To illustrate the power of prayer James referred to Elijah's experience (1 Kings 17:1; 18:1, 41-45). In view of the remarkable answers Elijah received James reminded his audience that the prophet was an ordinary man.
"Here the point is not that Elijah put up a particularly fervent prayer but that praying was precisely what he did."222
"Prayed earnestly"is literally "prayed with prayer."This verse is not a call for fervent prayer but a call for prayer (cf. 4:16). A "righteous man"who prays can accomplish much. Therefore answers to prayer are within the reach of any believer (cf. Luke 11:9-13). However as mentioned previously, James used "righteousness"as Jesus did to refer to right conduct.
Through his praying Elijah influenced God in the outworking of His decree.223God allows us to influence Him through prayer today as well in certain areas of His will. One of these areas is how He deals with Christians who have departed from His will.
". . . Elijah confidently made his audacious petitions to Jehovah because he was conscious that they were in harmony with the will of God. He could confidently persist in His request for rain (1 Ki 18:42-44) because he knew that God had promised to send the rain he was asking for (1 Ki 18:2). He could persevere in prayer because he knew his petition was in harmony with the expressed will of God.
"Knowing the will of God is the sure foundation for effective prayer [1 John 5:14].
"When the Scriptural teaching that prayer is a definite means of working with God is apprehended, we feel that this is fully in keeping with His gracious character. God yearns to take His sons into His confidence and let them share with Him in the accomplishment of His purposes. He has so arranged this world that there is a definite place for answered prayer in the divine government. He deliberately so constituted things that His believing children may have, and are invited to have, a definite share in the fulfillment of His saving purpose with mankind through intercessory prayer. The Scriptures are replete with illustrations of how the cause of the Lord was furthered as God answered the prayers of His people."224
"So the example of Elijah is used as a counterpoint to stress once again the need for a peaceful solution gained by prayer and submission to the divine will."225
In an interesting article one writer argued that James 5:13-18 does not refer to physical healing generally but specifically to discouragement and depression.226Whereas the Greek words for sick (vv. 14, 15) and healed (v. 16) allow this interpretation, I believe we should prefer their normal meaning here primarily because of the context. There is nothing in the context that would limit the healing to psychological conditions. I believe James used the case of a sick person to show the powerful effect praying can have to encourage his readers to pray for those who are sick because of sin. He also did so to encourage them to exercise patience rather than living for the present.
