Jam 5:13-14 | KingComments | STEP | . In you see three situations in which someone can find himself: 1. he can suffer, 2. he can be cheerful and 3. he can be sick. These are situations that may trigger those who are in such a situation, to respond in a certain way. The point is: 1. in what way they respond to suffering, 2. how feelings of joy are dealt with and 3. how do people go through sickness. The world tries to escape suffering, it loudly expresses its feelings of joy and it goes through sickness by grinding its teeth. The believer can respond to that totally differently. It is wonderful to see that in each of the three situations James refers to God as the refuge of the believer: 1. He who suffers can go to God with his suffering by praying. In that way he will find comfort ( ). 2. He who lives in prosperity and is not plagued by adversities, can sing out his thanks to God. In that way he acknowledges God as the source of his prosperity and is prevented from forgetting God, due to prosperity. We are often willing to bring our sufferings to God, but we often forget to share our joy with Him. 3. . He who is sick can tell that to the elders of the church. That doesn’t mean that God is not involved here and that the sick person expects his healing from people (cf. ), but this is the way that God shows. The elders are as it were His representatives. That doesn’t mean that for each sickness the elders of the church should be called for. Timothy doesn’t get the advice to call the elders of Ephesus to pray for him and make him healthy. Paul gives him the simple advice to use a little wine ( ). What follows here makes it clear that it is about a serious sickness that also may possibly be the consequence of certain sins. If that is the case, the sickness has revealed the sin. It is not enough that the sick keeps his sins between himself and God. The sickness is not a little flu. The word ‘sick’ that James uses, indicates that the sick is weak, without any power. It is also clear that the sick is not able to join the meetings, for he has to call for the elders. Another aspect that you find in the expression “the Lord will raise him up”, is that it is about someone who is bedridden, or housebound, while he lacks the power to arise. When the sick has called for the elders, they are to pray over him. The sick is not supposed to pray. The elders must also anoint “him with oil in the name of the Lord”. A lot has been written and said about the effect of the oil or what it represents. Some possibilities that have appealed to me, I pass on to you for your consideration. One possibility is that the oil is simply a medication (cf. ; ; ). No miraculous effects should be attributed to that oil, any more than the fig cake that Hezekiah had to take to apply it to the boil ( ). The Lord must bless the means. That is the reason why His Name is connected to it. The use of oil by elders may be a medical act that serves to give the sick person some relief in pain, without concluding that he will be healed. There is no question of a religious ritual. Another possibility is that the use of the oil has a symbolic meaning. The anointing then has the meaning in the sense of honoring a person. You can also read about the anointing of the feet of the Lord ( ) and the body of the Lord ( ). The Lord rebukes Simon for holding back the proof of courtesy by not anointing Him ( ). This meaning of anointing is also plausible. It will make the sick, who may possibly be wondering whether God still cares about him, feel better by experiencing this anointing. In connection with Mark 6 ( ) the oil perhaps can also be seen as a symbol of power or authority of the elders to pray the prayer for healing. . In any case, prayer and prayer alone produces blessing from God for the sick believers and the use of oil is in no way an essential part that would be necessary to receive that blessing. It is not the oil that works healing, but the prayer of the faith of the elders. That this prayer of faith is answered by the Lord, can be seen in the fact that He raises up the sick. To the raising up of the sick forgiveness is connected in case the sick has sinned. Then there can be no blessing of healing without confession. Therefore confession must have preceded, for sins are only forgiven if they have been confessed. Here it is about the forgiveness by the elders. The sick will have had confessed his sins already to God and will have received forgiveness from God ( ). It is also important that the elders speak out the forgiveness (cf. ; ). As a result to that there is also a public restoration of fellowship with the believers. . The situation of the ‘sickbed prayer’ makes James underline the necessity of the confession of sins to one another, also if there is no mention of sickness. Confessing sins to one another has got nothing to do with the penance, as it is taught and practiced by the