Matthew Poole and continuators on James 4:7

7 Submit your selves therefore to God: Resist the devil , and he will flie from you .

Viz. Voluntarily and freely, and that not only in a way of Obedience to all his Commands, but (which is chiefly meant here) in a way of Humility, and sense of your VVeakness, and Emptiness, and need of his Grace.

Both because of the Danger of Pride (opposed, in the former Verse, to Humility) be resists the Proud; and because of the Benefit that comes by Humility, he gives Grace to the humble.

By Faith, and the rest of the spiritual Armour, Ephes. 6.13, 14. &c. Or, resists, i. e. comply not with his Motions and Temptations.

The Head and Leader of fleshly Lusts. These likewise are military Terms. Having spoken before of Strife and Contention, he directs here with whom we may, and with whom we may not contend. He had commended Modesty toward Men; they are our Equals, we must not lift our selves above them, nor envy nor strive with them; here he adviseth to Submission to God as our Supreme Governour, we must not contend with him; and to open VVar with the Devil as our great Enemy, our Contention must be with him.

As to that particular Assualt in which you resist him; and tho he return again, and tempt you again, yet you still resisting, he will still be overcome; ye are never conquered so long as you do not consent.

Marginal references: Eph. 4.27. 1 Pet. 5.9.