Of Joseph, it was said–

Moreovere [God] called for a famine in the lan;

He destroyed all the provision of bread.

He sent a man before them–

Joseph–who was sold as a salve.

They hurt his feet with fetters,

He was laid in irons 

Until the time that his word came to pass,

The word of the LORD tested him.  (Psalm 105: 16-19)

Joseph’s father, on his death-bed, said of Joseph:

Joseph is a fruitful bough,

A fruitful bough by a well;

His branches run over the wall.

The archers have bitterly grieved him,

Shot at him and hated him.

But his bow remained in strength,

And the arms of his hands were made strong

By the hands of the Mighty God of Jacob.  (Gen. 29:22-24)

   Psalm 119: 83

  ”Though I am like a wineskin in the smoke,   
              I do not forget your decrees.” 

Anyone know what this scripture means from our 119 reading? 

WELL, I “Google-ed” it and found a commentary at this link!  Check it out!  (click the colored type)

For me, it means that sometimes we feel all used up, washed up, and wrinkled up, dried up, smoked up, and have taken in “all the bad stuff”. 

Isn’t it great to know…God still has purposes for us?  And we can still “sing our Psalms for sure!

I love the thoughts!  I pray God “re-conditions” all “smoked wineskins” this weekend!

Image source: www.fictionwise.com/knight/wineskin.jpg