OH GIVE THANKS!

O GIVE thanks unto the LORD, for he is good: for his mercy endures for ever. (Read: Psalm 107:1-3).


1 The beginning of this Psalm links it to the two preceding poems (105:1; 106:1). The key point of this psalm is that God's mercy endures forever. He is always willing to restore those who call on Him. [THE NKJV STUDY BIBLE Second Edition].

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JESUS IS LORD.

STOP BOASTING ABOUT TOMORROW

Come now, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a city and spend a year there and carry on business and make money. Yet you do not know [the least thing] about what may happen tomorrow. What is the nature of your life? You are [really] but a wisp of vapor-a puff of smoke, a mist-that is visible for a little while and then disappears [into thin air]. You ought instead to say,  "If the Lord is willing, we shall live, and we shall do this, or that [thing]."  But as it is, you boast [falsely] in your presumption and your self-conceit. All such boasting is wrong. So any person who knows what is right to do but does not do it, to him it is sin. (James 4: 13-17).

13 This section gives another example of the "wisdom" that characterizes the world (cf. 3:15). James addresses businessmen, probably christians, since v.17 seems to suggest that the readers know that their practice is wrong. He begs them to pay careful attention to the seriousness of what follows. The form of the word "say" suggests that the situation under consideration was something that occurred frequently. Notice the well-laid plan: (1) "go to this or that city," (2) "spend a year there," (3) "carry on business," and (4) "make money." The starting time is arranged ("today or tomorrow"); the city has been selected; but God has no place in the plans.

14 No allowance is made for unforseen circumstances. These businessmen are confident that they will be able to carry their plans through to completion. Thus James points out their fallacy. They " do not even know what will happen tomorrow," to say nothing about a year from now. They have been planning as if they know exactly what the future holds or even as if they can control the future. Not only is their knowledge limited, but their lives are uncertain. to point up the transitory nature of life, James employs another illustration from nature-"You are a mist" In the morning it covers the countryside; before noon it is gone. But some of James readers had been planning as if they were going to be here forever!

15 Instead of saying v.13, the christian businessman "ought to say, :If it is the Lors's will." No christian can live independently of God. For believers to leave God out of their plans is an arrogant assumption of self-sufficiency, a tacit declaration of independence fro God It also overlooks reality. Whether people recognize it ir not, they "will live and do this or that" only "if it is the Lord's will." We should always condition our plans on the will of God. (Prov. 16:3, 9).

16 Some of James readers, however, rather than subjecting their plans to God's will, were making it their practice to "boast and brag." To make plans without considering God's plan is the same thing as arrogantly claiming to be in full command of the future. 'Such boasting." says James, "is evil." It not only lacks the quality of being good, it is aggressively and viciously wicked.

17 Although this statement may apply to any number of situations, James intends it to refer to the immediately preceding context. Perhaps this is a maxim that means something like "You have been fully warned," as if James were saying, "Now that I have pointed the matter out to you, you have no excuse." Knowing what should be done obligates a person to do it.

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VENGEANCE IS NOT MINE: IT BELONGS TO THE LORD

Repay no one evil for evil, but take thought for what is honest and proper and noble-aiming to be above reproach-in the sight of everyone. If possible, as far as depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave the way open for [God's] wrath; for it is written, "VENGEANCE IS MINE, I WILL REPAY," (requite), says the Lord. But, if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals upon his head. Do not let yourself be overcome by evil, but overcome evil (master) evil with good. (Read: Romans 12:9-21).


17-21 Paul takes his stand alongside believers by giving them explicit counsel about how to face the hostile world. "Do not repay evil for evil" (v.17), for to do so would be to follow the inclination of the sinful human nature. The remainder of v.17 means that believers are constantly under the scrutiny of unsaved people as well as of fellow Christians, and they must be careful that their conduct does not betray the high standards of the Gospel (cf. Col 4:5; 1 Tim 3:7). Each situation that holds prospect for a witness to the world should be weighed so that the action taken will not bring unfavorable reflection on the Gospel.
      The charge to "live at peace with everyone" is hedged about with two qualifying statements. "If it be possible" suggests that there are instances in human relations when the strongest desire for concord will not avail. If disharmony and conflict should come, however, we should accept the responsibility for resolving it. Believers may not be able to persuade the other party, but they can at least refuse to be the instigator of trouble. God wants us to be peacemakers (Matt 5:9).
      This peace-loving attitude may be costly, however, because some will want to take advantage of it, figuring that Christian principles will not permit the wronged party to retaliate. In such a case, what is to be done? The path of duty is clear: We are not to take vengeance, for vengeance trespasses on the province of God, the great Judge of all. We must "leave room for God's wrath" (v.19), trusting that he will take care of the situation. He will not be too lenient or too severe. Here Paul quotes Duet 32:35, whose context indicates that the Lord will intervene to vindicate his people when their enemies abuse them and gloat over them.
      Paul does not suggest that God's wrath will be visited on the wrongdoer immediately. On the contrary, the hope is that those who have perpetrated the wrong will have a change of heart, will be convicted of their sin, and will be won over by refusal of the Christian to retaliate (v.20). Here again Paul lets the OT speak for him (Prov 25:21-22). "Burning coals" are best understood as the burning pangs of shame and guilt. There is, of course, no definite promise at this point that offenders will be converted. By going the second mile and showing and showing unexpected kindness, believers may also spare their companions from having the same experience. In that measure. society has benefited.
      Guidance on the problem of coping with evil reaches its climax in the final admonition: "Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good" (v.21). Being overcome by evil means to give in to the temptation to meet evil with evil, to retaliate. To overcome evil with good has been illustrated in v.20. The world's philosophy leads people to expect retaliation when they have wronged another. To receive kindness, to see love when it seems uncalled for, can melt the hardest heart.
[NIV BIBLE COMMENTARY Volume 2: New Testament].


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JESUS IS LORD.