Thorns

 

When the old testament mentions thorns in the side, it refers to opponents of God's people. This is why I wouldn't be surprised if Paul's 'thorn in the flesh' wasn't a physical affliction as commonly assumed, but opposition from enemies of God's people. That's what it refers to here. 

In the promised land of the new creation, there will be no literal or metaphorical thorns in the side. Christ has already begun to undo the effects of the thorny curse of sin, one soul at a time who trusts in His death and resurrection on our behalf. Once He returns, there'll be no more curse, or associated thorns, real or illustrative. 

In the days of the Judges however, there were plenty of thorns in the sides of God's people. God's people were meant to weed out the thorns in the land- the pagans who lived there. But they failed to do so. And so these thorny neighbours' idolatry became a snare to God's people. 

In the new testament, the church is meant to be made up only of repentant sinners. Sadly however, some professing believers are unrepentant of their sins. If the church doesn't kick them out until they repent, the church will be adulterated. 

'Lord God, we admit that we find this world pretty thorny. Please help us not to compromise our faith in the midst of all the unbelief, in the name of Jesus, amen'