"Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction and of patience. Behold, we count them happy, which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful and of tender mercy."
James 5:10-11
Part 3
Yesterday: The Long-Suffering Kind of Patience
“For an example of suffering affliction and of patience.”
The Old Testament prophets who were persecuted were God’s examples of suffering during afflictions. The fact that they made it through their suffering shows us that God is good, and He can help us with our suffering as well.
Today: “Happiness” Versus “God’s Blessing”
“Behold, we count them happy which endure.”
“And we say that those who accepted their troubles with patience now have God’s blessing” (James 5:11, HSB[1]).
“Behold, we consider those blessed who remained steadfast” (James 5:11, ESV[2]).
“We Count Them Happy”
Wordsmith, James Strong, tells us that the ancient word translated as count them happy in the KJV comes from a Greek word which means “to beautify, that is [to] pronounce (or esteem) fortunate: – call blessed, count happy”[3] (Strong). This particular word in the ancient language is only found twice in the New Testament, once here and again in Luke 1:48. It is used by Mary, the human mother of Jesus.
“For He hath regarded the low estate of His handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed” (Luke 1:48, read verses 46 through 56).
God had graciously chosen Mary to give birth to the great Redeemer. This was a joyous time for Mary, which showed her faith as she trusted in the Lord and did His will. The spirit of God, who was the Father of Mary’s baby, was doing great work in her. The effect of this sacred union will literally change the history of the world. The babe to be born is the Savior, Jesus Christ, the Messiah of God. Jesus will provide salvation for Adam’s fallen race. Mary knew that following the Lord through the challenging times ahead meant that she must trust the Lord implicitly. Her reputation and morality will be questioned and mocked. Her life bringing up Jesus to manhood will not be an easy one. And at the time of His death, she will grieve deeply for His loss. “Yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also…” (Luke 2:35a), until His resurrection. But through all of this, she will endure and will be “called blessed.” Mary was never looking for “happiness” like the world does.
The way the world thinks about happiness today is like chasing a rare and fleeting soap bubble carried along on the breeze. It can be found only by searching for it, and if it’s caught, the bubble suddenly pops. They think their quest to hold onto happiness will be satisfied by having as much “fun” as possible and for as long as possible. Many believe that wine, women, and song will produce happiness. Others search for satisfaction with the high they can get by using consciousness-altering devices, such as alcohol and/or illicit drugs. Unfortunately, that high never lasts as long as they want it to, and it will take more significant effort to get the same level of high back next time. When their heads finally clear, they are left with bitterness, and their problems are right where they left them, before that last high. The hope for lost humanity is that somehow this pursuit for fun and happiness will soothe the dull ache of their souls. Some happiness!
“Which Endure”
God says that whoever lives for the Lord and endures affliction from others is a man or woman who God will bless. The key to this kind of blessing is their endurance.
“Those who in past days, like the prophets and Job, have endured trials”[4] (JFB).
The word endure here means “to remain, …not recede or flee, …to preserve.” They will faithfully remain “under misfortunes and trials to hold fast to one’s faith in Christ,… to endure, bear bravely and calmly: ill-treatments”[5] (Thayer). This doesn’t sound like much “fun” to me! But this is what it takes to bring God’s kind of “happiness,” or His blessings, to our lives.
What happened to those godly prophets who were once hated here on earth? Now they are greatly respected by believers today, and they are greatly honored in heaven. They are blessed!
“Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you” (Matthew 5:11-12).
Yes, “we count them happy which endure.”
Come back tomorrow as we look at the steadfast patience of God’s remarkable servant Job.
Quote: “[Affliction] brings out graces that cannot be seen in a time of health. It is the treading of the grapes that brings out the sweet juices of the vine; so, it is affliction that draws forth submission, weanedness from the world, and complete rest in God. Use afflictions while you have them”[6] (Robert Murray McCheyne).
[1] HSB is the Harvest Study Bible from Harvest Ministries Guam.
[2] ESV is the English Standard Version.
[3] Strong, Strong’s Hebrew and Greek Dictionaries, the electronic version in eSword. The emphases are his.
[4] Jamieson, R., Fausset, A. R., & Brown, D. (1997). Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (Vol. 2, p. 493). Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.
[5] J.H. Thayer, Thayer’s Greek Definitions, the electronic version in eSword.
[6] McCheyne’s quote Downloaded: Wednesday, August 4, 2021. From: https://gracequotes.org/topic/affliction/. Comfort in Sorrow, Christian Focus, 2002, p. 25.