In the context of the Bible, the term "weaklings" often refers to individuals who are perceived as lacking strength, whether physically, morally, or spiritually. The Scriptures provide various insights into how God views and uses those who are considered weak by worldly standards.

Old Testament References

The Old Testament frequently highlights God's preference for using the weak to accomplish His purposes, thereby demonstrating His power and sovereignty. In Judges 6-7, Gideon is a prime example. Despite his initial self-doubt and the small size of his army, God uses him to deliver Israel from the Midianites. Gideon himself acknowledges his weakness, saying, "My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family" (Judges 6:15). Yet, God assures him, "I will be with you, and you will strike down all the Midianites, leaving none alive" (Judges 6:16).

Similarly, David, the youngest and seemingly least significant of Jesse's sons, is chosen by God to be king over Israel. His victory over Goliath (1 Samuel 17) serves as a testament to how God empowers those who trust in Him, regardless of their apparent weakness.

New Testament Insights

The New Testament continues this theme, emphasizing that God's strength is made perfect in weakness. The Apostle Paul, in his second letter to the Corinthians, writes about a "thorn in the flesh" that he pleaded with the Lord to remove. God's response to Paul was, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is perfected in weakness" (2 Corinthians 12:9). Paul concludes, "Therefore I will boast all the more gladly in my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest on me" (2 Corinthians 12:9).

In 1 Corinthians 1:27-29, Paul further elaborates on this principle: "But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. He chose the lowly and despised things of the world, and the things that are not, to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast in His presence" . This passage underscores the idea that God deliberately chooses those who are weak by worldly standards to fulfill His divine purposes, ensuring that the glory belongs to Him alone.

Spiritual Weakness and Dependence on God

The Bible also addresses spiritual weakness, encouraging believers to rely on God's strength rather than their own. Jesus, in the Garden of Gethsemane, instructs His disciples, "Watch and pray so that you will not enter into temptation. For the spirit is willing, but the body is weak" (Matthew 26:41). This highlights the human tendency towards spiritual frailty and the need for vigilance and prayer.

Moreover, the Apostle Paul, in Romans 8:26, reassures believers that "the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groans too deep for words" . This passage emphasizes the role of the Holy Spirit in supporting believers in their spiritual weaknesses.

Conclusion

Throughout the Bible, the concept of weakness is transformed from a liability into an opportunity for God's power to be displayed. Whether through physical, moral, or spiritual weakness, the Scriptures consistently reveal that God delights in using the weak to accomplish His will, thereby magnifying His strength and glory.

The Doctrinal Formulas of Henry viii.
... They were, in the language of Foxe, intended for 'weaklings newly weaned from their
mother's milk of Rome.' They assert (1) the binding authority of the Bible ...
/.../ 78 the doctrinal formulas.htm

Second Great Group of Parables.
... about his neck, and he were thrown into the sea, rather than that he should cause
one of these little ones [beginners in the faith, or weaklings"Romans 14:1 ...
/.../mcgarvey/the four-fold gospel/xcii second great group of 7.htm

June the Eleventh the Path Across the Sea
... If we had no sea we should never become robust. We should remain weaklings to the
end of our days. God takes us out into the deeps. But His way is in the sea. ...
/.../jowett/my daily meditation for the circling year/june the eleventh the path.htm

we Come unto Our Fathers' God
... Is still high holden o'er us; The grace those sinners that subdued,. The strength
those weaklings that renewed,. Doth vanquish, doth restore us. ...
/.../thanksgiving day 424 we come.htm

Sweet Comfort for Feeble Saints
... Well, Christ says of them, "The smoking flax I will not quench; the bruised reed
I will not break." Let me go in search of the weaklings. Ah! ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 1 1855/sweet comfort for feeble saints.htm

Grace and Truth
... Grace is love that bends down to an evildoer, and deals not on the footing of strict
retribution with the infirmities and the sins of us poor weaklings. ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture i/grace and truth.htm

Walamir and St. Telemachus
... He feels unbounded scorn for both their Sublimities, Arcadius and Honorius. He regards
them both as pale-blooded weaklings, the puppets of their own eunuchs. ...
/.../chapter lix walamir and st.htm

Anointed and Stablished
... The figure that rises before us is that of the Christ yearning over weaklings far
oftener than it is that of the Christ with knitted brow, and tightened lips ...
/.../romans corinthians to ii corinthians chap v/anointed and stablished.htm

The Longing of the Heathen for a Saviour. --The Star of the Wise ...
... one of the highest marks of his love to man), which is exhibited every where in
the Bible, affords subjects of derision to those weaklings who look into the ...
/.../section 19 the longing of.htm

'Have Ye Not? Hast Thou Not?'
... men. But there is a sadder contrast still"namely, that between God and
the wretched weaklings that men have made of themselves. ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture h/have ye not hast thou.htm

Weaklings (1 Occurrence)
... Multi-Version Concordance Weaklings (1 Occurrence). ... We are mere weaklings: you
are strong. You are in high repute: we are outcasts. (WEY). ...
/w/weaklings.htm - 6k

Weakness (25 Occurrences)

/w/weakness.htm - 14k

Outcasts (13 Occurrences)
... 1 Corinthians 4:10 We, for Christ's sake, are labeled as "foolish"; you, as Christians,
are men of shrewd intelligence. We are mere weaklings: you are strong. ...
/o/outcasts.htm - 10k

Labeled (1 Occurrence)
... 1 Corinthians 4:10 We, for Christ's sake, are labeled as "foolish"; you, as Christians,
are men of shrewd intelligence. We are mere weaklings: you are strong. ...
/l/labeled.htm - 6k

Weakling (1 Occurrence)

/w/weakling.htm - 6k

Intelligence (45 Occurrences)
... 1 Corinthians 4:10 We, for Christ's sake, are labeled as "foolish"; you, as Christians,
are men of shrewd intelligence. We are mere weaklings: you are strong. ...
/i/intelligence.htm - 19k

Repute (12 Occurrences)
... 1 Corinthians 4:10 We, for Christ's sake, are labeled as "foolish"; you, as Christians,
are men of shrewd intelligence. We are mere weaklings: you are strong. ...
/r/repute.htm - 10k

Mere (56 Occurrences)
... 1 Corinthians 4:10 We, for Christ's sake, are labeled as "foolish"; you, as Christians,
are men of shrewd intelligence. We are mere weaklings: you are strong. ...
/m/mere.htm - 22k

Christians (13 Occurrences)
... 1 Corinthians 4:10 We, for Christ's sake, are labeled as "foolish"; you, as Christians,
are men of shrewd intelligence. We are mere weaklings: you are strong. ...
/c/christians.htm - 10k

Shrewd (14 Occurrences)
... 1 Corinthians 4:10 We, for Christ's sake, are labeled as "foolish"; you, as Christians,
are men of shrewd intelligence. We are mere weaklings: you are strong. ...
/s/shrewd.htm - 10k

What does it mean to “let the weak say I am strong” in Joel 3:10? | GotQuestions.org

Why is edification important in the life of a Christian? | GotQuestions.org

Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus