Tiago 5

Tiago 5

Ironside writes that "God is not an uninterested spectator. He is deeply concerned about the injustice and oppression which cause such bitter suffering. As of old, He heard the cries of the slaves in Egypt when they sighed and groaned because of their unfair and wicked treatment by the taskmasters of Pharaoh. So he still takes note of every wrong that the privileged and powerful inflict upon the poor and the downtrodden." And the outcry of those who did the harvesting has reached the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth - Note that James speaks of this in the past tense. There will be future repercussions, but the oppressed can be confident the Lord has heard their cry. Outcry (995)(boe)means a cry, an outcry or an exclamation as for help. The only NT use is in James 5:4. In secular Greek boé referred to a loud cry, shout, a battle-cry, the roar of the sea, the sound of musical instruments, the cry of birds or beasts. Harvesting (2325)(therizo from théros = summer, harvest time ~ time of harvests) conveys the picture of cutting ripe grain and gathering the bundles together. To reap, to harvest, harvest, reaping. The immutable law of sowing and reaping dictates that we can be assured that these unjust rich will reap what they sow. (Gal 6:7-9). LORD OF HOSTS OF ARMIES OF HEAVEN! Lord of Sabaoth -see study of Jehovah Sabaoth, LORD of hosts (of armies) "It was suitable for James to use this familiar Old Testament title (Ps. 24:10) in a letter to Jewish Christians, for they would have understood that the choice of this particular name of God was especially appropriate in this context. The rich oppress the poor because they think no one will stand up for them. But the Lord of all the hosts of heaven and earth is their Defender, (ED: Covenant Defender) and He is coming back to make all things right (James 5:7)." (Nelson's NKJV Study Bible) The Lord of Sabaoth (of hosts, of heaven’s armies) pictures God as a GREAT WARRIOR going into battle against his enemies including the enemies of His children! A classic example is David fighting Goliath Then David said to the Philistine, “You come to me with a sword, a spear, and a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have taunted.(1 Sam. 17:45) Sabaoth (4519)(sabaoth) is transliterated from the Hebrew sabaoth (armies, hosts). The Hebrew term tseva'ah (plural form of tsaba’ 06635, “army”) which means “armies, hosts.” It appears in the Septuagint as part of a compound that includes the divine name of God, LORD of hosts. In 1 Samuel 17:45 the “hosts” refer to the armies of Israel. However, in the prophetic literature Sabaōth is used in nonmilitary contexts, perhaps referring to supernatural beings (Isaiah 40:26). In either case it is clear that its usage with the divine name of God indicates that He is sovereignly all-powerful over all created beings both human and supernatural. "Hosts" (sabaōth) refers to the innumerable armies of heaven God places at His disposal, displaying His indomitable power (undefeatable plan).