Expositional Study of James
IF THE OUTLOOK IS DARK, TRY THE UP-LOOK
Scripture Reading: James 5:7-12 (KJV)
Six times in this brief passage we find the thought of patience (long-suffering) and endurance. The fact is, these early children of God had to live their Christian life in the midst of very difficult circumstances – beset with problems and persecutions. Would we stand firm and true if it meant suffering for our faith? It takes only a little ridicule to send some of us into a shell. The outlook is dark for those to whom James writes, so he invites them to try the up-look – encouraging them with the thought that "the coming of the Lord draweth nigh" (5:7, 8). Titus 2:13 refers to "that blessed hope" – "happy" hope, for so much hangs on His coming to make it a joyous thing.
For Christians, it will usher in: Unbroken Friendship – this present life is marked and marred by separations; but then, all our broken and severed friendships will be put back together and partings will be no more; Unhindered Service – love longs to serve Him, but on this earth is hindered by shyness, weakness, poverty, nerves, ignorance, self, fatigue, and fear; but there "His servants shall serve Him" without hindrance; Unclouded Vision – a real sight of Him, which the restrictions and inhibitions of our human nature made impossible down here; Unsullied Likeness – instead of that pale and spotted imitation of His image which is all some of us have shown on earth, "we shall be like Him" perfectly; which is one of the mightiest miracles of the Second Coming of Jesus Christ; and Unravelled skeins – all our tangled and torturing problems solved and straightened out. All this, and so much more, is wrapped up in His return – a "happy hope," indeed; an up-look that will shed some heartening light into the darkest outlook. Let us briefly consider how the matter is treated in our passage; especially noting how the Savior is apparently pictured as returning in a threefold capacity.
The husbandman reaping his harvest
"Behold the Husbandman" (5:7). This illustration may be used for the purpose of kindling our patience to "wait" for the after-results of our toil and suffering. On the other hand, it may be employed as a picture of the Lord Himself, using the means at His divine disposal to bring about a harvest of character in our lives – a picture, showing Him to be waiting with "long patience," encouraging us to "be...also patient," knowing that He has the matter in hand. Though not dealt with in our passage, the first thing to remember is the expenditure on the field. The identity of that field is not far to seek, for "ye are God's husbandry" (1 Cor. 3:9).
The purchase price was Precious Blood, for "ye were not redeemed with corruptible things as ["little bits of" – Greek] silver and gold...but with the precious blood of Christ" (1 Pet. 1:18-19). Further expenditure on the field consists of the exercise of God’s love and power for its fruitfulness. Indeed, to quote His enquiry made in another connection, "What could have been done more...that I have not done in it?" (Is. 5:4)
The second thing to remember is the experience of the field. It is dependent on the varieties of weather. The passage speaks of the "rain." In Palestine there are but two seasons – a wet from October to April; and a dry from May to September, during which there will normally be not one drop of rain. The former period is obviously of tremendous importance to the field and the Husbandman. The harvest depends first on the "early rain," which generally falls from October to December. If delayed, they must wait for it with "long patience"; because, during the long dry season, the ground becomes as hard as iron, and without the early rain there can be no plowing, no sowing. Then, in March and April, at the close of the wet season comes the "latter rain," without which there will be no harvest.
The rain may not always be pleasant, but it is essential to harvest. Other kinds of weather are also necessary. The sun, of course; though, as a Spanish proverb says, "All sunshine makes a desert" – it is not good that our lives should be "all sunshine;" the lightening – which, besides cleaning the air manufactures nitrogen compounds from the air, spreading them over the ground; the snow – a lovely warm blanket, with its electrical properties for the seedlings below ground; the wind – vigorously and healthily shaking the growth above ground. But principally it is the rain. Much of all this is typical of the soul's weather, the often hard and bitter experience of the field. With patience, we must wait and, if need be, suffer, that the fruit may appear in due time. Dr. William Harrison wrote: "O impatient ones! Did the leaves say nothing to you as they murmured when you came hither today? They were not created this spring, but months ago; and the summer, just begun, will fashion others for another year. At the bottom of every leaf-stem is a cradle, and in it is an infant germ; and the winds will rock it, and the birds will sing to it all summer long; and next season it will unfold. So God is working for you, and carrying forward to the perfect development all the processes of your lives."
Yes, that's it; God at work, the Husbandman at work, in all the experiences, sad or glad, of the succeeding days.
