Just Like Elijah
Elijah was a man just like us. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops James 5:17,18
Many preachers use Elijah’s example in 1 Kings 17 and 18 to illustrate the need for fervency. James sees a different emphasis. ‘Elijah was a man just like us.’ He uses the great prophet as an example of a man who saw God do amazing things – but all in answer to simple praying. Even ‘prayed earnestly’ literally means ‘with prayer he prayed.’
James is emphasising: human prayer – divine results.
James is a little more specific even than the Old Testament account. 1 Kings 18:1 says the drought ended ‘in the third year.’ James says it lasted ‘three and a half years.’ I Kings 17:1 quotes Elijah as saying that there would be no rain ‘except at my word.’ James tells us that the prophet’s ‘word’ in 1 Kings 17:1 was his word in prayer. Elijah is pictured crouching low in 1 Kings 18:42-45. Again James’ commentary for his readers explains this crouching position was for prayer.
What does James want his readers to get hold of? At least three things. First, that prayer is not complicated. That’s why we read ‘he prayed …Again he prayed.’ Second, that prayer is powerful ‘He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain.’ And finally that prayer has to be prayed confidently.
Simplicity, power, confidence. These were the marks of Elijah’s prayer and need to be the marks of ours.
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