Psalm 119:83

Psalm 119:83

Wineskins in the smoke

Well, this verse has caught us by surprise! What does it mean? As we will be aware, in ancient times, wine was not stored in purpose-made glass bottles but in animal skins. In order to keep the skin pliable and soft it must not be allowed to dry out for it would soon shrivel and crack. It follows that the last thing you would do with your treasured wineskins is to hang them up over a smoky fire, not only would they quickly wither but the smoke would clearly ruin the flavour and texture of the wine! 

What does the author mean when he says that he is like such a wineskin? It denotes the uncomfortable condition he was in or at least thought himself to be in; being caught in the midst of smoke is very uncomfortable, and he considered himself to be in darkness with sin and afflictions, like a wineskin in smoke, black and sooty. He felt like an empty wineskin with nothing in him. Maybe he was worn out with cares and old age and had become pale and wrinkled, and like a skin shrivelled in smoke which was no longer of any use! Whatever the circumstances, this man still had one thing to cling to and he could appeal to the Lord accordingly. “I have not forgotten Your decrees. Whatever may be happening to me, I will cling to the sweet wine of Your Word and will never let it go!” 

Perhaps we can identify with this? Our years of usefulness are over, we have been hung out to dry, the purposefulness of youth has passed, and we can no longer fulfil the roles that we once held. If so, let’s still cling on to the Lord’s decrees, He has not abandoned us, our relationship with Him is not so much about our function but our being. Hallelujah!

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