Lesson 29r. The Practice Of Endurance (James 5:7-11) PART 3

by John Lowe
(Woodruff, S.C.)

BEHOLD, WE COUNT THEM HAPPY WHICH ENDURE - The Greek word rendered “we count them happy” occurs only here and in Luke 1:48, where it is rendered “shall call me blessed.” The Greek word translated blessed, or happy, however, occurs often. See Matthew 5:3-11; Matthew 11:6; Matthew 13:6. The sense here is, we speak of their patience with commendation. They have done what they ought to do, and their name is honored and blessed.0000

YE HAVE HEARD OF THE PATIENCE OF JOB – one of the most memorable instances of enduring suffering. See Job 1:21. The book of Job was written, among other reasons, to show that true religion would bear any form of trial to which it could be subjected. See Job 1:9-1117 They do not say to themselves, 'Let us fear the LORD our God, who gives autumn and spring rains in season, who assures us of the regular weeks of harvest.'; Job 2:5-6.6

And have seen the end of the Lord - That is, the end or design which the Lord had in the trials of Job, or the result to which he brought the case at last - to wit, that he showed himself to be very merciful to the poor sufferer; that he met him with the expressions of his admiration for the manner in which he bore his trials; and that he doubled his former possessions, and restored him to more than his former happiness and honor. See Mark 3:26; 1 Corinthians 15:24; Luke 21:9; Hebrews 7:3;

This interpretation, referring it to the death of the Saviour, would not accord with the remark of the apostle in the close of the verse, “that the Lord is very merciful.” That is, what he says was “seen,” or this was what was chiefly illustrated in the ease referred to. Yet this was not particularly seen in the death of the Lord Jesus. He was indeed most patient and submissive in his death, and it is true that he showed mercy to the penitent malefactor; but this was not the particular and most prominent trait which he displayed in his death. Besides, if it had been, that would not have been the thing to which the apostle would have referred here. His object was to recommend patience under trials, not mercy shown to others; and this he does by showing:

(a) That Job was a prominent instance of it, and,

(b) That the result was such as to encourage us to be patient.

The end or the result of the divine dealings in his case was, that the Lord was “very compassionate and of tender mercy;” and we may hope that it will be so in our case and should therefore be encouraged to be patient under our trials.

That the Lord is very pitiful - As he showed deep compassion in the case of Job, we have equal reason to suppose that he will in our own.

General Notes

1 (Deuteronomy 11:14). “That I will give you the rain of your land in his due season, the first rain and the latter rain, that thou mayest gather in thy corn, and thy wine, and thine oil.” THAT I WILL GIVE YOU THE RAIN OF YOUR LAND IN HIS DUE SEASON,— Moses here personifies God; or, rather, God speaks by him. THE RAIN OF YOUR LAND — Which is good to your land, and not common to Egypt, where there is little rain. THE FIRST RAIN AND THE LATTER RAIN — In Judea and the neighboring countries there is seldom any rain, save at two seasons, about the autumnal and vernal equinox, called THE FORMER AND LATTER RAIN. The first fell about the time of sowing their seed, and served to prepare the ground, and make the grain take root in the earth; and the other when the corn was well grown, toward earing-time, to make the ears full and plump for harvest.

2 (Mat.13:39). “The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels.” Here, as in the parable of the Sower, there is the most distinct recognition of a personal power of evil, the enemy of God thwarting His work.

3 impatient – “having or showing a tendency to be quickly irritated or provoked;" an impatient motorist blaring his horn." Synonyms: irritated, annoyed, angry, testy, snappy, cross, crabby, moody, grump (Lk. 21:31). “Even so, when you see these things happening, you know that the kingdom of God is near.

4 (Jer. 5:24) (“They do not say to themselves, 'Let us fear the LORD our God, who gives autumn and spring rains in season, who assures us of the regular weeks of harvest.'”

5 (1 Cor.15:51) “Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed”)

6 (Job 2:5-6) “Skin for skin!” Satan replied. “A man will give all he has for his own life. But now stretch out your hand and strike his flesh and bones, and he will surely curse you to your face.” The LORD said to Satan, “Very well, then, he is in your hands; but you must spare his life.”

7 (1 Chron. 15:7) “from the descendants of Gershon, Joel the leader and 130 relatives;”

8 (Rev. 22:10) “Then he told me, "Do not seal up the words of the prophecy of this scroll, because the time is near.”

9 (James 5:7) “Be patient, then, brothers and sisters, until the Lord's coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop, patiently waiting for the autumn and spring rains.”

10 (Mat. 24:23) “At that time, if anyone says to you, 'Look, here is the Christ!' or 'There He is,' do ...”

11 (Rom. 8:23) “Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies.”.

12 (Luke 3:14) “Then some soldiers asked him, "And what should we do?" He replied, "Don't extort money and don't accuse people falsely--be content with your pay.”

13 (Mat. 7:1) “Do not judge, or you too will be judged.”

14 (James 5:8) “You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord's coming is near.”

15 (Jeremiah 12:1) “You are always righteous, LORD, when I bring a case before you. Yet I would speak with you about your justice: Why does the way of the wicked prosper? Why do all the faithless live at ease?”

16 (Job 1:2) “He had seven sons and three daughters,”

17 (Job 1:9-11) “Does Job fear God for nothing?” Satan replied. “Have you not put a hedge around him and his household and everything he has? You have blessed the work of his hands, so that his flocks and herds are spread throughout the land. But now stretch out your hand and strike everything he has, and he will surely curse you to your face.”