James 5:17-18

The Supreme Example Of A Man Undergoing Trials Who Gained The Victory In Prayer (James 5:17).

James now gives the example of one man of God who endured trials and testings, and through faith came through triumphantly (compare James 1:1), and that was Elijah. He was but a man like us, but through prayer he sealed the Heavens so that they gave no water, and following that he prayed again and the Heavens poured forth water and the result was that the earth brought forth fruit.

Analysis

a Elijah was a man of like passions with us.

b And he prayed fervently that it might not rain.

c And it rained not on the earth for three years and six months.

b And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain.

a And the earth brought forth her fruit.

Note in ‘a' that Elijah is closely identified with earth and with humankind, and in the parallel it is from nature and the earth that the fruit comes forth. In ‘b' he prayed fervently and in the parallel he prayed again. Centrally in ‘c' was the great effect of his prayer. ‘And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit.'

And the result of his trials and his faith was that he prayed again, and the heavens produced rain (see 1 Kings 18:36; 1 Kings 18:41), and the earth became fruitful. He asked and it was given to him (see James 1:5 and contrast James 4:3), and the result was blessing from Heaven. James no doubt intended his readers to make the connection.

We should, however, note that Elijah's prayer was answered because the will and purpose of God was his consuming passion. He did not pray for himself or for his own benefit. He prayed in order that God's work might go forward. Nothing else mattered to him. That is the kind of prayer that is always effective.