THE ANCIENT OF DAYS

One of my favorite names for God is "Ancient of Days". It's a very timeworn name, which first appears in the Book of Daniel, Chapter 7.

The date is 553 BC. Daniel has a dream and a vision given by God about the Gentile nations of the world and God's dealing with them. It is a dream of prophesy.

Part of Daniel's dream gives him a look into heaven... and what a sight he sees!

Let's set the heavely scene and discover this beautiful name for God... Ancient Of Days...

In heaven thrones are set up and the court sat! 

Daniel is describing a court room scene... in a time of future judgement. It is the judgement of the Gentile nations of the world! These nations have turned their back on God, were cruel and had little care for human life, treated Israel with contempt, and conquered in the most despotic ways!

Daniel says...

I kept looking until the thrones were set up.

And the ANCIENT OF DAYS took his seat;

His vesture was like white snow,

And the hair of His head like pure wool.

His throne were ablaze with flames, It's wheels were burning fire.

A river of fire was flowing,

And coming out from before Him;

Thousands upon thousands were attending Him,

And myriads upon myriads were standing before Him;

The court sat, 

And the books were opened.

In Daniel's dream and vision he saw a court scene. God, the Great Judge on His throne... with innumerable heavenly beings who were ready, upon command, to carry out God's just sentence!

God's vesture, clothing, and His hair were described in such a way that one can only imagine He shone so brightly that it was blinding! A beautiful way to portray God's holiness and righteousness and purity!

Daniel described a scene that there are no human words for... so he used the everyday things he knew to create a picture of what is too magnificent to describe.

God's throne was ablaze with fire... fire describes the glory of God. Amazing!  His glory overwhelms the scene! 

The river of fire flowing out from God's throne is the presence of God! In this case, it is His presence to administer judgement.

The court sat, and the books were opened. 

Scripture tells us that God keeps a record of all human deeds (Rev 20)... so these books deal with the deeds of the nations!

Now that the scene has been set, let's talk about the name the

ANCIENT OF DAYS

It carries the meaning that God has lived through the entire course of human history... He and He alone is the Ancient Of Days... and know all the deeds of all human beings and of all kingdoms of the earth!

It says... that God is a firsthand eyewitness to all events and does not need to rely on a secondhand witness to tell him the deeds of anyone or anything at any time in all of history.

He is then a Judge that can administer a true and just judgement because he has lived through it all and has seen all... firsthand!

This thought makes me want to weep! Not weep about the judgements for they are just... but for wonder of the God I call my Father!

He, The Ancient Of Days, is too big for me to wrap my mind around... and that is okay. One of God's natural attributes is that He is incomprehensible. He is beyond understanding because His ways, character and acts are so much higher than man's. 

But by learning a little about the title ANCIENT OF DAYS, I hope God reveals a little more about Himself to you and me and that we are blessed greatly by it!

I hope you will listen to one of my favorite songs glorifying God...

I chose this rendition because it is a joyful and exuberant praise! This congregation is praising God with everything they have... their voices, their hands, their bodies and their musical instruments!


ANCIENT OF DAYS