The prophets and Job are now brought forth as examples of those who were patient under great trial. We might wonder why James does not bring in the Lord Jesus as an example here too, as Paul does in Hebrews 12:1-3.

James teaches like Christ: We note as we read this whole epistle, that James constantly teaches the same things the Lord Jesus taught, but seldom brings in His person and work. James may have had a special reason for this and the Spirit of God also. We noticed at the outset of our study, James, being the Lord's brother, did not wish to leave the thought of superiority because of this relationship. So he emphasizes what the Lord Jesus taught rather than what He did. Then, the Spirit may have wanted one writer to emphasize the teachings of Christ, lest they be swallowed up in the truth of His person and work. Even as it is, some religious teachers today relegate the teachings of our Lord to a place of minor importance, or to a different age. Most of Christ's teachings were for His disciples, not the ungodly. His teachings, as well as those of James, are very important for the practical life of Christians.

"... the prophets ..." The children of Israel often got away from the Lord in heart, falling into the evil ways of the ungodly. To bring them back, God raised up prophets, who fearlessly told them of their sins. These were often abused or killed because of this. Their teachings, though not received, had a great influence for good on those of their time and later generations also. The Jewish Christians of James' time highly venerated these prophets.

"... have spoken in the name of the Lord ..." All the prophets professed to speak in the name of the Lord. Many times in their writings we read expressions like: "Thus saith the Lord God of hosts" (Is. 22:15); and "The word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord" (Jer. 7:1). Others testified that the word of the prophets was from the Lord. Hezekiah said to Israel, "Good is the word of the Lord which thou hast spoken" (Is. 39:8). Because they spoke in the name of the Lord did not save them from persecution; it provoked it!

"... an example of suffering affliction ..." Nearly all of the prophets had a pretty rough time. Jeremiah, because of the Word he brought from the Lord, finds himself in a pit in prison, sinking deep into the mire (Jer. 37 and 38). Tradition says Isaiah was sawn asunder. Daniel was put into the den of lions. Elijah was forced to flee from wicked queen Jezebel. Micaiah refused to tell anything but the Word of the Lord, even though he knew it would greatly displease Ahab. He was put in prison and fed on the bread of affliction. Joseph was a prophet, too, who suffered greatly. First he was sold into Egypt, then falsely accused and imprisoned there. The things they suffered: Some of the things these prophets suffered are listed in Hebrews 11:36- 38: "And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment: they were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented; of whom the world was not worthy."

Suffered at the hands of their own people: Some of these prophets suffered at the hands of the Gentiles, like Daniel, but most suffered at the hands of their own people Israel. The Lord Jesus mentions this in connection with His lamentation over Jerusalem. He says, "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee" (Matt. 23:37). He also tells of this in connection with His parable of the householder demanding fruit from His vineyard. The servants in the parable are the prophets, whom they beat and stoned and killed (Matt. 21:33-41).

Stephen's speech: Stephen, in his speech in Acts 7, reminds the Jews how badly they had treated the prophets. He relates how Joseph was sold into Egypt, and how Moses was rejected by his brethren. He ends up by saying, "Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? and they have slain them which shewed before of the coming of the Just One; of whom ye have been now the betrayers and murderers" (Acts 7:52). Then they gnashed on him with their teeth, and cast him out of the city and stoned him.

No remedy: The last verse of the Hebrew Bible is 2 Chronicles 36:16. This reads, "But they mocked the messengers of God, and despised his words, and misused his prophets, until the wrath of the Lord arose against his people, till there was no remedy."

Example of patience: These honored servants of the Lord had to suffer much, and they endured it all patiently. We should be prepared to suffer some, too, and to bear it cheerfully and patiently. If we are exercised at all about our tribulations, we will learn patience. "Tribulation worketh patience" (Rom. 5:3).

Scripture Reading: James 5:11 (KJV)

Now we have Job brought forward as an example of patient endurance. We also see how tribulations are used of the Lord to the blessing of the sufferer. Job's experiences were far from pleasant, but his end was far better than his beginning.

"... we count them happy which endure ..." The first part of this verse brings us back to the first chapter. 1:2 says, "My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations (trials)". And 1:12, "Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him". Other portions of Scripture tell us the same thing. For example, "Blessed is the man whom thou chastenest, O Lord" (Ps. 94:12). Chastening, although not pleasant, is good for a child, and also for a child of God. "Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness" (Heb. 12:11). The same blessedness is noted in connection with persecution from the hand of man: "Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for their's is the kingdom of heaven" (Matt. 5:10).

