The word is “litany,” a noun. It is defined as “a repetitive recital, a series, a list.”

And Paul is here in our Text (2 Corinthians 11:24-31) writing such a thing. About all he has suffered for Jesus’ sake, through the first half (some say two-thirds) of his ministry, anyway.

And today Paul remembers that he had been: “beaten with rods,” three times in fact. The King James Text words it: “Thrice was I beaten with rods.”

Paul begins the list with some enumerations! Let me show you. Watch the numbers he uses. “Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one. Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep.” He has counted them all!

To be “beaten with rods” translates a Greek verb, “rabdizo,” found only twice in the Bible (as a verb). It means “to hit with long, stiff sticks.” Yes, “rabdos” (found 12 times as a noun) means: “staff, scepter, stick, branch (tree limb).”

The verb is written in the passive voice, of course. A strong Roman soldier delivered the whipping. A man trained in how to most intensely inflict pain.

Yes, if the Jews “whipped” Paul (which they had done 5 times already, yesterday’s lesson) they would have used a “scourge,” not a staff. They also would have limited the punishment to 39 lashes.

But not the Romans!

History indicates that many men died from these Roman beatings!

Three times Paul had so suffered, endured.

And only one of these incidents is recorded in the Book of Acts. The beating at Philippi, Paul and Silas being the prisoners. (None of the “forty stripes save one” whippings is recorded in Acts!)

The verb “rabdizo” is specifically used in Acts 16:22. “And the multitude rose up together against them: and the magistrates rent off their clothes, and commanded TO BEAT them.”

The next verse: “And when they had laid MANY (not limited to forty) stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging the jailor to keep them safely.” You know the rest of the story, the earthquake and conversion of the jailor!

Oh, the price Paul paid to serve Jesus!

Scars on his back, for life.

No doubt pain when his body was cold (“bring my coat”).

Aching ribs and muscles (broken and torn during the beatings).

Yes, Paul joyfully keeps serving our Lord!

What an example.

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

 

Paul once enumerated the trials he had faced as a Christian.

At least until the mid-point of his ministry.

And first on that list was the Apostle’s being beaten “by the Jews!”

His own people, by nationality anyway, his blood kin.

Our Text is 2nd Corinthians 11:24-31. With today’s emphasis being verse 24 itself: “Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one.”

There are some in the “Bible Study World” who feel that Paul’s statement is anti-Semitic. As if … those HATEFUL JEWS have attacked me again. But that is certainly NOT the case!

Paul loved his own people, the Israelites. In fact, though God commissioned him to be (specifically) “the Apostle to the Gentiles,” (as in 2nd Timothy 1:11 … “Whereunto I am appointed a preacher, and an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles,”) Paul never could completely turn his heart toward the Gentile “mission field!” Because … he could not get his heart away from the Jews!

Let me add here Romans 11:13. “For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles,” Paul’s own words.

Even 1st Timothy 2:7. “Whereunto I am ordained a preacher, and an apostle, I speak the truth in Christ, and lie not; a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and verity.”

But … a remnant of the Jews indeed hated Paul, those who reacted to the Gospel of the Grace of God (Those who still felt that the Law of Moses should be elevated about the Cross and Blood of Jesus.)

And these legalists are the ones who brought about Paul’s “lashes!”

“Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one.”

Five times, beaten with 39 stripes!

The Old Testament, in Deuteronomy 25:2, allowed 40 stripes, when punishing a criminal. But no more than that. So, the supercilious Pharisees in Jesus’ day would only inflict 39 stripes, lest they violate one of Moses. statutes!

And this happened to Paul 5 different times!

The Book of Acts does not record them all either.

Think of the pain!

Think of the embarrassment!

The shame!

The scars! No wonder Paul could later write: “I bear in my body the marks (scars) of the Lord Jesus.” Galatians 6:16, because Paul preached Jesus, and was beaten!

And we complain if the weather is bad … on our way to Church?

We moan if someone talks about us?

I deeply admire Paul.

