The David Spoon Experience 4-20-23 Part 1
A) Treasure: The knowledge of God in the face of Christ. Earthen vessels are weak and fragile. This verse is virtually thematic for the entire letter, expressing the paradox of how weak human beings can be the instruments of the power of God (see 12:9, 10). The Spirit-Filled Study Bible.
B) Jars of Clay: 4:7 this treasure. The gospel. Jars of clay. Treasures were sometimes concealed in clay jars, which had little value or beauty and did not attract attention to themselves and their contents. Here they represent Paul’s human frailty and unworthiness. NIV Study Bible.
C) Pressed down, perplexed, persecuted, and struck down. My goodness, who wouldn’t want to be a Christian with all these fantastic things that take place in our lives as believers? Yep, it seems like this is a real opiate, according to. to Karl Mocks, I mean, Karl Marx. He thought this was a simplistic healing bomb for our soft psyches. That’s right. Being continually attacked spiritually is just like a party.
D) The key is that with every one of these pushdowns and moments that touch and hurt us, there is always the bounce back because God is a God of redemption.