Paul said that he didn't judge himself but waited on God to judge. How is it that this man the apostle Paul who built churches and judges them doesn't judge himself? It's a mystery, is it not?
It means that Paul seen his own mind as his enemy. In my opinion anyway. He had a messenger of Satan torment him. He called it a thorn in his flesh. He said that he and the apostles were out of their minds for God at timeS. Paul said that there was nothing good in his flesh.
So I wonder if Goliath doesn't represent our mind and pride? Paul said to be wise we must become foolish in the world's eyes. He said that the natural man cannot understand spiritual things. There is a war between flesh and spirit.
Well, that's an interesting comparison, between David and Goliath! We are not told that, but nonetheless, I find it an interesting comparison.
Yes, Paul suffered a thorn in his flesh because, he said, God had given him many great gifts. He had to be kept humble, or he would suffer disqualification as an apostle. To lead others he had to learn to follow God, even if it meant suffering the humility of seeming to not have God's blessing. He probably suffered a serious eye ailment.
Paul refused to judge others if he did not hear from God. He refused to judge strictly by appearances. But he did in fact pass judgment in the sense of pointing out problems within the church.
For example, in 1 Corinthians we read this....
1 Cor 5.12 What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside? 13 God will judge those outside. “Expel the wicked person from among you.”
This should put to rest any notion that Christians cannot judge. It is often quoted by sinners that Christians are told "judge not, lest you be judged." But they are just trying to avoid moral responsibilities.
Jesus was talking about hypocritical judging, when people judge out of a condemning spirit, and not connected to divine love and revelation. We should never judge out of our "flesh," but only as the Spirit leads us by God's grace.
But in matters of discipline within the church we are indeed to use the gifts of the Spirit to discern when to take responsibility over the condition of the church, and not let sin take place without concern. If we allow sin in our midst it will grow like gangrene and affect all.
When we judge let us do so in obedience to the word of God in our soul so that we judge properly, in accordance with the Gospel and not out of spite or out of some carnal concern. But let us fear God if we refuse to deal with sin. When He prompts us to deal with sin we must not fear Man, but must responsibly address it. If we would be "prophets," we must obey God and not Man.
