Pressed Down Beyond Measure.
2 Corinthians 1:8 says, For we would not, brethren, have you ignorant of our trouble which came to us in Asia, that we were pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we despaired even of life:
How can this be, did not God promise us in 1 Corinthians 10:13 that He would make a way to escape any temptation above that we are not able to bear? But here Paul said he was pressed down to the point of even life. That sounds like he was pressed down beyond measure. If you had a huge lump of dough and placed it on a table and pressed it down beyond measure it would hang over the sides of the table. Some of the edges may even fall off. Imagine if you were the dough and your extremities were about to fall off. I think that is the way one may feel when they are pressed down beyond measure physically, spiritually or emotionally.
There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it. {common…: or, moderate} (1 Corinthians 10:13 KJV)
So how can this be? I believe God knows how far we can be pressed down. When we go through such experiences that we may feel that are beyond measure God is preparing us to take on something (of equal or greater value to) later on in our life for His glory. Usually when we go through such a tribulation with our eyes on God we gain the patience, experience and hope we need to help comfort others who may be going through something they may feel is beyond measure. The experience we receive knowing God is with us though it all gives us hope to face the next trial as He brought us through the last one.
Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God. (2 Corinthians 1:3-4 KJV)
Paul was really pressed down to the point of death “But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead: {sentence: or, answer} Who delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver: in whom we trust that he will yet deliver us;” (2 Corinthians 1:9-10 KJV). Paul was trusting in God and knew that no matter what God would deliver him because God has the power to rise the dead, to deliver us from eternal death and the wages of death to stand before God in His presence to live. To live, we pass from death to life, the eternal hope of all we may go through. We will live in bliss in God’s presence for eternity. The hope of all hope.
Pressed out beyond measure or a marble? If you are a marble you would not be pressed out. You would not be pliable. You might be good for running into other marbles. We need to be changed from our old rigid selfish nature into a new pliable nature that God can mold us into for His good pleasure. The more you yield unto God the more you will become Christ-like. If you are pressed down like a grape or an olive you can be changed into sacrificial wine or oil. This works with giving physically, emotionally, spiritually, sacrificially, prayerfully, and monetarily. Here are some examples;
Lu 6:38 Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again. {Applies to all examples}
Le 4:12 Even the whole bullock shall he carry forth without the camp unto a clean place, where the ashes are poured out, and burn him on the wood with fire: where the ashes are poured out shall he be burnt. {without…: Heb. to without the camp} {where…: Heb. at the pouring out of the ashes,} {Sacrificially; example from O.T. sacrifice}
1Sa 1:15 And Hannah answered and said, No, my lord, I [am] a woman of a sorrowful spirit: I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but have poured out my soul before the LORD. {of a sorrowful…: Heb. hard of spirit,} {Emotionally}
1Ki 13:3 And he gave a sign the same day, saying, This [is] the sign which the LORD hath spoken; Behold, the altar shall be rent, and the ashes that [are] upon it shall be poured out. Job 30:16 And now my soul is poured out upon me; the days of affliction have taken hold upon me. Ps 22:14 I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint: my heart is like wax; it is melted in the midst of my bowels. {out of…: or, sundered} {Sacrificially}
Isa 53:12 Therefore will I divide him [a portion] with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors. {Physically, Emotionally}
Eze 39:29 Neither will I hide my face any more from them: for I have poured out my spirit upon the house of Israel, saith the Lord GOD. {Spiritually}
2Ch 12:7 And when the LORD saw that they humbled themselves, the word of the LORD came to Shemaiah, saying, They have humbled themselves; [therefore] I will not destroy them, but I will grant them some deliverance; and my wrath shall not be poured out upon Jerusalem by the hand of Shishak. {some: or, a little while;} {Consequentially}
Isa 26:16 LORD, in trouble have they visited thee, they poured out a prayer [when] thy chastening [was] upon them. {prayer: Heb. secret speech} {Prayerfully}
Ac 10:45 And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost. {God’s gift poured out to those who yield to His will} The best is poured out to those who pour out themselves to God and others.
Ask God to give you a new pliable heart and to take away any stony pieces that may be left. Stand on His promise. “A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. (Ezekiel 36:26 KJV)
Lord prepare me to be a sanctuary. Tired and true, pure and holy, Lord prepare me to be a sanctuary for You.
In Christ,
Greg