James 5:10-11
The Prophets Example: Finding Hope in God’s Patient Purposes – James 5:10-11
James 5:10-11 (NIVUK)
Brothers and sisters, as an example of patience in the face of suffering, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. As you know, we count as blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job's perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy.
Commentary
Patience is at the heart of the story of the Bible. Verse 10 said, brothers and sisters, as an example of patience in the face of suffering, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord.
And the Old Testament is full of these promises, just like we read from Isaiah. Promises of a God who would intervene in our world. Of A coming king, a Messiah who would bring in a new and different kingdom. But those prophets never saw the fulfilments of the things of which they spoke. They had to wait their whole lives.
And in fact, it was centuries. Those words of Isaiah didn’t begin to be fulfilled for half a millennia. And you and I may not see the fulfilment of our faith, of our hopes in this life. Just like those prophets, our experience may be one of praying for and working for and waiting for a kingdom of God, which we never get to see in our lifetimes.
The purposes of God are long. Patience is at the very heart of the story of the Bible and of our faith. And so it is something that we are going to have to learn. Because the purposes of God will almost always take a lot longer than we think that they should. Like the child waiting for Christmas. It might seem like it is taking forever but it will come and it will come at just the right time and it will be wonderful.