DBRP_036 EXO.11 EXO.12 JOB.36 JAS.5

Let’s open to EXODUS 11-12.

Yesterday we heard of the plague against the livestock, the plague of boils, and the plague of hail. We are not told how much time there was in between each plague. It seems there was enough time for many Egyptians to buy more livestock before they were again decimated by the hail. Then we heard about the plague of locusts followed by the plague of darkness.

I hope you noticed Who is doing the hardening of hearts and causing the stubbornness. Paul talks about that in Romans 9.

Let’s read JOB 36.

This is Elihu's 5th chapter.

Translation note:
29 No one [understands//knows] how the clouds move
or how the thunder roars
through the sky, where God dwells.

We turn to JAMES 5.

In chapter 4, James preached against the way the world had infiltrated the church— and we could say, still infiltrates the church. He gave an important clue about why God doesn't answer our prayers. And he taught that we need to purify our hearts from pride and having divided loyalty between God and the world. He gave a big clue on how to be rid of Satan's influence. Finally James taught us how prideful it is to judge others, and warned about prideful planning.

Note that in verses 1-6 of our reading today, James is using the rhetorical device called ‘apostrophe’— where he harshly rebukes rich people who are NOT actually in his audience. He is is doing this to give comfort to his actual audience, which includes many who are poor. It is almost certainly the case that any rich people who were actually part of James’ audience had not done the crimes James mentions.

Translation note:
14 [NLT: Are any of you sick? _You_ should call for the elders of the church to come and pray over you, anointing you with oil in the name of the Lord.//GNTD  14 Are any among you sick? _They_ should send for the church elders, who will pray for them and rub olive oil on them in the name of the Lord.]
The Anglicized version (GNTDC) is wrong with “_You_ should send … who will pray for them.” The sick person themselves is the one to ask for prayer.

15 And God will answer their prayers for healing which are supported by fully believing that the Lord is answering. The Lord will bring him back to health. And if his sickness was caused by his sins, through such prayers, the Lord will forgive him. (PET)

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