And we have just begun the list!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

 

I have long been interested in the list you’re about to read. A catalogue of a godly Christian’s “sufferings!” And the Holy Spirit led Paul to record these events about mid-way through the great Apostle’s Ministry! No where near the end of his years of service … so we must conclude that much more difficulty followed this litany, this compilation!

Wow!

Now to our Text for the next few days. “Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one. Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep; in journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; in weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness. Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches. Who is weak, and I am not weak? who is offended, and I burn not? If I must needs glory, I will glory of the things which concern mine infirmities. The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which is blessed for evermore, knoweth that I lie not.” Word for word, 2nd Corinthians 11:24-31.

Like the hymn-writer, “I stand amazed.”

It’s in my heart, beginning with our next Lesson, to study these events (best we can with the data available) and draw conclusions from them, information to both teach us more about this man Paul … and to help us better live for Jesus (during the hard times too) our Lord and Saviour.

Shortly after Paul was saved God asked a man named Ananias to go see the future Apostle. The Lord had already informed a rather fearful (reluctant) Ananias that Paul was to be a “special vessel,” an unusual servant of God. Quoting God now, Paul is “to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel.” What a witness! Then is immediately added: “For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name’s sake.”

Paul will “suffer” for Jesus’ Sake!

And indeed he did!

But then again, Paul felt that every Christian would suffer for his or her Lord! “Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.” 2nd Timothy 3:11

Perhaps as we study our little “list” here, the Holy Spirit will teach us numerous principles about enduring these inevitable “hard times” in the Christian life.

An unusual series.

But maybe, a needed series.

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

I might just add this truth. Christians around the world (yes, even in 2016) are suffering for our Cause, for our Christ, at maybe unprecedented rates. If current statistics are right, around 400 Believers per day are being martyred for their faith … right here on planet earth.

No wonder the last prayer of the Bible is: “Even so, come, Lord Jesus.” Revelation 22:20

 

In all these years I’ve never written a Lesson like this, not anywhere near. A Study of a Verse of Scripture, maybe more than one, and a prayer request to follow.

I trust someone will respond to the idea. It did not actually originate with me, but with a Pastor for whom I preach Revival Meetings, his people anyway.

I suspect we do not really know how highly God expects us to esteem His Word. Psalm 138:2 surprisingly says to the Lord: “Thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name.” And “magnified” (“gadal” in Hebrew) means “to make great, to make important, to grow!” And the noun “word” means “sayings,” God’s very “Speech,” the things that have “flowed” from His Mouth! Including all of Sacred Scripture, His Commandments and His Promises specifically included.

God takes His “Word” seriously.

Listen to the Psalmist share his attitude toward the Bible: “O how LOVE I thy law (Thy Word)! It is my meditation (the thing about which I “talk”) all the day.” Psalm 119:97, but repeated in Psalm 119:113, 163 and 165.

And 2nd Timothy 2:15 agrees with the foregoing verses. “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”

Looks here like one way to please God (to be “approved” in His Eyes) is to learn to “rightly divide the Word of Truth,” the Scriptures. “Approved” is “dokimos,” as in “taking a test … and passing!”

But what is it to “rightly divide” the Bible?

“Orthotomeo” is the verb, a blend of two little Greek words. “Ortho” means “straight.” (An orthopedic doctor wants you to have straight, unbroken bones, for example.) And “tomeo” is the word “to cut.”

Cutting straight the Word of God!

Not “hacking” it into ugly pieces.

Pretty, even (not some get more than others), appealing slices, presentations of the Bible!

The most lovely picture of the verb I’ve ever read is that of a father … standing at the head of his dining room table, slicing the bread or turkey or whatever food … so that each family member gets some … a properly nourishing portion in fact!

And learning how to so teach and serve the Bible is a life-long endeavor, I might add. I’m tying to lead to my prayer request.

Then this quick verse. “Hear the word of the LORD, ye that tremble at his word.” Isaiah 66:5, where it is implied that we will “hear” the Word better, if we “reverence” it more! The verb “tremble” is “chared,” literally “to quake, to shake,” at times to “be discomfited” (uncomfortable)!

Wow!

Prayer request … a Pastor within an hour of our home (driving distance) asked me to consider coming to his Church and TEACHING one Saturday (about 4 hours or so) some part of God’s Word!