roman-catholic church. In that penance a person confesses his sins to a person who has nothing whatever to do with it and who arrogates the status of mediator between the sinner and God. The call of James refers to situations in which we have sinned to one another. Sin always hinders the blessing of God. That hindrance is taken away by confession. When sin is confessed, blessing can flow freely again, and in case of sickness, healing and health can also come. By the way, it is not wrong for a person to confess sins to a person against whom he has not sinned in case of pastoral counseling. A person may be tortured by a sin, but doesn’t know how to confess. It may possibly be the case that this person for instance has sinned against a person who does not live any more. Then it is a good thing that this person confesses the sin together with a confidential counselor and that the counselor also ensures him that forgiveness by God is certain and clear, because God has said that in His Word. The power of prayer is awesome. The condition, however, is that it is prayed by a righteous person. By “a righteous man” James does not mean someone who through faith is righteous before God, but someone who lives righteously. If such a man comes to God with a fervent prayer God can and will surely hear it. He does not need to speak first with the one who prays about things that are not right in his life. A righteous man is associated with God, he is accustomed to it and that causes him to know the will of God. You can be a righteous man. That is not a status that you achieve by living righteously, but you are that if, as far as you know, your life is pure before God. God wants to have your prayer involved in His actions. He listens to it and uses it to realize His plans. . As an example of a righteous man who prays an effective, fervent prayer James presents Elijah. Elijah is close to you and not above you, although you certainly will look up to him. At least I do. He truly is a man of God. Elijah also has had his weak moments. For that reason it is written here that he was “a man with a nature like ours”. Therefore you can also learn a lot from him. He was able to stand fearlessly before Ahab because he was aware that he was not standing before Ahab, but before God ( ). There he made known that there would be no rain for years. In that announcement you do not read about a prayer. That’s what you read here. James is telling that a prayer preceded that announcement. How could Elijah pray such a prayer which in fact is a judgment? He knew God’s thoughts and that’s why he prayed this remarkable prayer ( ). He loved God’s people and he loved God. God wanted His people to turn back to Him and the only way to realize that was through the judgment of drought. It is a prayer to the Lord not to bless us, so that we may feel that we have turned away from Him. The prayer of Elijah was answered. . After a course of time he prayed again and this time he prayed for the rain to fall. He understood that the time of blessing had come because he had offered the offering and the people had spoken out the confession that Yahweh is God ( ). I cannot emphasize enough how important it is, especially in the last days, to pray. We are in need of people who know the will of God and who are convinced of the power of prayer. I hope that you may become a man of prayer. You do not need to have a gift for that, neither do you need to follow a training for that. You simply have got to do it. Think again about this prayer of Elijah and resolve to pray more often and also more fervently. . James concludes his letter with two verses about bringing back someone who has strayed from the truth. That is in line with Elijah. Elijah was also a restorer. By his prayer he brought back the people to God. You also can bring back someone to God by prayer. Do you know people, believers, who first were faithful in their service for the Lord, but now have a rather casual attitude to the truth? If they continue to do so they will end up in death. You may bring back such a person from that path of error by praying for him. If you pray in such a way for the straying one, the Lord can also make clear to you whether you should visit him and how to address him. . If you bring him back you save him from death and you also cover a multitude of sins. He will repent and confess his path of error. Then he may learn again that all his sins are forgiven, that they have been cast into the depths of the sea ( ). By bringing back the straying one you also prevent him from being drawn further into the power of sin. Also in that sense you have made sure that a multitude of sins has been covered, for he is prevented to commit them. I sincerely hope that you have the desire that strayed believers will turn back to God. Now read James 5:13-20 again. Reflection: Commit yourself to pray for the restoration of deviated believers.

