SHOW / EPISODE

A Protest Song

42m | Oct 11, 2026

11/10/2026 - Matthew Destry

James 5:1-12

a prophetic lament – to encourage the church

Come now, you rich, weep and howl for the miseries that are coming upon you.

the destiny of the rich and unrighteous

Your riches have rotted and your garments are moth-eaten. Your gold and silver have corroded, and their corrosion will be evidence against you and will eat your flesh like fire. You have laid up treasure in the last days. Behold, the wages of the laborers who mowed your fields, which you kept back by fraud, are crying out against you, and the cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord of hosts. You have lived on the earth in luxury and in self-indulgence. You have fattened your hearts in a day of slaughter. You have condemned and murdered the righteous person. He does not resist you.

Therefore…

1/ be patient

Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient about it, until it receives the early and the late rains. You also, be patient.

Application: What faithful thing can you continue doing while you wait… praying, serving, speaking truth, seeking justice, forgiving, or refusing retaliation?

2/ establish your heart

Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.

Application: Establishing the heart happens through repeated practices… Scripture, prayer, worship, communion, and life with God’s people. We keep rehearsing what is true until it becomes the ground beneath our feet.

3/ don’t grumble

Do not grumble against one another, brothers, so that you may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing at the door. As an example of suffering and patience, brothers, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord.

Application: Before speaking against another believer, ask: Is this person truly the source of the problem, or are they simply close enough to receive my frustration?

4/ remain steadfast

Behold, we consider those blessed who remained steadfast. You have heard of the steadfastness of Job, and you have seen the purpose of the Lord, how the Lord is compassionate and merciful.

That makes steadfastness different from emotional numbness. Steadfast people may lament loudly. Their faithfulness consists in continuing to turn toward God.

5/ tell the truth

But above all, my brothers, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or by any other oath, but let your “yes” be yes and your “no” be no, so that you may not fall under condemnation.

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