February 14, 2023
Judges 7 and 2 Corinthians 2
Received Judges 7 and Deuteronomy 31 on February 9 and 2 Corintians 2 and Deuteronomy 22 on February 3rd.
In Judges 7 the vast majority of the Army was sent home who were fearful and they were also the ones that would have boasted that by their own strength deliverance came. In other words, there is pride that issues from our hearts due to failing to love God with one’s whole being by loves of the world and idolatrous practices.
In 2nd Corinthians 2 the church was commanded 1st to execute judgment upon sin in their midst through a certain individual and second to then forgive and restore this individual because they did repent. Again this is a purging of the assembly for it to be corporately pure so that Satan would not have a foothold to attack and bring damage and loss to the kingdom of God in the city of Corinth.
Both of these chapters have a purging of pride and sin from the assembly in order that the assembly might be used to conquer for the kingdom of God.
Judges 7:2-8 (KJV)
2And the LORD said unto Gideon, The people that [are] with thee [are] too many for me to give the Midianites into their hands, lest Israel vaunt themselves against me, saying, Mine own hand hath saved me.3Now therefore go to, proclaim in the ears of the people, saying, Whosoever [is] fearful and afraid, let him return and depart early from mount Gilead. And there returned of the people twenty and two thousand; and there remained ten thousand.4And the LORD said unto Gideon, The people [are] yet [too] many; bring them down unto the water, and I will try them for thee there: and it shall be, [that] of whom I say unto thee, This shall go with thee, the same shall go with thee; and of whomsoever I say unto thee, This shall not go with thee, the same shall not go.5So he brought down the people unto the water: and the LORD said unto Gideon, Every one that lappeth of the water with his tongue, as a dog lappeth, him shalt thou set by himself; likewise every one that boweth down upon his knees to drink.6And the number of them that lapped, [putting] their hand to their mouth, were three hundred men: but all the rest of the people bowed down upon their knees to drink water.7And the LORD said unto Gideon, By the three hundred men that lapped will I save you, and deliver the Midianites into thine hand: and let all the [other] people go every man unto his place.8So the people took victuals in their hand, and their trumpets: and he sent all [the rest of] Israel every man unto his tent, and retained those three hundred men: and the host of Midian was beneath him in the valley.
2Cor 2:5-11 (KJV)
5But if any have caused grief, he hath not grieved me, but in part: that I may not overcharge you all.6Sufficient to such a man [is] this punishment, which [was inflicted] of many.7So that contrariwise ye [ought] rather to forgive [him], and comfort [him], lest perhaps such a one should be swallowed up with overmuch sorrow.8Wherefore I beseech you that ye would confirm [your] love toward him.9For to this end also did I write, that I might know the proof of you, whether ye be obedient in all things.10 To whom ye forgive any thing, I [forgive] also: for if I forgave any thing, to whom I forgave [it], for your sakes [forgave I it] in the person of Christ;11Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.
2Cor 2:12-17 (KJV)
12Furthermore, when I came to Troas to [preach] Christ’s gospel, and a door was opened unto me of the Lord,13I had no rest in my spirit, because I found not Titus my brother: but taking my leave of them, I went from thence into Macedonia.14Now thanks [be] unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place.15For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish:16To the one [we are] the savour of death unto death; and to the other the savour of life unto life. And who [is] sufficient for these things?17For we are not as many, which corrupt the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ.
1Cor 5:1-5 (KJV)
1It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father’s wife.2And ye are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he that hath done this deed might be taken away from among you.3For I verily, as absent in body, but present in spirit, have judged already, as though I were present, concerning him that hath so done this deed,4In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ,5To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.
1Cor 5:13 (KJV)
13But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person.