The third thing to remember is the expectation from the field. Verse 7 describes it as, "the precious fruit of the earth." The "precious seed" of which Psalm 126:6 speaks has thus been brought to its fruition. Bought with "precious blood," sown with "precious seed," laden with "precious fruit" – that is the holy sequence that awakens the expectation of the returning Husbandman as He comes to reap His harvest. Will He be disappointed of His expectation because of us? Will the harvest be green, instead of golden? It depends on the patient endurance of the troublous experiences of life. If that be right, we may joyously await His coming, finding help in the up-look as comfort for the outlook; and for His part, as Isaiah 53:11 promised Him, "He shall see of the travail of His soul, and shall be satisfied." Profound and overwhelming mystery as it is, He shall count all His expenditure on the field as having been worthwhile. Let this thought "stablish your hearts" (v 8); let it steady us to face whatever weather comes to our soul. Our passage leads us to another aspect of the Master's return:
The Judge announcing His decision
"The Judge standeth before the door" (5:9); i.e., "the doors," as the original has it. There is no doubt that the "glorious appearing" of our Lord Jesus Christ is truly a happy event; but let us never forget that it is also a matter of the greatest seriousness and solemnity, because connected with it is the Judgment of which Paul is led to write that "we shall all stand before the judgment- seat of Christ" (Rom. 14:10), and which he elaborates with considerable detail in 1 Corinthians 3:9-15, warning that "the fire shall try every man's work of what sort [not, 'size'] it is." Because that lies ahead, we are here urged to be careful concerning our behavior toward other Christians, regarding this matter of hard experience in the world outside. As surely most know, it is possible to stand undefeated and undaunted in conflict with the world, and yet, by reason of the strain and stress on our nerves occasioned by the struggle, to fail with one another. Occasionally, in domestic relationships with fellow-missionaries, some missionaries in a foreign land evidence the insidiousness of this danger. Indeed, we all know it; and here, in his own practical fashion, James seems to turn aside to warn these early Christians about it (vv. 9, 10), discussing the matter in the light of the Master's sure return to judge them for their after-conversion life, conduct, and service.
He calls attention to the fact that their lives were in danger of becoming distraught. "One against another, brethren" is the trouble – so fierce is the fight outside, that it most likely will take physical toll of them, and produce jangled nerves and frayed tempers inside. Thanks to the indwelling Spirit of God, it need not be so: but if He is not in control it can easily become so. And what is it all about? "Grudge not" or "groan not." Sadly, this generation seems to have its share of groaning Christians – those who are too often grousing and grumbling, muttering and moaning. Matthew Henry had his way of summing them up: "Murmuring groans at what befalls you; distrustful groans as to what may further come; revengeful groans against the instruments of your sufferings; envious groans at those who have not such calamities." All this reeks havoc to happy Christian fellowship.
Note further that their language mirrored their minds' disturbance. Uncertain of themselves, they had become accustomed to embellishing their utterance with oaths invoking the aid or testimony of "heaven" or "earth," in explosive and vehement speech, when, as verse 12 tells them, they should "swear not," but be satisfied that their plain straightforward statements – be they "Yea," "Nay," or anything else – should suffice. But, this excited, unguarded, manner of talk was symptomatic, and would come under the "condemnation" of the coming Lord. How often and solemnly throughout the Epistle, James warns about our tongues. That all this need not be is plainly indicated by the fact that their lessons were unmistakably set before them. "The prophets," whose teaching they were familiar, were splendid lessons for them – each an "example" of the way "affliction" should be borne. With the authority of Divine leading, they spoke not their own thoughts, views, and opinions, but God's mind – their messages were "spoken in the Name of the Lord." But the point here is that practice corresponded with precept, and life coincided with lip. They exhorted to patience, and exhibited it themselves. "Take", for instance, the “suffering affliction” of Jeremiah and Hosea; yet did they not murmur nor complain, but bore it all with exemplary "patience." James would have his readers follow their example; and through him the Holy Spirit would have us also fall into line.
For, they were reminded that their Lord was assuredly coming to judge them. Let us not groan at our lot, or grouse at our fellow Christian – we will assuredly be "condemned" for such things; and, in any case, how infinitely wiser and happier it is to leave things in His hands; to await His decision on things and people. "The judge standeth at the door" – how vivid a description of the imminence of His appearing: we picture an earthly judge, standing on the inner side of those doors, about to come into court, awaiting only the striking of the hour – how vivid a picture. We recall that other phrase, "If thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door" (Gen. 4:7) – that is, a sin- offering lieth at the door. A sacrificial victim was near at hand for Cain's use, as God had evidently planned. Our Lord Jesus is at the door of every sinner's easy reach; and as the Judge, He is standing "at the door," awaiting the striking of the hour. Let us put to ourselves the solemn enquiry – what decision will He announce respecting us and the way we have followed Him, even in our distresses? Will it be "Well done?" Now let us go on to one further aspect of His return:
The Lord disclosing His purpose
"Ye have seen the end of the Lord" (5:11). He always works toward some "end" in His children's lives, and through their varied, sometimes painful circumstances, He is always working for their "good," as expressed in Romans 8:28, always pursuing some blessed purpose for them; and when He comes, He will disclose it to our astonished eyes. In other words, someday we will understand and praise His Name.
James has been speaking of the patience of prophets; so naturally Job comes to his mind – "ye have heard of his patience." His experience – how terribly hard it seemed; yet with what patience he met it all. His ignorance – he simply could not understand why it was allowed. He knew that "the Lord is very pitiful and of tender mercy," although it did not look like it; but he went on trusting. His recompense – came at last, came in this life. Two words of Job 42:12 express it – "more than." He had had much, he had lost much; but even here, God's "end" for him was "more than." For ourselves, one of the joys of "the other side" after He has come, will be to see what His purpose for us was, and how wonderfully He worked it out.
He is coming to show us the other side; so, if the outlook be dark, try the up-look.
