The God Pause Daily Devotional from The Luther Seminary in Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States for Monday, November 19, 2018 Daniel 7:9-10, 13-14

The God Pause Daily Devotional from The Luther Seminary in Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States for Monday, November 19, 2018 Daniel 7:9-10, 13-14
Daniel 7:9 “As I watched, thrones were set in place;
and the Ancient One took his seat.
His clothing was white as snow,
the hair on his head was like pure wool.
His throne was fiery flames,
with wheels of burning fire.
10 A stream of fire flowed from his presence;
thousands and thousands ministered to him,
millions and millions stood before him.
Then the court was convened, and the books were opened., 13 “I kept watching the night visions,
when I saw, coming with the clouds of heaven,
someone like a son of man.
He approached the Ancient One
and was led into his presence.
14 To him was given rulership,
glory and a kingdom,
so that all peoples, nations and languages
should serve him.
His rulership is an eternal rulership
that will not pass away;
and his kingdom is one
that will never be destroyed. (Complete Jewish Bible).
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.
Father, Son and Holy Spirit, wrap me into your warm dominion. Amen.

Ronald Jensen, '77

Retired, Austin, Minn.

Daniel 7:9 As 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.
10 A 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. ...
13 As 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.
14 To 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. (New Revised Standard Version).

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