As Debbie was driving yesterday afternoon (bringing us to North Carolina to be in Revival) I finalized the plans for that Class. (One of others to follow at different Churches? Only the Lord knows.) Pray for wisdom in this noble endeavor, please.

So … Saturday, August 20, at 10:00 in the morning … this Class will start. I do not yet know the “Text.” Praying about that now. At Sunnyside Baptist Church in the city of Lafayette, Georgia. Probably an hour or less south of Chattanooga, Tennessee.

Again I ask you, and some of you will, to put this venture on your “Prayer List” please.

Thank you.

And YES, anyone can come.

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

If you have any questions, you may text me at 770-844-7627. Or email us at mikeanddebbiebagwell@yahoo.com. I honestly feel like praying Psalm 119:18 … “Open thou mine eyes (Lord), that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law (Thy Word).” Amen.

 

Let’s call this Lesson an “overview” of the whole Passage, Psalm 7.

One writer of old called this the Psalm of “the sorely slandered saint.” Because David is here being falsely accused, via lies and innuendoes, by a man named Cush, apparently a close friend of wicked King Saul. Virtually a “spy” of the rebellious Saul.

Another expert labeled the Psalm, in just two words, “Not Guilty!”

No doubt the Psalm will be used in a future day, by the saved Jewish Remnant (during the Tribulation), when Antichrist will be persecuting them relentlessly.

But the Chapter’s most practical Lesson for each of us is … “How to respond to our enemies.”

Let God handle them, those who hate us and despitefully use us. Like Peter taught us in his first Epistle: “Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to Him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.” 1st Peter 4:19

When trouble comes … the first thing a Christian should do is … examine himself or herself. And David did so in the heart of this Psalm.

Next, pray and ask God to intervene.

The Psalm might be epitomized this way:

A. Appeal for Deliverance (verses 1-2, David praying).

B. Assertion of Innocence (verses 3-5, David protesting).

C. Assize (Judgment) of Jehovah God (verses 6-13, the Righteous Arbitrator).

D. Arrest of Wickedness (verses 14-16, Punishment on the Ungodly).

E. Ascription of Praise (verse 17, What a Great God we serve)!

I trust this little study has helped us (taught us how) to better live for our Lord … particularly during the hard times of trial and pressure and turmoil.

Read it one more time, Psalm 7. It’s not that long.

“O LORD my God, in thee do I put my trust: save me from all them that persecute me, and deliver me: ² Lest he tear my soul like a lion, rending it in pieces, while there is none to deliver. ³ O LORD my God, if I have done this; if there be iniquity in my hands; ⁴ If I have rewarded evil unto him that was at peace with me; (yea, I have delivered him that without cause is mine enemy:) ⁵ Let the enemy persecute my soul, and take it; yea, let him tread down my life upon the earth, and lay mine honour in the dust. Selah. ⁶ Arise, O LORD, in thine anger, lift up thyself because of the rage of mine enemies: and awake for me to the judgment that thou hast commanded. ⁷ So shall the congregation of the people compass thee about: for their sakes therefore return thou on high. ⁸ The LORD shall judge the people: judge me, O LORD, according to my righteousness, and according to mine integrity that is in me. ⁹ Oh let the wickedness of the wicked come to an end; but establish the just: for the righteous God trieth the hearts and reins. ¹⁰ My defence is of God, which saveth the upright in heart. ¹¹ God judgeth the righteous, and God is angry with the wicked every day. ¹² If he turn not, he will whet his sword; he hath bent his bow, and made it ready. ¹³ He hath also prepared for him the instruments of death; he ordaineth his arrows against the persecutors. ¹⁴ Behold, he travaileth with iniquity, and hath conceived mischief, and brought forth falsehood. ¹⁵ He made a pit, and digged it, and is fallen into the ditch which he made. ¹⁶ His mischief shall return upon his own head, and his violent dealing shall come down upon his own pate. ¹⁷ I will praise the LORD according to his righteousness: and will sing praise to the name of the LORD most high.”

Amen.

— Dr. Mike Bagwell