Reading: James 3:13-4:12
There is a Jewish tradition that lines up the first 5 commandments with the second 5 commandments. It essentially says that trouble in keeping the 1st commandment leads to sin in the sixth. When you stray from GOD you stray from your husband/wife. That theme actually gets played out explicitly in the prophets and the life of Israel. Israel went whoring after other Gods, or read Hosea. The rest I’ve pasted in below.
Have no other Gods —> No Adultery
Misuse the name of God—> Don Not Steal
Keep the Sabbath—>No False Testimony
Honor Your Father & Mother—>Don’t Covet your neighbor’s household (i.e. livelihood)
Do not Kill—>Don’t Covet your neighbor’s possesions
Some hold up better than others like the 2nd one. I can see a real strong connection when you are verbally stealing the glory from God and stealing things. Our James reading in James 4:2 seems to have something like this in mind, except in reverse. James makes a connection between killing and coveting stuff. He also acknowledges the first connection (submission to God alone and adultery) in James 4:4.
But this law at work in our bodies has a counter force – The Spirit that lives within us. Through that Spirit, we are able to submit ourselves to God. Through that Spirit we are able to resist the devil and draw near to God. That law at work in us works death, but that Spirit brings us life. That Spirit is what lifts us up. The OT wisdom liturature would sneak up to this. Job would proclaim he knew his redeemer lived. The teacher in Ecclesiastes would conclude that the body would go to dust and the spirit return to God who gave it. Job and the teacher were speculating. James knows. Job & the teacher hoped in God. We hope in God, but with the proof of Jesus Christ risen and the downpayment of the Spirit of Life.
