We see James 4:6 coming to pass in this chapter, through the end of Belshazzar the king of the Chaldeans and Daniel being made the third ruler in the kingdom.
"But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: “God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.”"
James 4:6
Keep your heart with all diligence
V4 they did the wrong thing
V7 they brought in ‘the astrologers, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers’. They either did not know or did not care that they should not be turning to these men to find answers. As many secular beliefs become more prevalent through the media in this day and age, we must guard our heart against these beliefs as they may corrupt our faith. In our lives today, we also should not turn to such men to find answers in our lives.
"Keep your heart with all diligence, For out of it spring the issues of life."
Proverbs 4:23
V11 & 13 the fact that they still sought counsel from Daniel, someone guided by God, is interesting, because it seemed unexpected for them, given that they turned to ‘the astrologers, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers’.
Let us rely on God through prayer and reading the Bible to find God’s will for our lives. It can also be through people God has placed in our lives, to remind us and nudge us in a certain direction.
Humility
V17 Daniel did not accept the gifts. He still interpreted the writing, and was not in it for the benefits, but did so with genuineness and a humble heart, for the glory of God, and not for his own praise or glory.
V29 by relying on God to interpret the inscription, he was made third ruler in the kingdom.
V19 Nebuchadnezzar also took advantage of the power he was given and ‘Whomever he wished, he executed; whomever he wished, he kept alive; whomever he wished, he set up; and whomever he wished, he put down’.
V20-21 God resists the proud and Nebuchadnezzar faced a downfall ‘till he knew that the Most High God rules in the kingdom of men, and appoints over it whomever He chooses.’
"But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: “God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.”"
James 4:6
We must humble our hearts, especially since we know God and His Word.
V23 they praised the gods but did not glorify God
Is it the same with us today? That we know God is the One ‘who holds our breath in His hand and owns all [our] ways’ yet we have not glorified Him?
Do we give praise to other things (e.g. hard work) and people in the face of success?
They used what belongs to God to praise the gods of silver and gold. Do we also use what God has given us to praise other things and people?
We must remember to give glory to God because God has given and provided us with these. Even what may seem like ours (e.g. our hard work) only exists because God gives us the strength and the days to achieve these things. We merely live on borrowed time, and we are but dust.
"For He knows our frame; He remembers that we are dust. As for man, his days are like grass; As a flower of the field, so he flourishes. For the wind passes over it, and it is gone, And its place remembers it no more. But the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting On those who fear Him, And His righteousness to children’s children,"
Psalms 103:14-17
Every day we are given to live is a blessing.
We should also not misuse our roles to oppress others.
God’s Word will come to pass
V25 the meaning of the inscription came to pass
V27 ‘weighed in the balances, and found wanting’ could mean that Belshazzar’s life was wanted and would be taken away soon.
We see that his soul was required of him that night.
"But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those things be which you have provided?’ “So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.”"
Luke 12:20-21
God’s Word will come to pass. We see that V28 also came true in V31.
V28 the kingdom was given to Medes and Persians
V31 Darius the Mede received the kingdom.
It indeed came true. God’s Word coming to pass can be something we are fearful or hopeful about. It depends how prepared we are. Since God’s Word will come to pass, let us prepare ourselves so that we will remain hopeful for what is to come with faith and not fear.