"... Job ..." Some try to make Job a fictitious character by saying the book is merely a story put into the Bible to teach certain truths concerning trials – its purpose and end. However, the whole book reads as though historical. The first verse says, "There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job." Now if Uz was a fictitious country, we might conclude that Job was a fictitious character, but Uz is spoken of in the Bible as a real land (Jer. 25:20; Lam. 4:21). Ezekiel believed that Job was a real character. When speaking of the judgment to fall on Jerusalem because of their sin, he said, "Though these three men, Noah, Daniel, and Job were in it, they should deliver but their own souls by their righteousness, saith the Lord God" (Ez. 14:14, 20). Noah and Daniel were real characters and – so was Job. In our verse, James writes as though he believed Job to be a real man. This verse is the only place in the New Testament where Job is mentioned by name. Paul quotes Job 5:13, "He taketh the wise in their own craftiness" (1 Cor. 3:19).

The cause or Job's trials: Job in no way brought his trials and troubles on himself, nor was there anything in him that he deserved them. The first verse in his book says, "that man was perfect and upright, an one that feared God, and eschewed evil." The Lord actually praises him to Satan in Job 1:8 and 2:3. The reason for his trails lay wholly in this discussion between the Lord and Satan. This was totally unknown to Job or anyone else on earth at that time. The reason for Job's troubles lay in his upright character rather than his sin, as his three friends thought.

The extent of his trials – possessions gone: Job is the outstanding sufferer in the Word. He had a great variety of extremely severe trials. First, he lost all his possessions. The Sabeans stole all his oxen and asses. Then fire from God struck the barn that housed his sheep, and they were all burned. Finally the Chaldeans came in three bands and stole all his camels. Many a modern man about that time would have been ready to commit suicide. Many did just that during the last depression.

His children gone: Job had seven sons and three daughters. They were all together in the eldest son's home, when a terrible wind struck the house and they all perished in the ruins. This must have been a terrible blow to poor Job. To lose them all at once, at one time, would be heart breaking, to say the least.

His health gone: Poor Job's troubles were not over. The devil again appears before the Lord and obtains permission to touch his body, but not to take his life. As a result Job is covered with boils from head to foot. What a pitiful sight he is, and in so much misery that he must sit in soft wood ashes in order to receive any rest at all. It shows us that there is absolutely no pity in the heart of Satan.

His wife and three friends bring no comfort: But Job's troubles were not yet complete. He must still be taunted by his wife accused by his three friends. His wife says, "Dost thou still retain thine integrity? curse God, and die" (Job 2:9). When his three friends came to him, they were stunned. For seven days they sat and wept with him, but said nothing. Finally Job opens the discourse in chapter 3. Then his friends added to his sorrow instead of comforting him. Eliphaz says in Job 4:7, "Remember, I pray thee, who ever perished, being innocent? or when were the righteous cut off?" Then each one in turn accused him of secret sin of some kind, which he hid from his friends, but which he could not hide from the eyes of the Lord. They said his troubles were God's chastening hand upon him. This must have hurt almost worse than all the rest. It is bad enough to have troubles undeserved, but then to be suspected, accused, and condemned on top of it all would be the last straw. No wonder Job says, "Miserable comforters are ye all" (Job 16:1).

"... the patience of Job ..." The word "patience" could be translated "endurance." The Greek word here is slightly different from the one in verse 10, although the root meanings are similar. This one in verse 11 is usually translated "endurance."

Job's reaction: Job's reaction to all his troubles was almost superhuman. When he received the news of the loss of his possessions and then his children, his grief was great. He rent his mantle and shaved his head, and fell on the ground, but he did not curse God; he worshipped (Job 1:20). He said, "Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither; the Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord." How wonderful all this is. Could we, undergoing loss or bereavement, say the same?

Job's reaction to his wife's words: When Job's wife suggested that he curse God and die, his reply was, "Thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh. What? shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil? In all this did not Job sin with his lips" (Job 2:10). For many years a dedicated man devoted his life to serving Christ, yet when severe illness overtook his mother and she died, he manifested a spirit of bitterness. He did not care to have Christians pray or read to him, eventually leaving the Lord. He foolishly charged God with his mother's affliction and death.

Job failed to a degree: After the seven days of mourning with his three friends and Job begins the conversation, he cursed the day he was born. He charged God with unfairness, since he had done nothing to deserve all the evil that had come upon him. To this degree Job failed. However, for the most part he bore his troubles like a real man of God.

