Proverbs is a collection of wise sayings that are easily applied to everyday situations. Consider carefully which of the sayings you’ve read today are particularly applicable to you today and in the coming week. What do you need to change or do more of to make use of God’s wisdom in your life?

From the belly of the fish, Jonah prayed to God. This was not a prayer for God to deliver him but a prayer of praise once he realised that God had sent the fish to save him. He would have written the prayer sometime later but it was prayed in the belly of the fish.

Having told the sailors to cast him overboard, Jonah must have feared death. From that fear of death he had cried out to God and God delivered him. Even though it was the sailors who physically cast him into the sea, Jonah recognised God’s sovereign intervention behind their action. He acknowledged that the sea and waves belonged to God. Though he had been driven away through his disobedience, Jonah had a repentant attitude and had faith that he would see God’s holy temple (probably in Jerusalem again or perhaps in heaven). When the sea had threatened to take Jonah’s life he remembered the Lord was his God and he prayed. His prayer reached God in his heavenly abode and God stepped in and saved him. Perhaps thinking of the sailors, Jonah acknowledged that praying to idols would have brought no response. Jonah ended with thanksgiving and a sacrifice of praise to God. He vowed obedience and declared that salvation belongs to the Lord—deliverance from danger is a gracious gift from God.

God commanded the fish to spit Jonah up on dry land. He was most probably back where he started, positioned to do what God had originally called him to do.

When last did you pray to praise God for who He is and what He has done in your life without asking for anything?

Jonah was on the ship bound for Tarshish and God had sent a tempestuous storm which had the sailors exploring every means to avoid destruction. They decided to cast lots to determine who was the cause of their predicament. When they cast lots, the lot fell on Jonah. They drilled him with questions to determine how he might be the cause of the storm. When Jonah told them that he was running away from the God who created the sea and the dry land, they became exceedingly afraid. Jonah was clear that God is the true creator God who is sovereignly in control of all creation, not simply one of many gods as the sailors believed. Even though Jonah had an accurate understanding of who God is, he still chose to disobey Him.

The storm continued to grow in intensity and so they asked Jonah what they should do to him to quiet the storm. They believed that his God controlled the seas and asked him what to do because they had no way of knowing how to appease his God. Jonah told them to throw him into the sea in order to save themselves. He knew that he was the cause of the storm and that God had brought it about to get his attention. They were not quick to take human life and be held guilty of murder so, despite Jonah’s suggestion, they continued to try row the ship to shore but their efforts were futile in the face of the tempest. Before hurling Jonah overboard, they prayed that God would spare them for their actions. As soon as they cast Jonah overboard, the sea calmed. Their response was to fear God and worship Him with sacrifices and vows. There is a stark contrast between Jonah’s disobedience and the sailors willingness to recognise and acknowledge God’s sovereignty.

Jonah may have thought that giving his life for the sailors would be the end of everything. But God had other plans and sent a large fish to swallow Jonah. Jonah remained in the fish for three days and three nights.

Have you become complacent in your relationship with God? What can you do to respond to God in awe and worship without needing a miraculous display of His sovereignty in your life?

God commanded Jonah to go to the city of Nineveh and preach against it. Nineveh was the capital city of Assyria. God had sent both Amos and Hosea to prophesy against Israel because of their disobedience and stubbornness. Hosea specifically named Assyria as the Gentile nation that would bring God’s judgement (Hos 11:5). This might explain why Jonah’s response was not immediate obedience but rather to flee. Instead of going to Nineveh, Jonah headed in the opposite direction. He headed down to Joppa and boarded a ship bound for Tarshish. God commanded Jonah to go to Nineveh to preach against them because of their persistent evil.

But this book is not really about Jonah, it is primarily about God. God commanded Jonah to go to Nineveh and God was not going to let him get away with shirking his responsibility. God would control events to bring about His will. He sent a storm against the boat that was so severe that the ship threatened to break up. The sailors all cried to their gods and threw all the cargo overboard in a desperate attempt to save the ship. But Jonah was so complacent that he went below deck and fell asleep. The captain went down and called on Jonah to call out with them to his god hoping that perhaps his god would hear and relent.

It seems crazy that a prophet could not only ignore God but do exactly the opposite of what God commanded him to do. Yet in our own lives, we can do the same thing. There are things in Scripture that God has told us to do and we blatantly ignore them or disregard them because they don’t suit us or how we want to live. When God used a storm to get Jonah’s attention, he fell asleep and it took a Gentile to call him to prayer. Is there something God is trying to get your attention about? What is it going to take for you to come to Him in prayer?

Paul intended to return to Corinth for what would be his third visit. When he arrived he intended to deal with those continuing in sin using the principle of Deuteronomy 19:15, that every charge is backed by two or three witnesses (also Matt 18:16). He had warned them on his second visit and this letter served as an additional warning. He had been accused of being quiet and soft but he intended to come in the power of Christ. Paul followed the path of weakness as Jesus did on his route to the cross. But as Christ now lives in the power of God, Paul would draw on that power and use his apostolic authority if necessary.

