Daniel 7:9-10, 13-14 (NRSV)
Read Daniel 7:9-10, 13-14 on biblegateway.com
Verse 9As I watched, thrones were set in place, and an Ancient One took his throne, his clothing was white as snow, and the hair of his head like pure wool; his throne was fiery flames, and its wheels were burning fire. Verse 10A stream of fire issued and flowed out from his presence. A thousand thousands served him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood attending him. The court sat in judgment, and the books were opened. Verse 13As I watched in the night visions, I saw one like a human being coming with the clouds of heaven. And he came to the Ancient One and was presented before him. Verse 14To him was given dominion and glory and kingship, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that shall not pass away, and his kingship is one that shall never be destroyed.
Devotion
We Americans hardly know what it is like to stand in awe before a throne. We elect a president, whom we salary as a civil servant. We respect him more or less, depending on how he does, but we hardly stand in awe of him.
During our missionary years in Africa, I had Cameroonian neighbors who literally trembled before our regional chief, Baaba Rey. Surrounded by a 20-foot-high wall, he was a truly awesome presence, seated on his massive throne and swathed in white linen, his eyes shining from a parting in his face cloths.
Surely my Cameroonian friends have the experiential advantage over us with today's text from Daniel. Our culture mouths the word "God" so flippantly. But here, multitudes worship a white-robed "Ancient One" who rules from amidst the fire and the wheels. And this Ancient One receives "one like a human being," one like Jesus, one like ourselves, and we are left speechless.
Prayer
Lord, grant us grace to stand before your throne in reverence for your glory and in thankfulness for your welcome. Amen.