Job and his three friends: Job could not understand the purpose of his trials, nor could his three friends. It was commonly thought in Old Testament times that prosperity resulted from righteousness and trouble from wickedness. We note this even in Christ's time. In Luke 13:1-5 we have Christ speaking of the Galilaeans, whose blood Pilate mingled with their sacrifices, and those eighteen on whom the tower of Siloam fell. He asks in verses 4 and 5, "Think ye that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem? I tell you, Nay; but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish." Job's three friends were so sure that Job's troubles resulted from some unknown wickedness that they would not listen to his remonstrance.

Job's replies: In his replies to his three friends, Job makes some classic statements. In chapter 13:15 he says, "Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him." The high-water mark of his sublime faith appears in 19:25-27, "For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: and though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God: whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another: though my reins be consumed within me." Few of us manifest faith surpassing this. He had confidence that all would end well, for he said, "He knoweth the way that I take: and when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold" (23:10).

Christ and Satan near during trials: No doubt some readers have discovered that in times of deep distress the Lord made Himself especially felt. Sometimes Satan does, too. The dedicated man mentioned above, who lost his mother and blamed God, himself developed an extreme illness which caused him to look death in the eye. He saw his sinful condition and his need of repentance. He later said that when Christ came back into him, he actually felt His nearness, and there was a marked change in his life. Years earlier, at the passing of his father, the devil made himself once again apparent and whispered lies into his ears, saying, “What have you done to deserve this? God is not just.” Satan even told him that his Christian father might even be in hell and that he was going there, too. He flashed such a realistic picture of all this in his mind, that he has never questioned the reality of such a dread place nor such a deadly foe. But, Satan was defeated by his own purpose; for though it was a long and fierce struggle, in time, by the grace of God, he saw the error of his way, repented and today, once again, mightily serves the Lord.

"... the end of the Lord ..." The expression "the end of the Lord" is taken from Job 42:12, where we read, "So the Lord blessed the latter end of Job more than his beginning." In this 42nd chapter we see the end of the storm, with peace and happiness again restored to Job. God Himself speaks to Job in chapters 38 through 41. In chapter 42, we have Job first confessing the power and omnipresence of the Lord (vs. 2). In verse 6, he is thoroughly humbled and says, "Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes." In verse 8, we have the Lord sharply reprimanding Job's three friends, and Job praying for them.

His end better than his beginning: For a true child of God, the end is always better than the beginning. His life here may be stormy, but the end is always glory. Job had his terrible times, but it all ended well. The Lord first gave him back his health then doubled his former wealth. He gave him a whole new family, seven sons and three most beautiful daughters. It has been noticed that his family was really doubled, too. He had ten children in heaven presuming all were saved, and ten on earth. So the Lord was very good to Job in his latter end.

The end is peace: It was a dark hour when the remains of my mother were laid away in the cemetery. Yet the Lord tried to give me grace then and certainly did recently by saying, "The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord". She was a lovely Christian woman and of course greatly missed. However, the Lord compensated for the loss. His Kindness brought me through major brain tumor operations with my basic health still in tack. Like with Job, the storms passed away and peace and joy reign. Sometimes we cannot see the purpose of the dark times, but the Lord knows all about them, and will use them to our edification and His glory. "Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright: for the end of that man is peace" (Ps. 37:37).

"... the Lord is very pitiful ..." The expression for "very pitiful" is literally "largely bowelled." The bowels in the Scripture are often pictured as the seat of the affections and compassions. We use the heart in the same way today. We could say the Lord is "large hearted" or "very compassionate". Do we question His pity?: Job might have questioned the large heartedness of the Lord, but if he could have seen the end of it all, he would not have. Joseph, in the prison in Egypt, might have said, "Has the Lord no heart?" But had he been able to see the end of it all, he would not have questioned. David had been anointed by Samuel to be king of Israel otherwise he might well have questioned God's compassion. Did he not have to flee from Saul and hide away in the caves? To us, many things may seem all wrong, but in spite of it all, the Lord is very pitiful; the end of the trials always prove this to be so.

"... and of tender mercy." "Pity" speaks of feeling, "mercy" of actions. Even in sending us trials, He is merciful. He does not send trials heavier then we can bear. He is with us in the trial, like He was with Daniel in the den of lions. He brings us out of trials to make us better men and women. Let us all learn lessons from this, especially that through the way may be dark and drear the Lord is behind the scenes. He has a purpose in it all, and will work it out for our welfare. In spite of the storm that may be raging, He has not forgotten. He still loves us, and in the end will manifest His pity and mercy. "The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy" (Ps. 103:8).

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