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"My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers testings (peirasmos); knowing
that the trying (dokomion) of your faith worketh endurance . . . . . Blessed is the man that
endureth temptation (peirasmos)" (1: 2, 3, 12).
"Be patient therefore brethren, unto the coming of the Lord . . . . . we count them
happy which endured. Ye have heard of the endurance of Job, and have seen the end of
the Lord . . . . ." (5: 7, 11).
The endurance of Job is brought to bear as an example, but how in the O.T is Job
commended?
"Job said . . . . . the Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of
the Lord. In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly (with injustice) . . . . .
Then said his wife unto him, Dost thou still retain thine integrity? Curse God, and die.
But he said unto her, Thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh. What? shall
we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil (trouble)? In all this
did not Job sin with his lips" (Job 1: 21, 22; 2: 9, 10).
Job, unlike the Moses generation, did not murmur during his trial, and thus is set forth
as an example of endurance to be emulated.
The Lord Himself was called to go through an "hour of temptation" in Gethsemane:
"My soul is exceeding sorrowful unto death . . . . . and he prayed that; if it were
possible, the hour might pass from Him" (Mark 14: 34, 35).
"Could ye not watch with me one hour? Watch and pray, that ye enter not into
temptation (peirasmos)" (Matt. 26: 40, 41).
Both the period immediately before the Great Tribulation (`the beginning of sorrows'
Matt. 24: 8) and the Great Tribulation itself, will be times of testing for some of God's
people. Especially will it concern those in Judea (Matt. 24: 16). During these periods
many will break down, betraying one another and hating one another. The love of many
will wax cold by reason of abounding lawlessness. Endurance is the order of the day
(Matt. 24: 9-13). During this great trial, the faithful will need to pray to be delivered
from `the evil' of that day, and especially that, unlike a generation of their forefathers
who failed under trial, they will not enter into any murmuring spirit, tempting the Lord.
The implication in, "Father . . . . . lead us not into temptation" must not be pressed
outside the limits of the context. The Lord of the O.T. led the children of Israel into trial
to test their worth (Deut. 8: 2). That they then `tempted' Him was entirely on their part.
Strength to overcome under such trial is given by the Lord, but He desires that such
should be sought from Him. This then demonstrates the importance of the place of
prayer in any believer's life, but especially under trial. So with the Lord's Prayer. The
supplicators must pray, "that they enter not into temptation" (Matt. 26: 41), and that
they be "delivered from the evil". Instead of murmuring at their lot, they must pray. The
Moses generation failed; they might do also--"Our Father . . . . . lead us not into
temptation, but deliver us from the evil".
This petition, seen in its context, has nothing to do with the members of the Body of
Christ as such, but there is a possible parallel to "the hour of temptation" mentioned in
Eph. 6: 13--"the evil day"--for which the whole armour of God is provided. What this