Today’s reading: Deut 2:1–29, 2 Cor 1:12–16, Ps 31:10–24

Today’s theme: Confidence in the Lord

Today’s theme is that we can make our boast or take great confidence in the Lord because of who He is and all He has done.

Deuteronomy  2:1–29

Begin to take possession

‘Rise up, set out on your journey and go over the Valley of the Arnon. Behold, I have given into your hand Sihon the Amorite, king of Heshbon, and his land. Begin to take possession, and contend with him in battle. Deuteronomy 2:24 (ESV)

God was quite specific in His instructions to Israel. They were not to fight with the giant defeating people that were essentially family to them. Mount Seir were the people of Esau their brother and Moab and Ammon their cousins.

When it came time for this new generation to fight, they could do so with confidence and faith because God spoke through Moses declaring that He had already given Sihon into their hands. God calls us today, like He called the new generation in the wilderness, to begin to take ground and fight the enemy in battle. We must respond in faith because He has given us the victory already. See 2 Corinthians 10:4.

2 Corinthians 1:12–16

Confidence in the Lord

just as you did partially understand us—that on the day of our Lord Jesus you will boast of us as we will boast of you. 2 Corinthians 1:14 (ESV)

When Paul speaks about boasting (verses 12-14) it can seem strange to us as boasting usually has a negative connotation of pride and lifting ourselves up. However, the boasting Paul is talking about is a different kind of boasting. It is closely connected to the word confidence and declares that Paul’s boast was in God and the cross.

This was a contradiction to the Corinthians who were still caught up in pride and had bought into the culture around them. A culture which taught them to belittle others and boast in ability, opportunity and status.

Paul’s life and the Gospel was a stark contradiction to these values as he was meek, humble and weak. These were not virtues esteemed among the Corinthians, they did not respect this about him or his ministry. Therefore Paul wanted them to understand the core of the gospel and the life it produces, one of servanthood and humility. He wanted their value system to be so transformed that they would boast in this weakness (ultimately the cross) with him.

Give, experience more grace

Because I was sure of this, I wanted to come to you first, so that you might have a second experience of grace. 2 Corinthians 1:15 (ESV)

This second experience of grace would come through Paul’s visit, through which he would show them God’s grace. He would remind them of the message of God’s grace and give them the opportunity to show God’s grace by giving to the poor saints in Jerusalem.

Psalm 31:10–24

Our lives are in God’s hands

My times are in your hand; rescue me from the hand of my enemies and from my persecutors! Psalm 31:15 (ESV)

God is sovereign over our lives, He determines how long we live, when we live and the amount of time we are allotted in particular circumstances. With that sort of power we should trust Him, knowing that our future is not in the enemies hands but rather in God’s.

God preserves us

Love the LORD, all you his saints! The LORD preserves the faithful but abundantly repays the one who acts in pride. Psalm 31:23 (ESV)

We can have confidence in God’s eternal preserving power over us if we love Him in faithfulness, just as Jesus prayed in John 17.

Most of the above post is a copy of the original notes from the same date in 2014.

Additional resources

The Gospel Coalition on 2 Corinthians 1