“Like A Wineskin In The Smoke”

 

“My soul longs for your salvation; I hope in your word. My eyes long for your promise; I ask, “When will you comfort me?” For I have become like a wineskin in the smoke, yet I have not forgotten your statutes. How long must your servant endure? When will you judge those who persecute me? The insolent have dug pitfalls for me; they do not live according to your law.” Psalm‬ ‭119‬:‭81‬-‭85‬ ‭ESV‬‬

• I love Psalm 119, it’s packed with so many nuggets of truth and wisdom to live by. It’s hard to choose which ones to start with but these particular verses, 81-85, stood out for me. 
• Especially starting with verse 83. “Though I am like a wineskin in the smoke, I do not forget your decrees.”(NIV)
• What does it mean, “like a wineskin in the smoke? I found this definition. “A wineskin repeatedly exposed to smoke would shrivel up and harden until it lost its flexibility and became useless”. 
• Perhaps the Psalmist is saying, he felt dried up, useless; maybe he felt a bit hardened or bitter; frustrated by his circumstances or perhaps tired of defending himself and his beliefs. Yet, he had not forgotten God’s word or statutes. Verse 81 says he was longing for the Lord’s salvation, he was hoping in His word. Perhaps he found comfort and encouragement in God’s promises. 
• In verse 84 and 85 the Psalmist says, “How long must your servant wait? When will you punish my persecutors? The arrogant dig pits to trap me, contrary to your law.”(NIV). Sounds like he was under attack, maybe even being persecuted by those around him. Perhaps because he was following God’s word; living his life to please the Lord. Maybe others were pressing him to be like them, conform to the “world’s” standards. Maybe he was struggling with his faith. But he was honest with God and poured out his heart to Him. I like how he says, in the ESV version, “the insolent have dug pitfalls for me”. Pitfalls; stumbling blocks, temptations, maybe even struggles or challenges, sounds just like the enemy doesn’t it? He wants us to doubt God’s word. To doubt His faithfulness. The enemy wants us to give up, throw in the towel so to speak, be like everyone else, join the crowd. He is after all prowling around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour, as Peter reminds us in 1 Peter 5:8-9(NIV) “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.”
• ‭‭Maybe we have felt like this Psalmist from time to time. But we, like him, can pour out our hearts to the Lord. Be honest about what we may be going through.  Psalm 55:22 says, “Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken.” Note it says “He will sustain you”, your circumstances may not change, He doesn’t promise to remove the difficulty, but He will sustain us. Give us the strength we need to endure. Remember, His grace is sufficient, He is strong when we are weak (see 2 Corinthians 12:9). 
• And‭‭ Hebrews 10:36 reminds us we have need of endurance. So that we don't let the circumstances of life cause us to run but instead to stand firm on the promises of God. Colossians 1:11 reminds us our strength comes from God. And Jesus reminds us in John 16:33 that our peace is in Him. We can expect difficulties, but we should not lose heart because He has overcome! And so can we!
• So, if you ever start to feel like a “wineskin in the smoke”, remember to look to the Lord for strength and hope in His word; claim one of His many promises to see you through, and don’t give up:)