James 5:17, commentary and pictures

Elias was an ordinary human being sharing the same nature, weaknesses, temptations and struggles as all other people, not an angel or flawless ideal. He prayed earnestly that rain would be withheld, and no dew or rain fell on the earth for three years and six months. He asked for this drought because Israel had turned to idolatry, so that deprived of daily mercies the people would see their idols could not provide, humble themselves and return to God. His answered prayer proves that fervent, effectual prayer by the righteous avails much and is not shut out from heaven. It teaches that finite strength united with infinite power through persevering faith can grasp God's promises and hold on until the answer comes, while hurried prayer, doubt and letting go too soon leave believers without power with God.

Elijah's Shared Humanity

The phrase subject to like passions means Elijah was an ordinary, real human being and not an angel, sharing the same nature, feelings, weaknesses, frailties, temptations, and struggle to maintain integrity as all other people. His earnest prayer that rain would cease was effective, and no rain fell for three years and six months, and afterward he prayed again and rain returned and the earth became fruitful. On Mount Carmel he prayed six times without any sign of an answer and continued until the answer came, and in another reckoning six or seven times, when at last a cloud appeared. He acted on a slight sign that God had heard rather than waiting for full evidence, persevering in prayer until the petition was answered, for giving up before the answer would have meant the request was not answered. His faith grasped God's promises and persevered in claiming them, and such faith and prayer are not beyond the reach of others, for all may exercise such faith in service to God.

Even as a prophet of God, a courageous man of great faith, and one appointed by God, Elijah remained liable to error, temptation, discouragement, despondency, distrust, and despair, and was not flawless or ideal. His experience of God's care and power did not make him incapable of distrust or despondency, and his weakness did not mean God had abandoned him. Those who trust God and remain faithful can rely on Him not to leave or forsake them, and the struggles of the prophets with discouragement and temptation encourage others to take heart, pursue righteousness, and walk with God. Though God had protected and provided for him and had answered his prayers for fire and rain, Elijah later lost sight of God and fled in fear from Jezebel's threat, showing that even a prophet who had shown great courage and a faithful servant who had helped overthrow idolatry at Carmel could falter and fail in faith. During the famine he had watched for Israel to repent, and the returning rain testified to blessings awaiting the nation, yet afterward fear and flight revealed the same liability.

His humanness could include hastiness of temper and an impetuous spirit as an infirmity, which must always be guarded against. It could include quickness to feel irritated, impatient and impetuous speech, fault-finding, dissatisfaction, and deep grief over wrongdoing, which can create enemies. After outbursts he feels sorry, and at such times he needs grace and the help of brethren to make decided efforts to overcome. Such humanness does not prevent him from being true and conscientious, faithful in work, and a person of solid integrity who sees his own faults and confesses them.

Sharing human passions and weakness does not prevent a person from needing and receiving God's grace and help, overcoming discouragement and temptation, standing firm by depending on God's strength, and showing integrity, earnest prayer, and firm loyalty to God. The prophets faced discouragement and temptation yet through God's grace took heart again and overcame. Like Elijah, the Hebrew worthies stood firm against temptation because they depended on God's infinite strength, and like Daniel amid luxurious temptations they stood firm rather than indulging themselves. Their refusal brought the benefit of temperate habits, greater physical stamina, and endurance for times of need, and Daniel likewise shows that a person can become steadfast in character by making God his strength and faithfully using opportunities.

God entrusts work for fallen humanity to weak, erring people rather than to perfect angels who have never fallen, because their own infirmities and common human experience prepare them to sympathize with, help, and reach people in every condition, and their work depends on God's power rather than extraordinary human qualities. God's messengers share the same nature, frailties, passions, sufferings, and temptations as those they seek to save. So God honors the gospel ministry and His organized church by sending a man like Peter to tell Cornelius of the crucified and risen Saviour instead of commissioning the angel who visited Cornelius to tell the story of the cross, and Christ took humanity that He might reach humanity. It is Heaven's plan that those who have received light impart it to those in darkness, with humanity drawing efficiency from God as the instrument through which the gospel transforms mind and heart.

Earnest Prayer for Drought

Elijah prayed earnestly that rain would not fall, and at his word rain ceased on the earth for three years and six months, that is for three and a half years. His earnest petition was effective and was followed first by drought and then, when he prayed again, by returning rain that made the earth fruitful again. Heaven heard his faithful prayer and joined it to divine power, so that devoted humility could see God reveal His power in answering the prayer of faith.

