James 5:17-18

The Supreme Example Of A Man Undergoing Trials Who Gained The Victory In Prayer (James 5:17-18 ).

James now gives the example of one man of God who endured trials and testings, and through faith came through triumphantly (compare James 1:1-5), 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.