‏ James 5:13-14

Prayer

Jam 5:13. In Jam 5:13-14 you see three situations in which someone can find himself:

1. he can suffer,

2. he can be cheerful and

3. he can be sick.

These are situations that may trigger those who are in such a situation, to respond in a certain way. The point is:

1. in what way they respond to suffering,

2. how feelings of joy are dealt with and

3. how do people go through sickness.

The world tries to escape suffering, it loudly expresses its feelings of joy and it goes through sickness by grinding its teeth. The believer can respond to that totally differently. It is wonderful to see that in each of the three situations James refers to God as the refuge of the believer:

1. He who suffers can go to God with his suffering by praying. In that way he will find comfort (2Cor 1:3-7).

2. He who lives in prosperity and is not plagued by adversities, can sing out his thanks to God. In that way he acknowledges God as the source of his prosperity and is prevented from forgetting God, due to prosperity. We are often willing to bring our sufferings to God, but we often forget to share our joy with Him.

3. Jam 5:14. He who is sick can tell that to the elders of the church. That doesn’t mean that God is not involved here and that the sick person expects his healing from people (cf. 2Chr 16:12), but this is the way that God shows. The elders are as it were His representatives.

That doesn’t mean that for each sickness the elders of the church should be called for. Timothy doesn’t get the advice to call the elders of Ephesus to pray for him and make him healthy. Paul gives him the simple advice to use a little wine (1Tim 5:23).

What follows here makes it clear that it is about a serious sickness that also may possibly be the consequence of certain sins. If that is the case, the sickness has revealed the sin. It is not enough that the sick keeps his sins between himself and God. The sickness is not a little flu. The word ‘sick’ that James uses, indicates that the sick is weak, without any power. It is also clear that the sick is not able to join the meetings, for he has to call for the elders. Another aspect that you find in the expression “the Lord will raise him up”, is that it is about someone who is bedridden, or housebound, while he lacks the power to arise.

When the sick has called for the elders, they are to pray over him. The sick is not supposed to pray. The elders must also anoint “him with oil in the name of the Lord”. A lot has been written and said about the effect of the oil or what it represents. Some possibilities that have appealed to me, I pass on to you for your consideration.

One possibility is that the oil is simply a medication (cf. Isa 1:6; Jer 8:22; Lk 10:34). No miraculous effects should be attributed to that oil, any more than the fig cake that Hezekiah had to take to apply it to the boil (Isa 38:21). The Lord must bless the means. That is the reason why His Name is connected to it. The use of oil by elders may be a medical act that serves to give the sick person some relief in pain, without concluding that he will be healed. There is no question of a religious ritual.

Another possibility is that the use of the oil has a symbolic meaning. The anointing then has the meaning in the sense of honoring a person. You can also read about the anointing of the feet of the Lord (Jn 12:3) and the body of the Lord (Mk 16:1). The Lord rebukes Simon for holding back the proof of courtesy by not anointing Him (Lk 7:46).

This meaning of anointing is also plausible. It will make the sick, who may possibly be wondering whether God still cares about him, feel better by experiencing this anointing. In connection with Mark 6 (Mk 6:13) the oil perhaps can also be seen as a symbol of power or authority of the elders to pray the prayer for healing.

Jam 5:15. In any case, prayer and prayer alone produces blessing from God for the sick believers and the use of oil is in no way an essential part that would be necessary to receive that blessing. It is not the oil that works healing, but the prayer of the faith of the elders. That this prayer of faith is answered by the Lord, can be seen in the fact that He raises up the sick.

To the raising up of the sick forgiveness is connected in case the sick has sinned. Then there can be no blessing of healing without confession. Therefore confession must have preceded, for sins are only forgiven if they have been confessed. Here it is about the forgiveness by the elders. The sick will have had confessed his sins already to God and will have received forgiveness from God (1Jn 1:9). It is also important that the elders speak out the forgiveness (cf. Jn 20:23; Mt 18:18). As a result to that there is also a public restoration of fellowship with the believers.

