Henry Krabbendam - James - World Evangelical Alliance

The language indicates that a full day’s work was clearly behind them
(Johnson, 301). The hard-earned money, however, was not forthcoming,
something that Scripture decries and forbids (Lev. 19:13; Deut. 24:14-15).
Tampering with the wages of the downtrodden and the destitute, such as
changing them midstream or withholding them with the deliberate intent to
defraud (Laws, 201; Johnson, 302), must have been relatively easy. After all,
such laborers had virtually no means to defend what was rightfully theirs, or
to make sure that they would receive what was coming to them. But it is a
great sin in the eyes of the Lord (Gen. 30:41; Ex. 2:24; 3:9; 23: 23, 27; Job
31:38-40; Is. 58: 3; Jer. 22:13; Am. 8:4; Mal. 3:5; Mt. 20:1ff; Lk. 10:7).
“Woe to him who builds his house by unrighteousness, ... who uses his
neighbor’s services without pay, and does not give him his wages” (Jer.
22:13). The traveling traders may have gathered money without reference to
God. The resident landowners gathered money without regard for God or the
neighbor.
James says that the sin of withholding wages is so heinous, that the very
wages, which are held back, “cry out to God and witness against the rich.” In
fact, they scream from the top of their lungs! Clearly, such fraud is a sin
against God himself (See also Gen. 4:10)! Furthermore, he states that the
cries of those who are deprived, have already reached the ears, and therefore
have already the full attention (Martin, 179) of the Lord of Sabaoth (OT: 1
Sam. 17:45; Is. 5:7, 9, 16, 24; NT: Rom. 9:29).
The retention of the Hebrew phraseology may have been occasioned by
the fact that James’ intended readers were nearly exclusively Christians of
Jewish descent. But it is also possible that James had a deeper aim in mind.
This most majestic and impressive imagery in the OT pertaining to his omnipotent
God must have stirred his heart. He may well have hoped that it
would stir the hearts of his rich readers as well. At any rate, it would certainly
be an ominous sign for rich evildoers that the awesome might of God, in fact,
the “armies” of God, are brought into play (Is. 1:9; 5:9). These armies consist
of angels (1 Ki. 22:9; 2 Ki. 19:35!), as well as the forces of animate (2 Ki.
17:25) and inanimate (Jud. 5:20) nature! To remind the readers of the possible,
if not certain, deployment of these “armies” on behalf of the needy and
the oppressed certainly underscores God’s compassion for them (See also Ps.
17:1-6; 18:6; 31:2; 146:5-10; 147:3-4).
The “double” cry is telling (Manton, 409). Both the wages that are withheld
and the wage earners that have been defrauded are in a shouting match.
They are shouting out to Almighty God, and he has taken due note (Jer.
34:11). Apparently God’s tsunamis would ever be waiting in the wings and
ready to strike, if and when the Master and Commander of Heaven and Earth
767