James Expounds on Faith Volume 54

 Patience in Suffering Part 3

James 5:11 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. KJV Note: NKJV=New King James Version

The Apostle James wanted to further encourage them in their persecutions, so he next reminded them of Brother Job, "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 5:11) (KJV). Job was a man 👨 who endured some of the worst attacks from Satan, but this is what was written of him, "There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was blameless and upright, and one who feared God and shunned evil." (Job 1:1) (NKJV). This was not a man who was running from God in his daily life and actions, but daily ran toward God in holy fear and reverence of Him, yet our Father in Heaven allowed Satan to attack him vehemently, viciously, and violently, but this did not mean that God did not love Job, because in the end we know that God the Father restored back to Job double of what the enemy (the devil 😈) took from him. The Apostle James wanted these early Jewish believers in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and wants we believers today and of every era and generation to live by these words written in Proverbs, "Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths." (Proverbs 3:5-6) (NKJV). Those last four words of verse 6 in Proverbs 3 figuratively means that as a bull dozer or frontend loader is used in the literal way to clear a straight path so that a roadway can be laid out to make the travel on that path smoother or less bumpy, so will our Heavenly Father do so for us in our spiritual lives as we face unseen enemies (Satan and his demons) trying to hurt and kill us on a daily basis through human two-legged devils still under his control. Our responsibility is to trust our Triune (God) the Father, the Son, and the Spirit at the beginning of every single day He gives us as sojourners and throughout the day, then repeat 🔂 this over and over for all the remaining days we have upon the earth 🌎. The little English phrase in James 5:11 'very pitiful' is translated by the rather long Greek word polusplagchnos (used this one time only in the entire New Testament) and it simply means extremely compassionate. In other words, the Psalmist says it best with these words, "As a father pities his children, So the LORD pities those who fear Him. For He knows our frame; He remembers that we are dust." (Psalms 103:13-14) (NKJV). Also let us always meditate on these mighty words from our Lord Jesus Christ, "And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell." (Matthew 10:28) (NKJV). Our obedience must always be to our Lord Jesus Christ and His Word, even if we are murdered for doing so, Amen!!!

Here is what Matthew Henry had to say of James 5:11, "Observe further, Those who were the greatest examples of suffering affliction were also the best and greatest examples of patience: tribulation worketh patience. Hereupon James gives it to us as the common sense of the faithful (James 5:11): We count those happy who endure: we look upon righteous and patient sufferers as the happiest people. Job also is proposed as an example for the encouragement of the afflicted. You have hard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord, etc., v. 11. In the case of Job you have an instance of a variety of miseries, and of such as were very grievous, but under all he could bless God, and, as to the general bent of his spirit, he was patient and humble: and what came to him in the end? Why, truly, God accomplished and brought about those things for him which plainly prove that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy. The best way to bear afflictions is to look to the end of them; and the pity of God is such that He will not delay the bringing of them to an end when His purposes are once answered; and the tender mercy of God is such that He will make His people an abundant amends for all their sufferings and afflictions. His bowels are moved for them while suffering, His bounty is manifested afterwards. Let us serve our God, and endure our trials, as those who believe the end will crown all." Here also is what Dr. John Gill had to say of James 5:11, "Affliction, with courage, constancy, and patience, and hold out to the end; for such shall be saved; theirs is the kingdom of heaven; they are happy now, and will be so hereafter: the Spirit of God, and of glory, now rests upon them; and it is an honour done them that they are counted worthy to suffer for Christ; and they will be glorified with Him to all eternity; the consideration of which may serve to encourage and increase patience. Ye have heard of the patience of Job; from the account which is given of him, and his patience, in the book that bears his name; how he behaved under every trial, which came one upon the back of another; as the plundering of his substance, the loss of his children, and of the health of his body; and yet in all this Job sinned not, nor murmured against God, nor charged Him foolishly, and was a mirror of patience; and though he afterwards let fall some expressions of impatience, yet he was humbled for them, and brought to repentance: this shows, that as the Apostle James, so the Jews, to whom he writes, believed that there had been really such a man as Job; and that the book which bears his name is an authentic piece of holy Scripture, and contains a narrative of matters of fact; or otherwise this reference to him would have been impertinent. How long Job endured the chastenings of the Lord cannot be said. The Jews say they continued on him twelve months, which they gather from Job 7:3. And have seen the end of the Lord; that is, the happy end, or exodus, out of all his troubles; which the Lord gave 'to him', as the Oriental versions add; for He gave him twice as much as he had before, and blessed his latter end more than his beginning, Job 42:10. Some understand this of the Lord Jesus Christ, both of His great patience in sufferings, in which He is an example to His people, and they would do well to look to, and consider Him; and of the end of His sufferings, his glorious resurrection from the dead, and session at the Right Hand of God, where He is crowned with glory and honour; but the former sense is best: that the Lord is very pitiful and of tender mercy; as to Job, so to all His people; His paternal relation to them engages His pity towards them; nor does He willingly afflict them; and when He does, He sympathizes with them; He is afflicted with them, and in His pity redeems them; His heart moves towards them, and He earnestly remembers them, and works deliverance for them in His own time and way; and therefore it becomes them to be patient."

If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...


Sincerely in Christ,


Clifford D. Tate, Sr.


Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…