2 Corinthians 11:30-33 (WEL) If I have to boast, I will boast about my weaknesses. 31 The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who is blessed forever, knows that I am not lying. 32 In Damascus, the governor under Aretas, the king, was keeping a constant watch around the city of Damascus, wanting to seize me. 33 I was let down in a basket through a window by the wall and escaped his hands.
V30 If I have to boast, I will boast about my weaknesses.
“While I’m at it with foolish, worldly boasting as my opponents do, I will brag about one thing—my weakness.”
The blessings of Christian weakness:
- The flesh is weak and easily defiled—Matthew 26:41 and Galatians 5:17
- Helpless without the help of the Lord Jesus—John 15:5
- We need the help of the Lord Jesus—Philippians 4:13
- We need the grace of God—2 Corinthians 12:9
A word from D. L. Moody:
1 Corinthians 1:27-29 But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are mighty; 28 and the low-born of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, 29 that no flesh should boast in His presence.
(To the Work (D. L. Moody) “You notice there are five things mentioned that God uses—foolish things, weak things, base things, despised things, and things which are not. What for? “That no flesh should glory in His presence.” When we are weak, then we are strong. People often think they have not strength enough; the fact is we have too much strength. It is when we feel that we have no strength of our own that we are willing God should use us and work through us. If we are leaning on God’s strength, we have more than all the strength of the world.”
V31 The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who is blessed forever, knows that I am not lying.
There is a reason believers praise the one and only God, and why all people should.
A few reasons:
- His attributes—Exodus 34:5-7, 1 Chronicles 29:10-13, and Psalm 21:13
- Gives strength to us—Psalm 68:35, Isaiah 40:29, and 2 Corinthians 12:9
- He is the Savior—Isaiah 43:11
- His gifts to believers—Galatians 5:22-23
- The perfect leader—John 18:37, Colossians 1:18, and Revelation 19:16
V32 In Damascus, the governor under Aretas, the king, was keeping a constant watch around the city of Damascus, wanting to seize me.
See Acts 9:24-25.
Unbelievers hated Paul because they hated Jesus. Compare John 15:21 and John 7:7.
V33 I was let down in a basket through a window by the wall and escaped his hands.
God had plans for Paul and protected him. Paul would be protected until his ministry had finished (2 Timothy 4:7-8).
God is a Savior from sin and God’s wrath (Romans 5:9), from lack of peace (Romans 5:1 and Philippians 4:7-9), from the evils of this world (Galatians 1:4 and Matthew 6:13), and an eternal home (John 14:1-2).
We learn:
- To praise (bless) God.
- Reasons why to praise God.
Questions:
- Do you praise God?
- Has God delivered you? Explain.