Job makes his plea before God in chapter 10. He loathed his life and requests his death. He says, since You, God, have made me You are responsible for my sufferings. It is true that Job's sufferings were allowed by his Maker (42verses11), and it was for a purpose - James 5verses10-11 - but it was wrong for the patriarch (Job) to challenge the Almighty in this regard. Nonetheless Job acknowledged the chasm between mortal man and his Maker. He protests his innocence and says he ought not therefore...
Job makes his plea before God in chapter 10. He loathed his life and requests his death. He says, since You, God, have made me You are responsible for my sufferings. It is true that Job's sufferings were allowed by his Maker (42verses11), and it was for a purpose - James 5verses10-11 - but it was wrong for the patriarch (Job) to challenge the Almighty in this regard. Nonetheless Job acknowledged the chasm between mortal man and his Maker. He protests his innocence and says he ought not therefore suffer. Here is the crux of the book - suffering is not only for sin (it is the rightful human condition, as we are inevitable and constant sinners, who need God's mercy, grace and forgiveness). Through sufferings we may learn patience and develop character. With poetic words Job tells of the LORD's creative hand. Sovereign Lord you seem, he says, to be relentless in Your pursuit of me. "Why?", he asks. Please end my life and suffering he asks.
In his 6th chapter the prophet Micah, speaking on the LORD's behalf, condemns the nation. God asks, is there a reason My people have turned from Me. What have I done to cause this. The reality was the very reverse. He had so often pardoned them though they spurned Him in response. Think how great was His love and forgiveness why they grievously transgressed at Baal Peor in Numbers 24-25. God's righteousness is inextricably associated with His mercy, grace and forgiveness. From verses 6-8 is the crux of what God asks of us in response to His pardon. The Law of Moses similarly summarised what God requires from His people in Deuteronomy 10verses12-13. It is not the sacrifice of offering that establishes a relationship with our Maker, but rather a humble recognition of what He has done for us. A humbling of ourselves to walk with the One whose condescension to be our God is beyond our capacity to comprehend (Isaiah 57verses15). Read verse 8 aloud - pause and ponder. Verses 9-16 tell of God's determination to destroy the wicked. This is the character and ways of our God (see Exodus 34verses5-7; and Romans 11verses22-23).
James 2 was a hotly debated chapter at the time of the Reformation. Martin Luther totally misunderstood the message of James 2 and declared the letter of James to be, "A straw letter". The atonement is not based on faith alone; but upon a faith that actively works, being energised by love to purify our hearts (Galatians 5verses1-6). Paul and James do not present conflicting arguments, but they are in fact complementary - John Thomas, a Christadelphian writer wrote in 'Elpis Israel' (published in 1850), "Abraham the sinner was justified by faith, but Abraham the saint was justified by his works".
Ephesians 2verses4-10 express the truth that works are the response in gratitude to God's grace of His children. Verses 1-13 of James 2 deal with the sin of partiality. This is a sin to which we are all prone. We are all equal in God's eyes. James says the prominent, the posers, the powerful are shown preference. How evil is this. The Bible stresses the need to look after the poor and the vulnerable. Chapter 1 ended on this note. How magnificent and majestic are the words of verse 5 - read slowly, pause and ponder. We must modify our attitudes and behaviours to be the children of our Father. James declared that the very ones to whom you are partial are your persecutors and oppressors. God's royal law is the law of Love. It is Royal as it reigns supreme above all other laws. It cannot be measured, nor legislated. And yet it will be the basis of our being judged by our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming - compare Romans 13verses8-10. Mercy is received when mercy is the basis of our dealings with others. From verses 14-26 the writer establishes from the Scripture the uselessness of a faith without works. He gave the example of sensitivity to spiritual needs, yet totally insensitivity to life's essentials - how incongruous, and yet this often happens. Faith cannot be demonstrated in a vacuum. Even demented people can show a fearful, but pointless faith (belief). The evidence of faith is seen in action (the writer to the Hebrews showed this in the 11th chapter). Abraham and Rahab are the evidence of James' argument. Faith without works is as useful as a corpse without breath.
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