T.M. Moore

2 Corinthians 12 (2)

Pray Psalm 33.1-5
Rejoice in the LORD, O you righteous!
For praise from the upright is beautiful.
Praise the LORD with the harp;
Make melody to Him with an instrument of ten strings.
Sing to Him a new song;
Play skillfully with a shout of joy.
For the word of the LORD is right,
And all His work is done in truth.
He loves righteousness and justice;
The earth is full of the goodness of the LORD.

Sing Psalm 33.1-5.
(Truro: Shout, for the Blessed Jesus Reigns)
Sing with rejoicing in the LORD, for praise becomes His righteous ones!
With harps and songs raise grateful words, and let new songs of praise be sung!

Joyfully shout! His Word is true; He does His work in faithfulness.
His love prevails the whole world through; the LORD loves truth and righteousness.

Read 2 Corinthians 12.1-10; meditate on verses 7-10.

Preparation
1. What did God allow Satan to give Paul?

2. What did He say to Paul about this?

Meditation
Paul’s condition was not unlike that of Job. Like Job, Paul was a righteous man and a faithful servant, and God allowed Satan to touch his body with infirmity (v. 7). Satan no doubt hoped to defeat Paul and hinder his ministry, but God knew Paul better than Satan. It was a difficult burden, and Paul sought three times to be released from it (v. 8).

But God spoke to Paul and counseled him to recognize His sovereignty and draw on His grace in this infirmity (v. 9). What seems impossible to us is possible for all who serve God: In our weakness, whatever it may be, the strength of God can be perfected (v. 9). Rather than moan and complain about our infirmities, we should rejoice in the Lord (Jms. 1.2-4). Doing so allows the power of Christ to fall upon us and work through us (v. 9).

Which is to say, there are things we can accomplish in the power of Jesus Christ only as we suffer infirmities and weaknesses of various sorts.

So—and this is typical of the upside-down life of the Kingdom—believers should “take pleasure” in every trial, adversity, setback, disappointment, injury, or other weakness. For when we acknowledge our weakness, we position ourselves to know the grace and strength of God and the power of Jesus for abundant good works (v. 10).

Treasures Old and New: Matthew 13.52; Psalm 119.162.
Paul stated twice why he thought he had been given this terrible thorn in his flesh (2 Cor. 12.7).
1. “And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations,
a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me,
2. lest I be exalted above measure.”

Because he pleaded with God to remove it, he must’ve felt that he could keep his ego in check.

But God felt differently, and chose to change Paul’s weakness into strength, rather than let his strength be his strength.

After all, where’s the glory in that? Where’s the testimony? Where’s the opportunity to “take pleasure in infirmities”?

As Paul acquiescently explained: “Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Cor. 12.9, 10).

As David proclaimed, “I will love You, O LORD, my strength.
The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer;
my God, my strength, in whom I will trust;
my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
I will call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised;
so shall I be saved from my enemies” (Ps. 18.1-3).

Paul was doing what Paul did best—he was living out what he wrote and talked about (2 Cor. 12.6).
And he was following his own warning: “Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall” (1 Cor. 10.12). A lot of “falling” takes place when people try to live out the Christian life in their own strength.

It is not only not possible to do; but when we do it ourselves, we usually muddle things quite badly.
“Unless the LORD builds the house, they labor in vain who build it…” (Ps. 127.1).

King Uzziah was having a successful run at leadership—for a time.
“So his fame spread far and wide, for he was marvelously helped till he became strong.
But when he was strong his heart was lifted up, to his destruction,
for he transgressed against the LORD his God…” (2 Chron. 26.15, 16).

And his fate?

“King Uzziah was a leper until the day of his death…because the LORD had struck him” (2 Chron. 26.21, 20).

We, like Paul, must find a way to boast in our infirmities, embrace them thankfully, and take pleasure in them, because they are one of the ways God uses to keep us dependent upon Him, not driven by egoism, and feeling His love, “For whom the LORD loves He chastens…” (Heb. 12.6). We must not fall into Uzziah’s sin of self-aggrandized strength leading to the path of destruction.

Rejoice—whatever we might think is something that should exalt us above measure—God is willing to allow prickly thorns to deflate.

Because keeping us on the Jesus Path is the Holy Spirit’s delight. “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you” (Jn. 14.26).

And I said to you, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness” (2 Cor. 12.9).

For reflection
1. What are some weaknesses in your life where you need the strength of God each day?

2. How would you explain to an unbelieving friend that God’s grace is sufficient for you?

3. How do you know when it’s time to seek the grace and strength of the Lord?

“And so,” they ask, “is the devil good because he is useful?” On the contrary, he is evil insofar as he is the devil, but God who is good and almighty draws many just and good things out of the devil’s malice. For the devil has to his credit only his will by which he tries to do evil, not the providence of God that draws good out of him. Augustine (354-430), Against the Manicheans 2.28.42

Pray Psalm 33.13-22.
Thank the Lord that He watches continually over you and that He will strengthen you through every trial and adversity. Call on Him to be your Helper and Shield throughout the day.

Sing Psalm 33.13-22.
(Truro: Shout, for the Blessed Jesus Reigns)
God from His throne looks down on men; He knows our works and made our hearts.
Let not Your Church, let none depend on strength or skill or human arts.

God watches those who fear His Name, who hope upon His grace and love:
He keeps their souls from death and shame who trust in Him Who reigns above.

God is our Helper and our Shield; upon us let Your grace descend!
We hope in You; to You we yield; we trust in Jesus to the end.

T. M. and Susie Moore

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Except as indicated, all Scriptures are taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. For sources of all quotations, see the weekly PDF of this study. All psalms for singing are from The Ailbe Psalter, available by clicking here.