On Mount Carmel his prayer for rain was a trial and test of faith, for he prayed and continued until the answer came. He prayed six times without any sign of an answer and persisted until the answer appeared, while other reckonings count the persevering petitions as seven times before at last a cloud appeared. His faith endured while the answer was delayed, pressing the petition to the throne and holding on by faith rather than letting go of the promise quickly. To give up before the answer came would have meant the request was not answered.

He persevered in prayer until the petition was answered, with faith grasping God's promises and claiming them even before there was full evidence that God had heard. He acted on a slight sign that God had heard him, trusting the answer and acting on even a small sign of it, rather than waiting for full evidence. His prayer before the king and the people was simple, yet God answered it with power, and his word shut up the treasures of heaven to withhold dew and rain while his prayer was the key that brought the rain back. That joining of faithful prayer to infinite power was beyond the power of warriors, philosophers, or princes to prevent, for prayer does not change God but brings finite strength near to Him to unite with His infinite power.

Reason and History of Drought

Elijah earnestly prayed that dew and rain would be withheld because Israel had turned to idolatry, asking God to use judgment to arrest apostasy and to deprive the people of daily mercies so they would see their idols could not provide for them. His petition sought not merely punishment but humbling, confession and forsaking of sin, repentance, and restoration of allegiance to God. God heard and answered by sending him to announce the drought before Ahab, and then withheld the rain until the people turned back to Him. During the years of drought and famine he continued to pray in faith, longing for suffering and want to turn Israel from idolatry.

The drought demonstrated that Jehovah, not Baal nor the forces of nature and the sun, is the source of rain and every temporal blessing. It exposed the folly of trusting Baal for rain and fertility, and rain would return only when Israel repented and acknowledged God as the source of blessing. The gods Israel trusted could not reverse the drought at Elijah's word nor prove him a false prophet, despite the frantic prayers and sacrifices of their worshipers.

For three and a half years Israel had no dew or rain at Elijah's word, and at his word the treasures of heaven were shut and the land remained dry. The ground became parched and farming districts lay unworked, and famine with suffering and want followed until the people repented and acknowledged God. His simple prayer before the king and the people was the key that both shut heaven and afterward brought the rain back, when vegetation sprang up as the land recovered.

Though flourishing streams, hills, and forests could have made the coming drought seem unbelievable, Elijah did not give way to doubt but went to Ahab with courage and faith at risk to his life because he trusted God. He believed God would use the drought and other judgments to humble Israel and lead the apostate people to repentance. As suffering increased he continued to pray in faith and patiently awaited the time for decisive action while God carried out His plan.

Though God had protected and provided for him and had answered his prayers for fire and rain, Elijah later lost sight of God and fled in fear from Jezebel's threat. During the famine he had watched for Israel to repent, and at Mount Carmel his faith had helped overthrow idolatry, with the returning rain testifying to blessings awaiting the nation. His fear and flight show that even a faithful servant and prophet who had shown great courage could falter and fail in faith, sharing human weakness and liability to temptation.

Power of Fervent Prayer

Fervent, effectual prayer by the righteous avails much, and such prayer is not shut out from heaven. The Lord heard Elijah and strikingly answered his earnest petitions, even though he was human and subject to the same weaknesses, feelings and passions as other people. His earnest prayer that rain would cease was effective, and no rain fell for three years and six months. This belongs to the call to confess faults and pray for one another, with the assurance that turning someone back from error saves a soul from death, hides a multitude of sins, and accomplishes much.

Prayer does not change God, but brings people near to Him and enables their finite strength to unite with His infinite power. Elijah was an ordinary human being, yet his faithful, earnest prayer and faith were joined to divine power, so that rain ceased for more than three years, for three and a half years, beyond the power of warriors, philosophers or princes to prevent. When people live near to God and plead with Him in earnest faith, God answers prayer with power and reveals Himself, and devoted, humble people may see Him reveal His power.

Fervent, effective prayer gives strength against Satan, and meditation and prayer keep followers aroused to resist his cunning and deception. The soul that so prays leans for help on the Mighty One and obtains strength to resist attack. Satan leads many to believe prayer to God is useless and only a form, and by his devices diverts the mind from praying. He is enraged at the sound of fervent prayer because he knows he will suffer loss by it.

Elijah's faith grasped God's promises and persevered in prayer until the request was answered, even before there was full evidence that God had heard. He prayed for rain to cease, and there was no rain for three years and six months; he prayed again, and rain came. He acted on a slight sign that God had heard him rather than waiting for full evidence, and pressed his petition until it was answered. People may therefore claim God's promises with persevering, unyielding faith that trusts God's answer, and giving up before the answer would mean the request was not answered; such faith and prayer are not beyond the reach of others, but all may exercise them in service to God.

