James 4:6-10

⁶ But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”

⁷ Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.

⁸ Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.

⁹ Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom.

¹⁰ Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.

devil (v.7) = accuser, slanderer

Many well-meaning believers quote the latter part of verse 7, but neglect the first part of the passage. These kingdom believers were no match for this archenemy of God. In fact, Satan would make mincemeat out of them, as the Lord revealed to Peter (Luke 22:31). As an angel of light his eloquence and knowledge would dazzle the brightest among us. As a roaring lion he strikes fear into the heart. As the tempter he can deceive the most perceptive. He is a formidable foe in any age.

But he is no match for the Lord; therefore, the believer who submits himself to God and resists the devil leaves him standing face to face with the One who is all-powerful. — Sadler, page 109.

__________

Cleanse and purify (v.8) differ in what they affect. The former; along with hands and sinners speaks of actions which may be observed. The latter, addressed to the internal insecurities of the “double-minded,” is aimed against improper motives and wicked thoughts. — KJV Commentary, page 1722.

__________

We must never lose sight of the fact, as we study the Epistle of James, that Israel had a covenant relationship with God. This was a conditional agreement, commonly known as the Law of Moses. Thus, God said to Israel, “If ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep My covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure … And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and a holy nation” (Exodus 19:5-6). Under this agreement, Israel’s redemption and blessings were prefaced upon her obedience to this performance-based system. …

James echoes this promise to his hearers who were living a worldly life, but wondered why God seemed to have forsaken them. “Draw nigh to God, and He will draw nigh to you.” Notice the action of God was contingent upon the action of His people. If they returned to God in repentance, He would return to them. This is the nature of the law, which is summed up in this thought: This do and ye shall live (Deuteronomy 8:1 cf. 27:26). Under grace, we are “accepted in the beloved” (Ephesians 1:6). Whatever state a believer may find himself today, he has full access to God on the basis of the finished work of Christ. — Sadler, pages 111-112.

__________

James’ readers were torn between worldly success and devotion to God. The Lord made it very clear during His earthly ministry that a man cannot serve two masters — if he loves one of them, he will hate the other. The hour of decision had come for the double-minded man, as far as James was concerned. — Sadler, page 113.

__________

In regard to the apostle’s charge to be afflicted: By this he means “to be touched by a sense of misery.” He adds to this sense of misery, mourning (bewailing, lamentation) and weeping (shedding tears”. Why does James demand such a spirit of remorse and sadness from his hearers? We must remember that the Jew was ever a covenant people/nation. Israel was bound to her God by promises and agreements that governed her nation existence. Israel’s national religious feasts were annual reminders of her days of past bondage and redemption. Her final redemption and golden era to come through her Messiah awaited a future dispensation. Nationally, the Jew mourned and wept and was afflicted realizing it was her national unbelief that delayed her coming days of joy, deliverance, and fulfillment. If they would merely humble themselves before God and repent of their sins, He would lift them up, according to James, and use them mightily as He had promised long ago. This will be music to the ears of those who will live during the future Tribulation. — Sadler, page 114.