Justin Houtz

Deuteronomy 8, 2 Corinthians 12

DateVersionReading Plan
June 10, 2025ESV (2016)OT/NT Plan 2025 – 2027

Deuteronomy 8

Observation & Interpretation

The LORD through Moses told the people to be careful to do what He commanded, that they may live, multiply and go into the land that He promised to their fathers. The LORD led them through the wilderness forty years that He might humble them, testing what was in their heart and whether they would keep His commandments. He let them hunger, feeding them manna, that He might make them know that man does not live by bread alone but by every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD. Their clothing neither wore out nor did their foot swell during the forty years. The people were to know that as a man disciplines his son, so the LORD disciplines them. He was bringing them into a plentiful land where they shall eat, be full and bless the LORD for the good land.

The people were to be diligent not to forget the LORD by not keeping His commandments, lest when they eat to the full and build good houses they forget their God who brought them out of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. They were to beware that all these things came by their own power. The people were to remember the LORD who gave them the power and wealth to confirm the covenant that He swore to their fathers. If they came to forget the LORD, going after other gods in service and worship, they would perish like the nations that the LORD made to perish before them because they did not obey the voice of the LORD their God.

Application

It is incredibly convicting to read this text today. The strong call of the LORD toward remembrance and obedience cuts to the heart. So quickly and easily does my daily living practically reflect a self-asserted blessing and achievement when it is only by the LORD’s grace do I have such things. This manifests in compartmentalized living, being inconsistent in my calling to be a faithful ambassador of Christ. How wonderful it is to be corrected by our loving Father who disciplines those He loves and chastises whom He receives.

2 Corinthians 12

Observation & Interpretation

Paul speaks of how he must go on boasting although there is nothing to be gained by it. He refers to a man whom he knew fourteen years ago that was caught up in “the third heaven”. While it is not overtly stated who this man is, but according to the BBC, “there is no question but that he himself is the person referred to. In speaking of such an exalted experience, he will not mention himself personally, but will simply speak in a general way.” Regarding the third heaven, the BBC says that “Scripture implies the existence of three heavens. The first is the atmosphere above us, that is, the blue sky. The second is the stellar heaven. The third is the highest heaven where the throne of God is.” (BBC)

Paul explains that the Lord had given him a thorn in his side to keep him from becoming conceited. He pleaded with Lord to have it removed, but the Lord said, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Because of this, Paul would boast all the more gladly in his weakness. It is for the sake of Christ that Paul is content with weakness, insults, hardships, persecutions and calamities because when he is weak, then he is strong.

Paul declared himself to be a fool even though he ought to have been commended by them. He considered himself not to be inferior to the super-apostles even though he was nothing. The signs of a true apostle were performed among them, these were “miracle powers given to the apostles by God so that their hearers might know that they were indeed sent by the Lord.” (BBC). Now here for the third time, Paul was ready to come to them because he sought not what was theirs but them. He expressed how he wanted to play the role of the parent in caring for his children. He had urged Titus to go and sent the brother with him. Paul rhetorically asks whether Titus took advantage of them, the implied answer being “no”. Titus did not attempt to make gain from them but “it appears from this passage that Titus worked for his living by engaging in some secular occupation.” (BBC)

Paul makes clear that it was in the sight of God that they had been speaking in Christ, and all for their upbuilding. His fear was that, when he came, he would find them not as he wish and that they would find him not as they wish. He feared that God would humble him before them when he came again, having to mourn over many of those who had not repented of the impurity, sexual immorality and sensuality they had practiced earlier. The BBC says that for Paul, “these Corinthians were [his] joy and crown of rejoicing. They were his glorying. He certainly did not want to come to them and have to be ashamed of them. Neither did he want to have to mourn over many who had sinned and had not repented of their uncleanness, fornication, and lewdness.”

Application

The way in which Paul received the thorn in his side is humbling. It was a messenger of Satan to harass him to keep him from being conceited. We do not know exactly what this thorn was, but as the BBC states, “No doubt the Lord purposely failed to specify exactly what the thorn was so that tried and tested saints down through the years might feel a closer kinship with the apostle as they suffer.” Not only should we feel this kinship with Paul but so too should our response be like his. When afflicted with physical ailment or relational conflict, this is when the Lord’s strength is magnified. May we then be as Paul, boasting in our weakness, content with its presence in our lives, that the power of Christ may rest on us.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, thank You that by Your Word we can remember who You are, what You have done and our calling to obedience. Father, thank You for Your patience and faithfulness despite my sin and faithlessness. How sufficient is your grace that through our hardships, persecutions and calamities, Your power is made perfect in weakness.

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