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
The readings for this week invite us to reflect on themes of Power and Truth.
Oh, don't we know about Power. In the USA we've just spent billions of dollars to obtain or keep Power. This month we have lived through elections and all kinds of bending of Truth. Some are happy, some are not; some have sold their souls. Now the ever-present ads have shifted from politics to economics as "Black Friday" looms. Both Power and Wealth beckon, entice, unsettle us—like powerful, present, in-our-face gods.
Daniel speaks to a people without power or wealth. He pulls back the curtain on those things which are only limited, dying facades and invites us to bow and breathe beyond them. For Christians it becomes a wild glimpse of the Trinity, with a smoky taste. There is more, and we are rooted in the more. You are rooted in the more. This One is the Truth.
Prayer
Father, Son and Holy Spirit, wrap me into your warm dominion. Amen.