A bottle is a beautiful thing.
Hand-blown of sea-green glass, it sits on a windowsill with the morning sunshine sparkling through it. Of course, looking beautiful is not a bottle’s chief purpose—it was made to HOLD something. To contain a substance and to preserve it until it is needed.
The Psalmist made a curious statement about a bottle when he said, “For I am become like a bottle in the smoke …” (Psalm 119:83 KJV)
What did he mean? To understand this verse, we must consider the context in the life and times of ancient nomadic peoples. “Bottles” were not made of sea glass but were pouches of soft leather—kid, lamb, or goatskin. They were essential to the desert-dweller as they held water, milk, and wine—liquids necessary for life. For safekeeping, they would be suspended from the roof or hung high against the tent’s homespun walls.
The center of such primitive life was the fire—often INSIDE the tent—required for warmth, light, cooking, and protection. However, where there’s fire, there’s SMOKE. As tents seldom had chimneys, the smoke would swirl about inside the dwelling, escaping perhaps only through a hole in the roof or out the door. Therefore, a leather or skin bottle—along with everything else hanging perpetually in that dense smoke—would in time become dry and shriveled, black, brittle … and useless.
The Psalmist, is perhaps recalling this singular bottle-in-the-smoke image from his life as a shepherd. He uses the simile to describe his feelings, but also to make some important observations:
- God’s people WILL have trials.
As followers of the LORD, though loaded with daily benefits, we should not expect to escape all of life’s troubles. If we do, we can also expect to be sorely disappointed. Jesus was prophetic when He said, “In the world you WILL have tribulation; but [He added] be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33 NKJ)
We are vessels of God’s Holy Spirit, living in an imperfect, carnal world. Thus, there are times that we WILL feel like we are “bottles in the smoke”—caught in the fumes of trials and tribulation. But, Jesus knows us, and He has hand-picked our trials specifically for each of us. “He has predestinated their season and their place, their intensity and the effect they shall have upon us.”1 Not to make us brittle, but to perfect us—to prepare us so that we, as vessels, may capably hold even more.
He has promised to instruct us IN our difficulties—not to insulate us from them. How? From the INSIDE out. If He has filled us with His Spirit, then He is the living water INSIDE our vessel. Jesus Himself instructs us from within—how to preserve what He’s put into our “bottle” and to help us endure in the smoke. If there’s anyone who knows how to persevere in suffering, it’s Jesus.
Why is there smoke in the tent? The very same fire that illuminates the face, warms the hands, cooks the food, and provides protection—makes the smoke. The bottle hanging in the tent is both secure and smoked, for with every blessing, there comes a burden. “There is nothing good without its ill, there is no fire without its smoke. The fire of our comfort will always have the smoke of trial with it. The more comfort you have, the more fire you have, the more sorrows you will have—and the more smoke.”1 We KNOW that if God gives the blessing, He will give us the strength to effectively bear the burden of it, as well.
- God’s people WILL feel changed by their trials.
“For I am become like a bottle in the smoke …” The bottle that turns black and brittle doesn’t do it in a day. It comes from being continually exposed to and surrounded by the affliction of the smoke. The Psalmist knew this well—in another stanza of Psalm 119, he lamented, “I am afflicted very much,” but he also said, “It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes.” There is always something more to learn IN our trials.
Such continual seasons of sorrow in our lives WILL have an effect. It’s a fact, pain usually DOES make us more prayerful. But, beyond that, if allowed to do their perfect work in us, trials will temper and cause us to:
- Grow in wisdom and trust, not in brokenness;
- Develop a positive attitude of perseverance, not a negative one of defeat;
- Become a continual learner, instead of a constant lamenter;
- Become stronger and more resilient, rather than brittle and more easily offended;
- Become faith-minded and sweet-spirited, rather than hard-hearted and sour.
- God’s people MUST resolve NOT to forsake His Word in their trials.
How can the smoke of trials make us better instead of brittle? The Psalmist knew: “For [even though] I am become like a bottle in the smoke; YET do I not forget thy statutes.” (Psalm 119:83 KJV)
Life is pain. The smoke is inevitable—and the bottle can do nothing to prevent it. But, here’s the thing: smoke cannot alter the contents unless the bottle succumbs to its effects. What a comfort it is to know that no trial—no weapon formed against us—no choking smoke that surrounds us can penetrate our soul and spoil what God has put in our heart. No, not when our heart is kept fresh by the renewal of the Spirit and the cleansing power of the Word. By His power, we can hold this treasure within, unaffected by the trouble swirling without.
“Trouble and anguish have taken hold on me: YET thy commandments are my delights.” (Psalm 119:143 KJV)
The Holy Spirit is a powerful preserver, and—with the daily application of the Word of God—we may prevent the onset of brittle despair. The Word is like holy anointing oil for our hearts. It protects us against the soul-drying fumes of tribulation that would otherwise cause the faith and hope inside to seep out and evaporate.
“Thou art my hiding place and my shield: I hope in thy word.” (Psalm 119:114 KJV)
A final thought or two: As “bottles,” perhaps it would be good to be mindful of where we “hang.” Trials are a part of life just as sure as smoke is a product of fire. But, if we perpetually hang in the tents of the wicked, we subject our soul-bottles to the foolish fumes of their sinful lusts. Eventually, their smoke WILL render our spirits dry and brittle—useless for their highest purpose.
And, what IS the highest purpose for the bottle? It’s not just to HOLD and PRESERVE what’s inside—but to keep it until it is NEEDED. To be ready to PROVIDE refreshment for the thirsty, nourishment for the needy … and to SHARE the very substance of life to the dying. God forbid that, when spiritual water, or milk, or wine is NEEDED, our vessel is found to be dry and shriveled—with the precious contents leaked out.
How much better to remain in the House of the LORD, that is “filled with smoke from the glory of God, and from his power.” (Revelation 15:8 KJV)
Surely, it is better to abide where His glory and the fragrant incense of worship fill the room. Where, though we’re still “a bottle in the smoke,” these vapors soften, instead of harden, the soul—rendering it “a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work.” (2 Timothy 2:21 KJV)
Prayer: Dear LORD, Even though “I am become like a bottle in the smoke; YET do I not (yea, I WILL NOT) forget thy WORD.” Amen.
1. A Bottle in the Smoke, Charles H Spurgeon, March 23, 1856, New Park Street Pulpit
