Curing a Bottle

Psalm 119:81-88 Caph כ 81 My soul fainteth for thy salvation: but I hope in thy word. 82 Mine eyes fail for thy word, saying, When wilt thou comfort me? 83 For I am become like a bottle in the smoke; yet do I not forget thy statutes. 84 How many are the days of thy servant? when wilt thou execute judgment on them that persecute me? 85 The proud have digged pits for me, which are not after thy law. 86 All thy commandments are faithful: they persecute me wrongfully; help thou me. 87 They had almost consumed me upon earth; but I forsook not thy precepts. 88 Quicken me after thy lovingkindness; so shall I keep the testimony of thy mouth. Curing a Bottle

The letter Caph in Hebrew is a pictograph of a hand, cupped. It symbolizes two distinct gestures; first, God’s hand covering us in protection. Like an umbrella protects us from the rain, God protects the righteous from evil. Second, it symbolizes God’s blessings and generosity towards us. For example, a cupped hand containing something and extending outward in an offer of generosity.

The covering of our head by God is a constant theme in the bible. Having a firm confidence in this covering is an integral part of our walk with Him, and if we fail to believe Him for it, we might easily fail to take steps He asks us to take, or to surrender things that He asks us to surrender.

With this in mind, let us shift our focus to the content of the Psalm. Part of being a Christ follower is facing the rejection of the world around us. Yes, rejection from culture and strangers, but also rejection from family and friends. People will hurt us, fail to appreciate us, attempt to take advantage of us, and this can challenge our ability to rest in the Lord and His promised covering. However, as soon as we become preoccupied with how people might be hurting us, or focused on how they have hurt us it shifts our mind away from the mind of Christ. Further, if we become preoccupied with avoiding being hurt in the future, defending ourselves, or getting justice (or worst vengeance), we are failing to trust Him to be our defender, protector, and provider. If we are always concerned with defending ourselves, we will find it very hard to rest in Him.

Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. (Matthew 11:28)

Beautifully, this Psalm addresses the depth of the hurt and pain we can experience at the hands of others. The Psalmist starts with three profoundly tragic statements. First, “My soul fainteth for thy salvation,” in other words, they have reached the end of their strength so much so, that they are weak to fainting. Yet they, “hope in “His” word.” Often times when we hope in His word, when we wait for Him, it takes us to the very end of our strength. But this is where we find that He is never late, He is always on time, and He will never fail. This is where relationship with God is built and flourishes. Yet, it takes us getting to a willingness to become weak to the point of fainting in our own strength.

The second statement the Psalmist makes is that their, “eyes fail for thy word.” The Psalmist is explaining the feeling of deep emotional distress to the point of crying till there are no more tears to cry. And the point made of, “for thy word,” points to the same commitment as mentioned above to hold steadfast in waiting for God to defend, rather than defending ourselves.

True surrender leads us to this point of collapse, and as the next line furthers the point, we are dried up, “like a bottle in smoke.” This represents the ancient technique of curing leather in smoke in preparation for use. You see the leather must be cured properly. If the bottle was not properly preserved, then the bottle would loose its shape or fail when filled with liquid. Yet, after it’s curing process, after it is held over the smoke and fire for the correct amount of time, it would be ready for use.

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The bottle would be durable, seasoned, prepared.

This process requires the right exposure to the fire and smoke, if removed too soon, the curing process would be a failure. If left on too long, the bottle will crack and break, and be good for nothing.

"For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." (Jeremiah 29:11)

If we know the plans God has for us are good, then we know He does not want to break us; He does not want to render us useless. Can we trust him to take us off of the fire and out of the smoke at the right time? Can we trust that He knows the curing process? Can we hold to His word and His covering rather than taking matters into our own hands? We have to trust that He is doing something in the fire, even when it seems we are suffering at the hands of others. We can trust Him to defend us and protect us when we follow Him, and hold fast to Him. We can trust Him to remove us from the smoke right on time.