2 Corinthians 7:5-16
Apparently the people in the church at Corinth had repented of their sin and began to change their behavior as a result of Paul's earlier letter to them. They had received Paul's friend Titus with hospitality, and they had done everything necessary to make things right. Paul was filled with joy at this news and was greatly encouraged by it.
As we think about this passage, let's not forget how hard it is to accept rebuke and criticism. Our natural response is to be defensive and to criticize back. It's hard to remember this in the heat of the moment, but when we are criticized, rebuked, or corrected, we should first ask ourselves, "Is it true? Is any part of it true?" If so, we should confess our sin and go about changing our behavior. Even if the criticism turns out to be unwarranted, we should try to avoid defensiveness, anger, and resentment. Either way, God can use these experiences to help us grow and mature in our faith.
Psalm 41
"Oh, the joys of those who are kind to the poor!" God blesses us when we are kind and generous just as God has been kind and generous to us! vv. 1-3
In vv. 4-9, David asks for God's mercy to forgive his sins, and he also asks for God's presence and help when he's sick and feeling abandoned. Commentators tell me that v. 9 is a foreshadowing of Judas' betrayal of Jesus. Surely no person has ever been less deserving of such treatment as was Jesus. And so when we feel abandoned in any way, we should call out to God who never abandons us!
Psalms is divided into 5 books, the first being Psalms 1-41. This book ends with this benediction in v. 13, "Praise the Lord, the God of Israel, who lives from everlasting to everlasting. Amen and amen!"
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