salaries cried out to God for ven geance. The Lord hears the cry of the downtrodden (vrs. 4). It is bad enough for awealthy man to hoard up his own goods until they are worthless in the day of eternity, but to live off the strength of the laborer, depriving him of his just wages, is a base sin. Although, in his patience, the laborer might not cry or even complain, the very money which is due him will stand as a testimony against the greedy employer. This is what James is saying. While the rich may be able to crush the poor worker, they can not contest with the Champion of those who are so oppressed. He is the Lord of the universe. This expression, "The Lord of Sabaoth" is a very significant name for God. It is especially appropriate in this context referring to the re lationship of employer and em ployee. It warns of imminent judg ment upon those who have mis used their riches. Literally it means "the Jehovah of hosts." It is that name for God which speaks of His great power and tremendous strength. The prophetic books of the Old Testament abound with references to this name, especially in times when Israel faced the en emy and needed God's help. God is not oblivious to the needs of His people. The guilty cannot hide from the Lord, no matter their station in life. James literally blisters the em ployer who advances at the ex pense of the employee (vrs. 5 and 6). He indicts the rich for spending extravagantly on themselves with no thought for needy men. They were blind to humanitarian inter ests. Some seem to delight in mag nifying the contrast between their luxuries and the poverty of others.
It makes them feel higher and more important. James tells the rich that they are simply fattening up for the kill. They are like hogs who do nothing but gorge themselves until the fate ful day when they feel the butch er's knife (vrs. 5). They are like foolish and irrational beasts who are conscious of gluttony and greed. The word "just" in verse six has been interpreted by some as mean ing the only true just One, the Lord Jesus Christ. He is designated as such in Acts 3:14, 7:52, and 22:14. The singular form of the word does allow for such a view. The last part of verse 6 asks, "Does he not resist you?" The plain im plication is that, of course He does and will pour out his judgments on all of the wrongs which have been visited upon His children. At the same time the word "just" could be a generic description of the people of God. This declara tion therefore should be under stood as a statement rather than a question. The poor do not retaliate against their oppressors. Believers do not organize demonstrations or call strikes. Like their Saviour, Je sus Christ, these poor Christians of James' day, endured the contra diction of sinners. As believers, through the power of God's Holy Spirit, we can take the wrongs against us patiently. Our consola tion is bound up in the confidence that Christ will deliver and vindi cate us. Nothing in all the range of New Testament revelation sanc tions any believer making a protest or a show of resistance against that which is done. Our dependence must be upon the Lord Jesus Christ. Because of our faith, we will want Page 43
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