Facing the Charges

4 Look! The pay that you withheld from the workers who mowed your fields cries out, and the outcry of the harvesters has reached the ears of the Lord of Armies. 5 You have lived luxuriously on the earth and have indulged yourselves. You have fattened your hearts in a day of slaughter. 6 You have condemned, you have murdered the righteous, who does not resist you. (James 5:4-6) Closing out this section, James states that the poor condition of the believers by the rich landowners is known by God, “Look! The pay that you withheld from the workers who mowed your fields cries out, and the outcry of the harvesters has reached the ears of the Lord of Armies.” We can see in Deuteronomy 24:14-15 that these employers were going against the Word of God by not paying their employees, “Do not oppress a hired worker who is poor and needy, whether one of your Israelite brothers or one of the resident aliens in a town in your land. You are to pay him his wages each day before the sun sets, because he is poor and depends on them. Otherwise he will cry out to the Lord against you, and you will be held guilty.” These workers needed to be paid their daily wage to survive, yet, as Anders informs, “a wealthy employer might retain wages until the end of the harvest to prevent the workman from leaving him.” Historically, the employers would be able to pay for strong legal defense if their workers contested their lack of pay that they rightfully earned through their work. But, we see that the workers’ prayers were heard by the Lord of Armies, a title emphasizing the vast power of God and His access to heavenly armies of angels. He would bring justice. Then, in verse 5, we see that the rich landowners, instead of paying their workers, indulged and lived gluttonous lifestyles, “You have lived luxuriously on the earth and have indulged yourselves. You have fattened your hearts in a day of slaughter.” The day of slaughter is a reference when the people would give their oxen extra food before killing it, and the oxen would eat as much as they wanted, oblivious to their future fate. In the same manner, the wealthy were living these extravagant lifestyles and not doing the right thing of paying their workers, living oblivious to the divine judgment that was to come upon them. Finally, in verse 6, we see that their act of withholding this needed pay led to some deaths, “You have condemned, you have murdered the righteous, who does not resist you.” Lea gives some historical insight into this idea: “Jewish tradition taught that a person could murder another either by judicial murder or by depriving his neighbor of his living.” They have been charged with these crimes, and God, the ultimate Judge, was going to bring down His righteous judgment. So, what can we take away from these passages? One, we should treat everyone fairly and with respect, seeing everyone as a created being by God. Two, when there is injustice in this fallen world, know that the Lord of Armies hears your prayers and will pass out His judgment according to His time. Be patient and continue to trust in Him, for He fulfills His promises. Blessings, Isaac De Guzman www.my-wbc.com https://www.facebook.com/WestsideBaptistChurchSBC