The Annointing Service
James instructs us about three circumstances and how we should respond to them.
I. Suffering (13)
A. The Circumstance
this suffering is the same word foun in vs 10. It can mean suffering hardships whether physically, mentally, or emotionally. It can mean suffering general misforture which would include misfortune caused by obedience to God's word. (ie. being honest in business though it will not get you ahead of the competition who has no problem "stretching the truth.")
B. The Solution
Instead of cursing about it or taking an oath concerning your suffering (vs. 12) you should pray. Philippians 4:6. Just like King David did in Psalm 18:6
II. Cheerful (13)
A. The Circumstance
Have you ever just been in such a good mood that you can't stand it? What should you do if you are merry, joyful, of good cheer? It may be a state of joy in response to the suffering you are facing like he mentions in (James 1:2; 2 Corinthians 7:4) or it may be because of God's incomprehensible blessings (Ephesians 3:20; Malachi 3:10).
B. The Solution
The command here is to sing God's praise! This is an outcome of being filled with the Holy Spirit Ephesians 5:18-19; Colossians 3:16. This is exactly what Paul and Silas did (Acts 16:22-25). Following there example and James' instruction, if we are suffering hardship we should pray and when God has given us joy as a result, we should sing!
III. Seriously Sick (14-15)
A. The Circumstance
This sickness is a serious debilitating sickness like the one that took the life of Lazarus (John 6:2) and dorcas in Acts 9:36-37. Epaphroditis also had a sickness like this that almost took his life (Philippians 2:26-27). The person needs to be raised up which implies that they are bed ridden. Many different medical possiblities can be imagined here, everything from a virus or an infection to cancer, a blood clot, or a heart attack.
B. The Solution
The action that they must take is to call the elders. Literally it means that "they themselves" must call. If the person is bed ridden you see the importance of the one who is sick calling the elders to their side. It must be pointed out that this is in stark contrast to what we see today in the moern faith healing movement today. Usually the "faith healer" is calling people to themselves to come forward at public gathering whereas what James teaches is a private meeting in the home or hopital bed of the patient. It is not a performance.
C. The Proceedure
The elders in doing their part are to come to the patient as called, annoint them with oil in the name of the Lord and then pray for their healing.
- The Oil. It was olive oil that was used. Though oil was used for medicinal purposes back then, we see something more here because they are to annoint them in the name of the Lord. In the authority of Jesus Christ the master physician. Ther oil is not medicine and it has no supernatural power here. This annointing was symbolic of the Holy Spirit by whos power even Jesus used when He healed during His ministry.
- The Prayer.