2 Corinthians 11 (6)

Pray Psalm 48.1-3.
Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised
In the city of our God,
In His holy mountain.
Beautiful in elevation,
The joy of the whole earth,
Is Mount Zion on the sides of the north,
The city of the great King.
God is in her palaces;
He is known as her refuge.

Sing Psalm 48.1-3.
(Cwm Rhondda: Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah)
Great is God, now greatly praise Him in the city of the LORD!
Holy she, His lovely mountain, great and glorious by His Word!
God her King is great within her, He, her Stronghold ever sure!
He, her Stronghold ever sure!

Read 2 Corinthians 11.1-33; meditate on verses 22-33.

Prepare
1. How many different sufferings did Paul mention?

2. In what did he boast?

Meditation
Paul played the foolish game of the false apostles, boasting in his experience of the Lord. But his boast focused not upon his great achievements, but on his “infirmity” (v. 30). He did not mention the various places where he had preached the Gospel, the many people who had come to faith in Jesus, the churches he started, or the many disciples who had become part of his ministry. That would be to boast foolishly.

Instead, he boasts in his trials and sufferings, and especially in his care for the churches (vv. 22-29). Reading through this litany of afflictions, we wonder how anyone could have survived, much less have persevered on task. But Paul did, and he wants us to know that it was not by his weakness or infirmity that this was the case. Rather, it was the blessed God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ Who saw him through.

Would the false apostles have been able to continue through even one of these trials? It is not likely, since their primary concern was for their own prosperity and wellbeing. Yet from the very beginning of his ministry, when he began to preach in Damascus (vv. 32, 33), Paul’s life and work were characterized by opposition and trials. The book of Acts records a few of these, but Paul lists many more.

Jesus told us to expect suffering (Jn. 16.33). So did Paul (2 Tim. 3.12; Acts 14.22). Every trial, every disappointment, failure, setback, injury, opposition, oppression, or affliction comes with the permission of the Father, that we may acknowledge our weakness, cast ourselves on His mercy, draw on His strength, rejoice in all things, and thus prove our true discipleship and calling in the Lord. Like Paul, we glory in our trials and grow through them, that we may be greater strengthened to do His work.

Treasures Old and New: Matthew 13.52; Psalm 119.162
We know for certain that Paul was not boasting about his own incredible heroics—albeit amazing—because these things were not his personal claim to fame. He was not moved by his own actions. His mind, focus, and goals were based elsewhere. As he wrote: “If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God” (Col. 3.1-3).

This is what Paul believed. This is how Paul lived.

And even his close calls with death did not move him, as he explained to his grieving friends: “And see, now I go bound in the spirit to Jerusalem, not knowing the things that will happen to me there, except that the Holy Spirit testifies in every city, saying that chains and tribulations await me. But none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God” (Acts 20.22-24).

Paul’s singular focus energized his whole existence: it determined for him what was important and what was not. His accomplishments and tribulations were not in his wheelhouse for self-gratification.

And because this truly was true of him, he was able to say, “The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who is blessed forever, knows that I am not lying” (2 Cor. 11.31). Indeed, He did know it.

Paul took to heart, and embraced as a lifestyle, Jesus’ words to His followers:
“Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you” (Matt. 5.11, 12).

Paul believed, claimed, and lived by the psalmist’s prayer:
“Remember the word to Your servant, upon which You have caused me to hope.
This is my comfort in my affliction, for Your word has given me life.
The proud have me in great derision, yet I do not turn aside from Your law.
I remembered Your judgments of old, O LORD, and have comforted myself.
Indignation has taken hold of me because of the wicked, who forsake Your law.
Your statutes have been my songs in the house of my pilgrimage.
I remember Your name in the night, O LORD, and I keep Your law.
This has become mine, because I kept Your precepts” (Ps. 119.49-56).

It was his. And it can be ours as well.
It is the truth of Christ that lifts us out of our circumstances
into the glorious arms and victorious mind of God.

Holy boasters all—pedigreed like Paul.

For reflection
1. What are you most pleased about that God has been doing in and through you?

2. In which areas of your walk with and work for the Lord do you most need to grow?

3. What opportunities will you have today for boasting in the Lord?

The apostle gives an account of his labors and sufferings; not out of pride or vain-glory, but to the honor of God, who enabled him to do and suffer so much for the cause of Christ; and shows wherein he excelled the false apostles, who tried to lessen his character and usefulness. Matthew Henry (1662-1714), Commentary on 2 Corinthians 11.22-33

Pray Psalm 48.4-14.
Pray that others will see Jesus in you, even in your times of affliction or suffering. Give praise to God for the day ahead, and commit your walk and work to Him.

Sing Psalm 48.4-14.
(Cwm Rhondda: Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah)
Earthly kings, amazed and wond’ring, look upon the Church with fear.
See them flee in dread and anguish, knowing that the LORD is near.
For the city of the Savior God will keep forevermore!
God will keep forevermore!

For Your grace and lovingkindness we proclaim Your matchless worth!
As Your Name is, great and boundless, let Your praise fill all the earth.
Let Your people sing rejoicing for the judgment of Your truth;
for the judgment of Your truth.

Walk about the blessèd city, see her beauty, see her power.
Count her ramparts, filled with glory, look on every mighty tower.
Tell her glory to the nations: God will guide her evermore;
God will guide her evermore!

T. M. and Susie Moore

Two books can help you see both the greatness and the smallness of God’s salvation. Such a Great Salvation and Small Stuff will show you how to think small, live big, and know the salvation and glory of God in all your daily life. You can learn more about these books and order your copies by clicking here and here.

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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.