Paul encouraged them to examine themselves to see whether they were in the faith. This is not an examination to see if they were saved or not. Paul’s entire letter was to believers and he tells them to realise that Jesus Christ is in them. What then is the examination? They were to examine whether they were obediently abiding with Christ (John 15:3-5). Paul, through this letter, had opened himself up to public scrutiny and now he asked his readers to do the same in their own lives. Where they living lives that would qualify them for reward or when they finally stood before Jesus would they find themselves disqualified (“fail the test”). Paul knew that ultimately he would be vindicated when he stood before God and trusted that in the Corinthians’ eyes they would have the same view. Paul stood on the side of truth, the truth of the gospel, and all that the gospel represents. He was glad to be weak in order for those he ministered to be strong. His objective was their restoration and his prayer was that by the time he arrived they would have heeded his advice and he would not need to be severe in his authority. If needed, he would bring discipline but he would use his authority only for the purpose of building up, not tearing down.

Paul concluded his letter with a call for unity. He wanted the church to find joy in the Lord as they restored relationships rather than being critical of others. He implored them to live in peace and the result of such obedience is that God’s peace would rest on them.
Greeting one another with a holy kiss was a social greeting much like a handshake today which would be an indication of fellowship, love, and unity.
The saints who sent their greetings were the Macedonian believers Paul was with when he wrote the letter.
Paul concludes with a most complete closing, calling on the blessings of the triune God. He wanted them to experience the fullness of God including the grace exemplified in Christ, the love shown by God, and the fellowship enabled by the Holy Spirit.

As we finish this study in 2 Corinthians, take a moment to examine your own life. Are you “in the faith”? Are you abiding with Jesus? Or are you living with some unrepentant sin that is keeping you from a close relationship with Him? What do you need to do today to bring restoration to your relationship with God and with others?

Paul wraps up his boasting admitting that he had to be foolish because instead of coming to his defence, the Corinthian church stood silently as the false teachers belittled him. Having now offered his own defence he has shown that he is no less than the super-apostles (2 Cor 11:5) even though he is nothing. Paul refused to elevate himself or seek personal glory in his ministry. The church had seen first hand the signs of a true apostle when Paul ministered among them. The signs and wonders Paul would have performed were God’s validation of his ministry which was far superior to human approval. The only thing the Corinthian church had suffered was that Paul had placed no financial burden on them. In every other way, they received all that Paul had to offer them. With a touch of sarcasm, Paul apologises for not being a financial burden on them.

Paul was ready to return to them for the third time and again he would not be a financial burden on them. He wasn’t after what they had, but them personally. Just like parents aren’t expected to save up for their parents but parents supply their children’s needs, Paul was driven to spend himself for their spiritual wellbeing. Despite his obvious love, it seems that the more he loved them, the less they loved him in return. Paul reiterates that he never took advantage of them and neither did Titus and others he sent to minister to them. Paul didn’t give his defence in order to be justified before men. His primary concern was to speak in Christ before God. The purpose of his boasting in this letter was to get the Corinthians to see that he was not what the false apostles had made him out to be. If he was who he claimed to be, then the false apostles were wrong and the Corinthians had an opportunity to course-correct, to repent, and right their wrongs. But Paul was still concerned that he might arrive and they might not see eye to eye. If they continued in sin, then Paul would be humbled before God as all his labour would have amounted to nothing. To arrive and find them unrepentant of their sin would be the cause of great sorrow for Paul.

Do you have a pastor or pastors labouring to bring you to spiritual maturity? Are you responding to God’s word through their teaching? Preaching and pastoring are a labour of love. How can you show them love in return?

Proverbs is a collection of wise sayings that are easily applied to everyday situations. Consider carefully which of the sayings you’ve read today are particularly applicable to you today and in the coming week. What do you need to change or do more of to make use of God’s wisdom in your life?

Paul’s boasting continues into the realms of visions and revelations though he doubts that his boasting will be profitable. Still, he continues in the hope that he will silence his critics and draw his readers from overrating such irrelevant credentials. Paul speaks of a man in Christ he knows who was caught up to the third heaven. Paul is likely speaking of himself. Because he loathes boasting of any great experiences of his, he is likely referring to himself in the third person. Also, he later speaks of a thorn in the flesh sent to keep him humble, which contextually applies to this vision. The word caught up is the same word used of Philip being taken to another physical location (Acts 8:39-40) and of the rapture of the church (1 Thess 4:17). Biblically, the first heaven describes the earth’s atmosphere. The second heaven describes the universe containing the sun, moon, and stars. And the third heaven is where God dwells. Paul also refers to this as paradise. The false teachers were clearly ready to use any means to exalt themselves but Paul would not speak about what he was shown during this experience. If he had chosen to boast, he would not have been a fool for he would have spoken the truth. Paul wasn’t interested in elevating himself because of any unique experiences he had. His sufficiency was in Christ and he lived only to give God the glory. Because of the propensity for pride after seeing such a revelation, God gave Paul a thorn in the flesh to keep him humble. Paul describes his thorn in the flesh as a messenger of Satan, which reminds us of how God allowed Satan to afflict Job. There is no indication of what this affliction was, but as Paul is speaking of physical weaknesses, it was likely a physical ailment. Paul asked the Lord three times to have this removed. His request was not granted but he was reminded that God’s grace is sufficient and His power is perfected in weakness. When we are strong, then we are more inclined to rely on our own strength. When we are weak, then our successes must be attributed to God alone. Because of this Paul was glad to boast of his weaknesses because that was when the power of Christ was certainly upon him. Because of Christ, he was content, he could take pleasure in his weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities because his weaknesses so boldly displayed Christ’s strength.

Have you found yourself burdened with an ailment or weakness that you wish God would take away but He hasn’t? Can you see this as a blessing from God to keep you humble and as an opportunity for God to work Christ’s power through you? Do you need to pray for God to help you with a shift in perspective?