thorn in the flesh was given to me,
a messenger of Satan to buffet me,
lest I be exalted above measure.”
2 Corinthians 12:7

1. The abundance of the revelations

a) Paul had an abundance of revelations from the Lord.

b) However, he did not elaborate on what these were.

c) We can understand that there were many special revelations given.

i) Judging from the writings of Paul (his epistles).

ii) Judging from the depth of insight and wisdom he displayed in his epistles.

2. “And lest I be exalted above measure”

a) This statement was repeated in the same verse.

i) Opening words in the sentence.

ii) Closing words in the same sentence.

b) This was written for special emphasis.

c) Paul understood the action that God had taken.

d) He saw the wisdom behind God’s action.

e) The danger of being “exalted above measure” was all too real.

f) “Pride goes before destruction, And a haughty spirit before a fall.” (Proverbs 16:18)

3. “A thorn in the flesh was given to me”

a) What exactly this was, we are not able to say with any certainty.

b) It might be his “infirmities” that Paul mentioned (2 Corinthians 12:5).

4. “A messenger of Satan to buffet me”

a) The word “messenger” is also the word translated “angel”.

b) In this context this “messenger” was certainly not an angel of God.

c) The word “buffet” does not need to have a physical element. The following nuances to be noted.

i) To trouble

ii) To harass