Read James 5 at Bible Gateway.
Jam 5:13-18 chiastic structure:
1a) Jam 5:13-14, The remedy of prayer;
1a.1) Jam 5:13a, Is anyone among you suffering?
1a.2) Jam 5:13b, Let him pray;
central axis) Jam 5:13c, Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing psalms;
2a.1) Jam 5:14a, Is anyone among you sick?
2a.2) Jam 5:14b, Let him call for the elders/ let them pray + anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord;
1b.1) Jam 5:15a, And the prayer of faith;
1b.2) Jam 5:15b, Will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up;
1c) Jam 5:15c, And if he has committed sins;
central axis) Jam 5:15d, He will be forgiven;
2c) Jam 5:16a, Confess your trespasses to one another;
2b.1) Jam 5:16b, And pray for one another;
2b.2) Jam 5:16c, That you may be healed;
2a) Jam 5:16d-18, The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much/ Elijah’s example.
I have written about what constitutes effective, fervent prayer, biblically defined, before:
the prayer of the righteous
effective prayer
What stood out to me today was the central axis of the 1A pair. Turn to prayer if any among you is suffering, or sick; but let your heart be cheerful and sing in the midst of your suffering:
“These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will[a] have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” Joh 16:33
Why be cheerful and sing? Because the Lord, who loves us, has prepared our answer in advance. Because the effective, fervent prayer of the righteous avails much! Because prayer changes outcomes! I am singing today! ♥
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