God’S Yearning
GOD’S YEARNING
JAMES 4:5-10
How many promises can you take to heart in these verses? And what are the conditions for the fulfillment of these promises?
In rejecting the way of the world, James does not want it thought that he is advocating in God’s name a course which would mean anything less than the best for God’s people. God calls on people to reject the way of self-aggrandizement, but not because he wants to cramp them into a narrow and unsatisfying existence. Rather, the reverse is the case. In bold language James pictures God as yearning jealously over us, as longing for us so that he may bring us into that perfect fellowship with him, which is our best good. The exact source of the quotation in 4:5 is not clear. It seems to be a free and somewhat poetic rendering of the thought of Exodus 20:5. And its exact meaning is not plain either. The “spirit” may refer to the human spirit over which God yearns. But it might also refer to the Holy Spirit with the meaning, “the Spirit which dwells within us yearns jealously over us.” Either way, the thought is that God longs for us to find our rest in him.
In such a spirit he gives us grace (4:6), a thought which fits in with Proverbs 3:34, for the proud do not look for God’s grace, whereas the humble gratefully accept it. James launches into a series of appeals, the burden of which is “Follow the right way, and you will certainly receive the blessing of God.” James is making with some emphasis the point that God is always ready to give his blessing, but that it is quite possible for people to adopt a self-seeking way of life that cuts them off from God’s help. So we should resist the devil, not yield to him (4:7). We should submit to God (4:7), and draw near to him (4:8), when we will find that he will draw near to us. But our attitude must be wholehearted. This means a thoroughgoing purification (4:8) and a genuine sorrow for sin (4:9). But those who really humble themselves before God will surely find that God will not abandon them. God will exalt them (4:10).