Lack of power with God comes from within, where faith may be professed without growth in grace or real communion with God. Occasional hurried prayer without real communion is unlike Elijah's example. He did not let go of God's promise quickly but pressed his petition to the throne and held on by faith, praying six or seven times before the cloud was seen and the answer came. Believers are to hold on by living faith, keep pressing their petitions without giving up, and believe they receive the things they ask for, and they shall have them; letting go too soon, doubting and unbelief wound Christ and leave faith and power lacking.

Elijah's answered prayer, offered with deep earnestness by one of the same nature and weaknesses as all people, proves the value of communion with God. It urges believers who face temptation and depend on divine grace to be stirred to the same earnest, wrestling prayer for blessing and strength to overcome. His experience teaches that persistent faith can take hold of God's promises and encourages persistent prayer as Elijah prayed, in faith, on behalf of God's people today.

Healing Confession and Restoration

James 5:17 belongs to the directions given for seeking healing through faith and prayer. When seriously ill, the sick person is to ask the brethren to pray, and their earnest prayer is followed by relief from the illness in trust in God's promise to answer. The afflicted is to follow the guidance in James 5 and trust God to raise him up if doing so is for His glory, while faithfully doing his part and relying on Him. The verse is included in the appeal to confess faults and pray for one another, with the assurance that effective, fervent prayer can accomplish much. Such humble, fervent prayer with confession and restitution turns one back from error, saves a soul from death, and hides a multitude of sins.

It applies after failure in temptation and trial, which Christ uses to purify His people as fire purifies gold. The Lord permits His children to fall, and if they repent of wrongdoing He helps them stand on vantage ground and become better afterward, as Peter was better after his fall. This follows when temptation and fall bring repentance, provided the heart has not been hardened by disregard of great light.

Compassion Toward Fellow Workers

Elijah's being subject to like passions means that even one who prayed earnestly and was answered by God still had human weaknesses like all others, and therefore one who struggles with a failing is to be met with patience and offered help. A worker may have power with God, a clear conception of vital truth, and influence over others, and yet have hastiness of temper and an impetuous spirit as his infirmity against which he must always guard. After outbursts he feels sorry, and at such times he needs the grace of the Lord and the help of his brethren to make decided efforts to overcome. Those who are finite and cannot read hearts must not judge him, withdraw from helping him, weaken his influence, or grudge against him, for the Judge stands before the door.

Every person is of like passions, feeling the same weaknesses, suffering the same temptations, and sharing the same struggle to maintain integrity and keep the balance of the mind in circumstances of peril. One appointed by God remains human and not ideal, a real man exactly like others, falling into the same errors and having the same ambitions and weaknesses, and God's servants are not flawless. Therefore no man is made a master to rule the mind and conscience of a fellow being or to lord it over a fellow laborer. God's blood-bought workers, His blood-bought heritage, must be dealt with very carefully, with kindly compassion and tenderest sympathy, cultivating amiable tempers joined with firmness of principle. No one is to leave his assigned work to interfere with and spoil the different work given to another.

To be subject to like passions is to be a human being and not an angel, and teachers share the same like passions as those they teach. Characters are not formed in one mold, but every phase of character is received with defects and virtues of traits revealed, together with hereditary and cultivated deformity of character as well as beauty of character. Because teachers and students alike have human traits and temptations, instructors must cultivate much grace to know how to deal with the erring for their present and eternal good. They are to deal with erring students with humility, patience, and grace rather than acting from impulse, impatience, pride, selfishness and self-esteem, or uncontrolled passion. Cherished impulse, impatience, pride, selfishness, and self-esteem do great evil and thrust the soul without wisdom to navigate upon Satan's battleground, to be tossed about by Satan's temptations until shipwrecked.

Elijah, though a person with human weaknesses and passions like other people, prayed earnestly and God answered by withholding rain for three and a half years, showing that ministers and other believers are human and liable to err like their brethren. A man who fears God is still human with the same feelings and weaknesses as other people. That humanness can include being quick to feel irritated, impatient and impetuous in speech, tending to find fault and be dissatisfied, and being stirred deeply with grief over wrongdoing, which can create enemies. Such traits do not prevent him from being true and conscientious, faithful in work, and a person of solid integrity who sees his own faults and confesses them.