James 5:10

...an example of suffering affliction, and of patience.

James 5:10
Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience.

We know that the Bible calls us as believers and followers of Jesus Christ to a life of affliction. This is not an option, as 2 Timothy 3:12 says, “Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution”. Christians should be disciples of Christ by definition, and living in His shadow will undoubtedly bring adversity and persecution to varying degrees. But that fact is not something to despair over, rather we should rejoice because, in a small way, through those afflictions we are made partakers of Christ’s sufferings (1 Peter 4:12). We are brought closer in our intimacy with Jesus when we suffer persecution for His name.

James points out in chapter 5 of his letter that the prophets are an example of suffering affliction for God. Ezekiel was commanded to lay on his left side for 390 days (for Israel’s iniquity), and after that 40 days on his right side (for Judah’s iniquity). God told him to cook his food during that time with man’s dung, but after Ezekiel’s plea God allowed cow’s dung to be used (Ezekiel 4).

Jeremiah watched Jerusalem be destroyed in judgment after prophesying for 40 years and calling Israel to repent of their sin. The people didn’t listen to him, and other prophets came against him. They even tried to kill him for his preaching, and threw him in a dungeon (Jeremiah 26; 38).

Moses was constantly murmured against in Exodus and Numbers. Elijah ran from Jezebel (1Kings 19). Zechariah was stoned to death for preaching (2 Chronicles 24:20-21). Hosea had to marry a harlot to picture Israel’s infidelity (Hosea 1). Amos was persecuted by Amaziah the priest (Amos 7). Micaiah was hated by King Ahab for speaking the truth (1 Kings 22; 2 Chronicles 18). Urijah was hunted down and killed by the hand of King Jehoiakim himself (Jeremiah 26:20-23). Hanani was put in prison by King Asa for prophesying against the king (2 Chronicles 16:7-10). The list goes on.

James tells us that we can take these dear prophets as an example of suffering affliction, “who have spoken in the name of the Lord”. If we speak the truth of God’s word and suffer for it, we can look to the prophets for encouragement as we are in good company. Furthermore, not only can we see examples of persecution happening, but also how they handled it—with patience.

James 5:10 is actually written in this context of being exhorted to patiently endure “unto the coming of the Lord” (James 5:7). He continues in verse 8, “Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.” Yes, we will suffer persecution for living righteously and speaking the truth of God’s word, but that should not deter us from continuing to do so. We should look to the prophets who patiently endured their ministry of preaching to (often) unrepentant audiences, for the sake of obeying the God who called them to preach.

Christian, don’t let persecution stop you from preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ to this lost world. Don’t let fear of rejection quench your testimony. Don’t let false accusations of intolerance and bigotry quell your tongue. Don’t allow physical suffering or discomfort to subdue your message.

And don’t let hard hearts and plugged ears make you weary in well doing. For in due season we shall reap, if we faint not (Galatians 6:9).