Not only is it a life of conflict, but it is also a fundamentally, iii. i. The Remedy for Pride. why James 4:9 is telling us, how to draw near to God. We'll send you an email with steps on how to reset your password. James 4:9 Be miserable and mourn and weep; let your laughter be turned into mourning and your joy to gloom. First, it breaks the royal law that we should love one another. And to break God's commands, is to speak evil of them, and to judge them, as if they laid too great a restraint upon us. His word will judge men "at the last day" (John 12:48); God has commissioned Jesus Christ to "execute judgment" (John 5:37). [7] R. V. G. Tasker, The General Epistles of James (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Wm. As Barclay noted: (2) It drives men to wickedness, envy, hatred, even murder. Scripture: James 4:13–14, Proverbs 6:6–8, Proverbs 19:21, Proverbs 21:5. A spiritual believer does not rationalize sin but admits it and grieves over it. Obtain ... Roberts said that "obtain" means "to attain one's goal or purpose (cf. Copyright StatementJames Burton Coffman Commentaries reproduced by permission of Abilene Christian University Press, Abilene, Texas, USA. God spoke this way in the Old Testament when His people were attracted to some form of idolatry (Jeremiah 3:8-9, Ezekiel 6:9, Ezekiel 16:32, Ezekiel 23:37, and Hosea 3:1). i. We agree with Lenski who said, "We are not convinced that the question is a formula of quotation; if it were, we should certainly expect the addition of saying that. (11-17). The conduct James described was not that of mere thoughtlessness, but that of consciously leaving God out of consideration in the making of human plans. [5] William Barclay, The Letters of James and Peter, Revised (Philadelphia: The Westminster Press, 1976), p. 100. Go To Index of 2 Chronicles. Yet he makes the mind of God plain: as we know these things, we are accountable to do them. To him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin: James knows that it is far easier to think about and talk about humility and dependence on God than it is to live it. John Piper Apr 9, 2000 123 Shares Article. Do not speak evil of one another, brethren. Click to enable/disable Google reCaptcha. i. Beyond this, however, there is the exaltation that shall come to all the redeemed at the last day. The idea that our life was a vapor or shadow was a frequent figure of speech in the Old Testament (Psalm 102:11; Job 8:9; 1 Chronicles 29:15). Worldly-mindedness is enmity to God. Otherwise you will be prompted again when opening a new browser window or new a tab. So short, unreal, and fading is human life, and all the prosperity or enjoyment that attends it; though bliss or woe for ever must be according to our conduct during this fleeting moment. i. "[40] It is this perfect consonance of James with everything else in the New Testament that goes far to establish the interpretation of this chapter as given here, especially with reference to James 4:7-10. Lament and mourn and weep! 2 Co 7:10, “For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death.”. The unity of the triune godhead makes it futile to inquire whether God or the Holy Spirit is the subject here. James recognizes that we cannot both be friends of this world system in rebellion against God, and friends of God at the same time (Matthew 6:24). "Coffman Commentaries on the Old and New Testament". As Barclay said: Grace to the humble ... New Testament teaching on humility is all-pervasive. 229-232. Drawing near to God helps us to speak well of other people. James 4:9. (4-5) A rebuke of compromise and covetousness among Christians. For what is your life? : Jesus told a story with much the same point in Luke 12:41-48. Gibson summarized concerning this question, thus: In the scholarly opinion thus cited by Gibson, the admission is clear enough that the teachings of Jesus Christ are the law James here referred to; but it should be particularly noted that such opinion does not consider the whole of Christ's teaching as "the law." You may want to go to this study: http://versebyversecommentary.com/articles/problem-passages/running-exploration-of-1-john-1/, Your email address will not be published. For what is your life? The sermonic nature of this epistle is quite pronounced in this chapter, as in the third. Jesus used it in John 3:29; and also in Matthew 12:39. Resist the devil and he will flee from you ... Commentary Critical and Explanatory - Unabridged, Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible, Lange's Commentary on the Holy Scriptures. And the Lord shall exalt you ... What is this exaltation? ( NASB: Lockman) Greek: talaiporhesate ( 2PAAM ) kai penthesate ( 2PAAM) kai klausate; ( 2PAAM) o gelos humon eis penthos metatrapheto ( 3SAPM) kai e chara eis katepheian.