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
What is more important, knowing that God exists or knowing what God looks like? We are a visual people and a physical description seemed to be important to the writer of Daniel as well. This description is one that we often use to try to physically describe God. Our descriptions can take many forms, a white-haired grandfather or grandmother, a younger person, or even a rainbow. We see our God as Trinitarian, meaning God the Creator, Jesus, or the Holy Spirit. We don’t know what any of these persons look like. What is important is that we belong to our God in three forms who loves and cares for us. Think of those ancestors who have gone before you. Which memory is more important, having a picture of them or knowing the stories of how they lived and demonstrated their faith?
Prayer
Dear Lord, we give thanks that you use many ways to remind us to keep you in our hearts and minds and to focus on your love and care for us. Amen.
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