"I am forgotten by them as though I were dead; I have become like broken pottery."
The first time you read this, you might think this is a bad thing. However, becoming like broken pottery is actually beneficial. I first made this connection when doing the Priscilla Shirer study called, "Gideon". In it we studied Judges 7:1-25 where Gideon defeated the Midianites with only 300 men.
Beginning at verse 16, we learn how he did it. "Dividing the three hundred men into three companies, he placed trumpets and empty jars in the hands of all of them, with torches inside." Continuing with verse 19, "Gideon and the hundred men with him reached the edge of the camp at the beginning of the middle watch, just after they had changed the guard. They blew their trumpets and broke the jars that were in their hands." Finishing up with verse 21 we read, "While each man held his position around the camp, all the Midianites ran, crying out as they fled. When the three hundred trumpets sounded, the Lord caused the men throughout the camp to turn on each other with their swords."
Priscilla Shirer provided these thoughts on the broken jars. "The pitchers used by the 300 were frail. Easily breakable. But the weakness was not a liability; it actually made them effective. If the pitchers were made of an indestructible substance that wouldn't shatter at once, the torches would have remained concealed. The pitchers' frailty benefited their ultimate purpose - allowing the light to be seen. Each vessel's true strength was displayed when it was cracked open and the light inside pierced through the darkness to shock and blind the enemy. "
We are like the broken jars. The weaknesses we often despise are necessary for the light of Christ to be seen and for the darkness around us to be dispelled. This is great news! We can be thankfull for our weaknesses because God's light and power is better demonstrated through our weaknesses!
No comments:
Post a Comment