Jam 5:16. The situation of the ‘sickbed prayer’ makes James underline the necessity of the confession of sins to one another, also if there is no mention of sickness. Confessing sins to one another has got nothing to do with the penance, as it is taught and practiced by the roman-catholic church. In that penance a person confesses his sins to a person who has nothing whatever to do with it and who arrogates the status of mediator between the sinner and God.

The call of James refers to situations in which we have sinned to one another. Sin always hinders the blessing of God. That hindrance is taken away by confession. When sin is confessed, blessing can flow freely again, and in case of sickness, healing and health can also come.

By the way, it is not wrong for a person to confess sins to a person against whom he has not sinned in case of pastoral counseling. A person may be tortured by a sin, but doesn’t know how to confess. It may possibly be the case that this person for instance has sinned against a person who does not live any more. Then it is a good thing that this person confesses the sin together with a confidential counselor and that the counselor also ensures him that forgiveness by God is certain and clear, because God has said that in His Word.

The power of prayer is awesome. The condition, however, is that it is prayed by a righteous person. By “a righteous man” James does not mean someone who through faith is righteous before God, but someone who lives righteously. If such a man comes to God with a fervent prayer God can and will surely hear it. He does not need to speak first with the one who prays about things that are not right in his life. A righteous man is associated with God, he is accustomed to it and that causes him to know the will of God.

You can be a righteous man. That is not a status that you achieve by living righteously, but you are that if, as far as you know, your life is pure before God. God wants to have your prayer involved in His actions. He listens to it and uses it to realize His plans.

Jam 5:17. As an example of a righteous man who prays an effective, fervent prayer James presents Elijah. Elijah is close to you and not above you, although you certainly will look up to him. At least I do. He truly is a man of God. Elijah also has had his weak moments. For that reason it is written here that he was “a man with a nature like ours”. Therefore you can also learn a lot from him. He was able to stand fearlessly before Ahab because he was aware that he was not standing before Ahab, but before God (1Kgs 17:1). There he made known that there would be no rain for years. In that announcement you do not read about a prayer. That’s what you read here. James is telling that a prayer preceded that announcement.

How could Elijah pray such a prayer which in fact is a judgment? He knew God’s thoughts and that’s why he prayed this remarkable prayer (Deu 11:16-17). He loved God’s people and he loved God. God wanted His people to turn back to Him and the only way to realize that was through the judgment of drought. It is a prayer to the Lord not to bless us, so that we may feel that we have turned away from Him. The prayer of Elijah was answered.

Jam 5:18. After a course of time he prayed again and this time he prayed for the rain to fall. He understood that the time of blessing had come because he had offered the offering and the people had spoken out the confession that Yahweh is God (1Kgs 18:38-39).

I cannot emphasize enough how important it is, especially in the last days, to pray. We are in need of people who know the will of God and who are convinced of the power of prayer. I hope that you may become a man of prayer. You do not need to have a gift for that, neither do you need to follow a training for that. You simply have got to do it. Think again about this prayer of Elijah and resolve to pray more often and also more fervently.

Jam 5:19. James concludes his letter with two verses about bringing back someone who has strayed from the truth. That is in line with Elijah. Elijah was also a restorer. By his prayer he brought back the people to God. You also can bring back someone to God by prayer. Do you know people, believers, who first were faithful in their service for the Lord, but now have a rather casual attitude to the truth? If they continue to do so they will end up in death. You may bring back such a person from that path of error by praying for him. If you pray in such a way for the straying one, the Lord can also make clear to you whether you should visit him and how to address him.

Jam 5:20. If you bring him back you save him from death and you also cover a multitude of sins. He will repent and confess his path of error. Then he may learn again that all his sins are forgiven, that they have been cast into the depths of the sea (Mic 7:19). By bringing back the straying one you also prevent him from being drawn further into the power of sin. Also in that sense you have made sure that a multitude of sins has been covered, for he is prevented to commit them. I sincerely hope that you have the desire that strayed believers will turn back to God.

Now read James 5:13-20 again.

Reflection: Commit yourself to pray for the restoration of deviated believers.