The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months. And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit (Jas 5.16-18).
Prayer can seem useless. Maybe that explains why for so many it is a last resort instead of their first effort. Is someone sick? So many pop a pill or pour a potion, dial the doctor, or in serious cases, run to the hospital. When these don’t work, maybe then they pray, or at least ask others to pray for them. How little faith this exhibits!
According to Scripture, prayer works. It changes things. It is not a waste of time. The great Poet Laureate, Alfred Tennyson (1809-1892), has left us immortal words with a deeply pious sentiment:
Pray for my soul. More things are wrought by prayer
Than this world dreams of. Wherefore, let thy voice
Rise like a fountain for me night and day
For what are men better than sheep or goats
That nourish a blind life within the brain,
If, knowing God, they lift not hands of prayer
Both for themselves and those who call them friend?
–“The Passing of Arthur”
Prayer is one aspect of human dignity, distinguishing us from dumb animals. That is a profound encouragement to pray, but maybe even more motivational is the good effects that follow true prayer, offered by faith from God-fearers according to His revealed will.
In his epistle, James had just exhorted the Christian community to pray for each other’s healing (5.16a). He certainly means healing from physical sickness, as the context shows (cf. vv. 14-15). He is so confident about the usefulness of such prayers that he writes, “The prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up.”
Now this is not to be interpreted as a universal promise that whenever anyone is sick in the church for any reason, instant healing comes by prayer. A closer look shows that this one is sick because of sin, and he calls the elders for prayer, and they also anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord, as he confesses his sin, and in that case, the healing can be expected. Nevertheless, healing comes through prayer. It is in this discussion that James shared a precious axiom about prayer’s power, illustrated by a striking example in redemptive history.
An Axiom about Prayer’s Power
“The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much” (KJV).We will appreciate this worthy translation if we consider the specific meaning of its important words. “Effectual” means “having adequate power or force to produce the effect.” The closest word in sense to “fervent” in this context is probably “earnest.” “Righteous” designates a person who “is holy in heart, and observant of the divine commands in practice.” “Availeth” is nearly the same in sense as our more common word “accomplishes.” It matters very much who prays (the righteous), and how they pray (fervently), and for what they pray (that which God is pleased to grant). In these cases, prayer has a powerful effect.
It has also been translated, “The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much” (NASB), “the heartfelt prayer of someone upright works very powerfully” (NJB), and, “The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results (NLT).”
An Illustration of Prayer’s Power
To reinforce the truth in our minds and to prompt our fervent prayers for good and great things, James reminds us of a dramatic instance when God worked powerfully through Elijah’s prayers. Elijah proved to be such a great man we are apt to exalt him unduly, as if he were more than a mere man, so we are warned against that. Note:
1. Prayer works for people like us. Elijah was fundamentally like us and prayer worked for him. James stresses his complete humanness; he was “a man subject to like passions as we are.” This remark in passing shows that the classic confessional language that God is “without passions” is on solid biblical ground. Elijah put his pants on one leg at a time, so to speak. Prayer did not work for him because he was superhuman. No, but he was a “righteous man, and he did “pray earnestly,” and these are important elements in prayer that accomplish much.
2. Prayer can bring about cosmic changes. The weather phenomena of a three and a half year drought as divine discipline for Israel’s sins, followed by a deluge of biblical proportions on the very day they repented and Elijah asked for rain, are stupendous examples of the power of prayer. Without question James asserts a cause and effect relationship between Elijah’s prayers and the much-needed rain or lack thereof. When they faced the dangers of apostasy and then mass starvation, that holy man Elijah prayed, and God gave them repentance-inducing discipline, and then, much food.
But when our prayers seem to go unanswered, what should we think? First, consider the possibility that we might not be right with God. “If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me” (Psa 66.18). No small part of our praying should be taken up with confessing our sins and asking for His forgiveness and cleansing, and that He might hear us. Second, we may be failing to pray earnestly. John Bunyan counseled, “When thou prayest, rather let thy heart be without words, than thy words without a heart.” Third, sometimes God delays answering earnest prayers from righteous people, and in that case we must wait patiently, for this is the spiritual posture of the godly (Psa 123.2). Ω