5 Or do you suppose it is to no purpose that the Scripture says, "He yearns jealously over the spirit that he has made to dwell in us" ?
James 4:5
Maybe I am opening a can of worms by quoting a scripture...that is quoting a scripture...that is not found word-for-word any where else in the Bible. Is it from a book that was left out? (I personally am of the opinion that the Bible is not missing anything...except for being completed by His second coming ;) ). Was it a typo by James?! A fallable man who God allowed to co-create, co-author His Holy Words! Should my Biblical world view fall to bits now? No.......I don't think so.
I quickly, haphazardly "googled" answers for what scripture this scripture is referencing and I actually liked the answer I found on multiple sites (I am summarizing):
it could simply be an overall summary of James findings of scripture.
Example time: If I had to sum up the Bible in different sentences one sentence might be something like: Scripture says: "Here is the ultimate love story that you are invited to join!" That would be
one summary I could give to the Scriptures. You wouldn't find that word-for-word anywhere in Scripture but it is kind of understood that it is in line with Scriptures in the Bible, and is not contradicting Scripture.
In addition I have to admit that when I read over James 4:5 the first thought that came to my mind, "
Oh yeah, where is that passage he is quoting...?" That thought came as if I were so sure I had read that word-for-word somewhere.
Then the first scripture that came to my mind was Song of Solomon 8:6
Set me as a seal upon your heart, as a seal upon your arm, for love is strong as death, jealousy is fierce as the grave. Its flashes are flashes of fire, the very flame of the Lord.
My Glo Bible program has study notes about the scripture from Song of Solomon summarizing that the type of love that is being talked about here is..."(
this) love as the strongest, most unyielding and invincible force in human experience".
Another verse(s) I find very closely complimentary to what James is quoting is from the ten commandments:
for you shall worship no other god, for the Lord , whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God. ( Exodus 34:14 )
And of course there are verses stating essentially the same thing (that God is a jealous God) multiple times in the Old Testament when the Israelites are suppose to be building a Heavenly based Kingdom on earth in Love and servitude to the One True God - separate from the gods of this world. Also of course in the Prophets - the prophets are often calling the Israelites attention to the fact that they have given over to "whoring" over other gods and separating themselves from the One True God who is jealous for His people.
I think it is safe to say that James is accurate, we serve a God who
yearns jealously over us. Who yearns to see us walk out the amazing, good plans and purposes He created for and within us when He breathed it into us at the start of Creation.
In addition to all of this I can help but be reminded of two fairly well known songs within the "Christian music" genre
Jealous Kind - Jars of Clay -
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wISIgxdOT5E
He Loves Us - John Mark McMillan -
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bLvgqqZvLZk
A Mighty Fortress - Christy Nockels -
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YRQp1bUJkBE "Our God is jealous for his own"
In light of all of this. I wish I could walk in a manner glorifying to God on a daily basis, not provoking His jealousy by how much I give attention to other things in this world that weigh upon my decisions more then the weight I give to Him in my daily, weekly, monthly, yearly decisions. Recognizing that His Love and wisdom is far more valuable then any of these other "gods"/idols that would cry out for my attention. That I wouldn't take that Love for granted. That I wouldn't reject His love but relish in it, live in it, and celebrate it - Him. Realizing also that He has placed grande things within this "jar of clay", and letting that pour out/overflow.
