In our final look at 2 Corinthians, we see the heart of the apostle Paul (and through him the Lord) toward his friends: a desire for their spiritual welfare, a strong concern that they walk in obedience to Christ, and a passion for joy.
We all know that boasting about ourselves is a bad thing we should avoid. But Paul shows us in today's passage that if we must boast, we should boast in a way that calls attention to our own flaws and to the power and greatness of Jesus Christ.
Wherever the gospel of Jesus Christ is proclaimed, false teachers are sure to follow close behind, proclaiming a fake Jesus and an altered gospel. Paul alerts us to characteristics of false teachers so that we can be alert and avoid them.
We all have critics, and they can be discouraging. Our passage today shows us that as we face criticism, we must adopt the Lord's attitude, avoid comparing ourselves with others, and give Him all the credit for what He accomplishes through our lives.
Our passage today makes clear to us that we can never outgive God. Instead, He invites us to become like Him by learning to give with joyful abandon and reaping the fruit of increased generosity that He works in and through us.
In today's study, we look at the greatness of God's comfort compared to our troubles and learn the important difference between godly grief and worldly grief.
As we live for Christ in an ungodly world, we must be careful not to hinder the working of God's grace in our lives, particularly by keeping ourselves free from attachments that would pull us away from a pure allegiance to Him.
God has called us to an utterly new life in Him. While we still groan for heaven in our earthly bodies, we have been made new so we can live for Him and display the righteousness of God that He has given us in Christ.
Jesus never promised that following Him would be easy. He actually said just the opposite. But three great truths can keep us going and give us joy no matter what we endure. The apostle Paul sets forth these truths in the fourth chapter of the book of 2 Corinthians.
Through a set of contrasts between the old covenant of Moses and the new covenant of Christ, Paul demonstrates that we have every reason to be confident and joyful in our relationship with the Lord.
Psalm 51 records David’s heartfelt confession after his sin with Bathsheba, and Stephen Davey explains it as a model of genuine repentance. He begins with David’s petition—a plea for mercy based on God’s steadfast love. Aware of the weight of his guilt, David asks God to blot out his transgressions, wash away his iniquity, and cleanse him from sin. The second step is admission: David accepts full responsibility, refusing to blame others and acknowledging his fallen nature. His sin, he admits, flows from the sinful heart of humanity inherited from Adam. Next comes restoration: David pleads, “Create in me a clean heart, O God,” recognizing that only divine power can renew what sin has corrupted. Finally, his resolution is to teach others from his failure—to lead sinners back to God through honesty and repentance. Davey concludes that true confession involves humble honesty, complete dependence on God’s mercy, and a transformed resolve to live transparently before Him, proving that no sin is too great for God’s restoring grace.
In The Voice of Creation (Psalm 19:1–8a), Stephen Davey contrasts Carl Sagan’s hopeless view of a silent universe with David’s joyful proclamation that creation declares the glory of God. Davey explains that the heavens continually reveal God’s signature, wisdom, and grace—a universal testimony to His power and creativity. The beauty, complexity, and order of nature point unmistakably to a Designer, but this general revelation alone cannot save; it must be joined with the special revelation of God’s Word. David moves from calling God El (Creator) to Yahweh (personal Redeemer), showing that Scripture revives the soul, makes the simple wise, and causes the heart to rejoice. Davey concludes that while creation proves God’s existence, His Word reveals His character and plan of redemption. Believers, therefore, should worship the Creator revealed both in the world around us and in the inspired Word that leads us back to Him.
Psalms 42–44 open the second book of Psalms, where Stephen Davey explains that God invites believers to pour out their hearts to Him with complete honesty. The sons of Korah—descendants of a rebel who chose faithfulness—wrote of spiritual dryness and discouragement: “My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.” Davey notes that even when God seems silent, He is never absent. These psalms teach believers to trust and wait for the Lord, declaring, “Hope in God; for I shall again praise Him, my salvation and my God.” In Psalm 44, this personal trust expands to national suffering as Israel endures consequences for sin yet clings to God’s covenant faithfulness. Paul later cites this psalm to remind believers that suffering is not abandonment but evidence of spiritual maturity. Through these lessons, Davey encourages believers to be honest with God, steadfast in hope, and confident that even in dry seasons, God remains their salvation and strength.
This lesson from Deuteronomy 16–26 emphasizes God's righteousness as the standard for all of life. Moses reviews the importance of righteous leadership—judges, kings, priests, and prophets—who are called to uphold justice and truth. God's laws are revisited to guide Israel in holy living, covering areas like inheritance, morality, and societal order. These commands act like protective boundaries, showing how a righteous person should live. Finally, Israel’s worship is tied to gratitude and public acknowledgment of God's faithfulness. The lesson encourages believers to live righteously, not just privately but visibly, so the world sees God's wisdom and character through them.
Psalm 19:8b–14 teaches that God’s Word is flawless, enduring, and deeply valuable—more desirable than gold and sweeter than honey. Unlike the temporary treasures of this world, Scripture enlightens the heart, exposes sin, renews fellowship with God, and guides believers in righteousness. David celebrates the Bible as a timeless revelation that cleanses, corrects, and delights those who cherish it, reminding readers to treasure and obey God’s Word as their greatest source of wisdom and joy.
