Ancient of Days, Indeed

[Scrawly]

We as Christian's worship a glorified Jew. We believe God is Triune -- localized in heaven -- yet omnipresent, even within us. When we try to visualize this God -- right now -- what do we envision? Perhaps a large "Spirit-being" "sitting" on a "throne" in another dimension, with a physical-ish Jesus seated next to him, meanwhile the Holy Spirit is...hovering around...in the midst of innumerable angels, elders, and saints "glorifying" this invisible God continually. This is literally happening right now.

This biblical and ancient view of God fits snugly in ancient Jewish minds, perhaps against the backdrop of a three-tiered cosmos or the like. But in our more honest and reflective moments, perhaps we start to experience cognitive dissonance when we internalize the nature of our universe and our place in it. Our modern minds struggle with our reality, our existence, our knowledge, and the one we hold dear and regard as revelatory. Suddenly the God of the bible seems out of place. Here we are with our smartphones in hand, spinning on this pale blue dot in an absurdly vast cosmos, one earth-like planet among billions in one galaxy...among billions...and God is waiting in heaven for the pre-determined time when his glorified sandals will touch down once again in Jerusalem (Acts. 1:11).

OT scholar Peter Enns shares similar thoughts and struggles in his recent blog post. Check it out and share your thoughts.

[mikewhitney]

I don't see any difference in the way God is comprehended in the Psalms from how I think of God. I say this mainly about the way we comprehend God in his existence in the heavens, since of course, Jesus, having come as God incarnate, adds a new facet to our understanding, a new complexity. But even with Jesus having died and been raised, we still know (and probably in a better way) how God can be beyond creation but a participant within creation at the same time.

Even the apparent (seemingly) harsh treatments of nations in the Old Testament (and some aspects of wrath, flowing into the New Testament), seem defensible from God's position -- and then knowable by us, to some extent. I see God first as giving us our breath, our existence, without which -- what is there even to speculate about in the case where we didn't exist? It is a gift that we even exist. If this gift required God to take severe actions, we still have come to enjoy the gift of life that we have -- even if life isn't always as grand as we might hope. What is there even to speculate about in the case where we didn't exit?

[Scrawly]

I don't see any difference in the way God is comprehended in the Psalms from how I think of God. I say this mainly about the way we comprehend God in his existence in the heavens, since of course, Jesus, having come as God incarnate, adds a new facet to our understanding, a new complexity. But even with Jesus having died and been raised, we still know (and probably in a better way) how God can be beyond creation but a participant within creation at the same time.

Even the apparent (seemingly) harsh treatments of nations in the Old Testament (and some aspects of wrath, flowing into the New Testament), seem defensible from God's position -- and then knowable by us, to some extent. I see God first as giving us our breath, our existence, without which -- what is there even to speculate about in the case where we didn't exist? It is a gift that we even exist. If this gift required God to take severe actions, we still have come to enjoy the gift of life that we have -- even if life isn't always as grand as we might hope. What is there even to speculate about in the case where we didn't exit?

Thank you for sharing your thoughts, Mike. There is much to resonate with.

[mikewhitney]

It seems that your link addressed the problems people face when trying to understand God through scriptures. This could be useful to many people, as an introduction to the explanation or justification of how God has acted to fix things in the world. I think his description is leading to the explanation behind God's actions, as we can possibly discern them.

[Scrawly]

It seems that your link addressed the problems people face when trying to understand God through scriptures. This could be useful to many people, as an introduction to the explanation or justification of how God has acted to fix things in the world. I think his description is leading to the explanation behind God's actions, as we can possibly discern them.

Pete seems to be lamenting the muddled thinking we believers often go through in order to hold on to our beliefs. I think it's healthy to acknowledge this and perhaps even see it as a characteristic of faith itself.

[Rushing Jaws]

We as Christian's worship a glorified Jew. We believe God is Triune -- localized in heaven -- yet omnipresent, even within us. When we try to visualize this God -- right now -- what do we envision? Perhaps a large "Spirit-being" "sitting" on a "throne" in another dimension, with a physical-ish Jesus seated next to him, meanwhile the Holy Spirit is...hovering around...in the midst of innumerable angels, elders, and saints "glorifying" this invisible God continually. This is literally happening right now.

This biblical and ancient view of God fits snugly in ancient Jewish minds, perhaps against the backdrop of a three-tiered cosmos or the like. But in our more honest and reflective moments, perhaps we start to experience cognitive dissonance when we internalize the nature of our universe and our place in it. Our modern minds struggle with our reality, our existence, our knowledge, and the one we hold dear and regard as revelatory. Suddenly the God of the bible seems out of place. Here we are with our smartphones in hand, spinning on this pale blue dot in an absurdly vast cosmos, one earth-like planet among billions in one galaxy...among billions...and God is waiting in heaven for the pre-determined time when his glorified sandals will touch down once again in Jerusalem (Acts. 1:11).

OT scholar Peter Enns shares similar thoughts and struggles in his recent blog post. Check it out and share your thoughts.

in no wayhttps://biblehub.com/nasb/isaiah/40.htmWhoislike unto Thee, O LORD, among the gods? who is like Thee6And before the throne was something like a sea of glass, as clear as crystal. In the center, around the throne, were four living creatures, covered with eyes in front and back. 7The first living creature was like a lion, the second like a calf, the third had a face like a man, and the fourth was like an eagle in flight. 8And each of the four living creatures had six wings and was covered with eyes all around and within. Day and night they never stop saying:
is the Lord God Almighty, 9And whenever the living creatures give glory, honor, and thanks to the One seated on the throne who lives forever and ever, 10the twenty-four elders fall down before the One seated on the throne, and they worship Him who lives forever and ever. They cast their crowns before the throne, saying:

11to receive glory and honor and power, for You created all things; https://biblehub.com/bsb/revelation/4.htmhttps://biblehub.com/psalms/65-7.htm The use of Ark of the Covenant imagery for Christ show Who, and What He is, and does.

[Cow Poke]

I thought this was a thread about mossy, and wondered why it was in this forum.


Oh, and bacon.

[rogue06]

I thought this was a thread about mossy, and wondered why it was in this forum.


Oh, and bacon.

mossy is the ancient of AFTERNOONS. There is but one Ancient of Days.

[Obsidian]

Jesus is material. And he is localized.
The Father is localized, but is not material.
The Holy Spirit is neither localized nor material.

[seer]

mossy is the ancient of AFTERNOONS. There is but one Ancient of Days.

Mossy is just ancient...

[rogue06]

Mossy is just ancient...

very, Very, VERY ancient.

[seer]

very, Very, VERY ancient.

You do know that we are dead?

[rogue06]

You do know that we are dead?

smiley shhh.gif

[One Bad Pig]

[ATTACH=CONFIG]38033[/ATTACH]

One of these days, that'll be immaterial; if nothing else, the ejecta will get you.

[rogue06]

One of these days, that'll be immaterial; if nothing else, the ejecta will get you.

I have specially hardened shelters for just such an occasion smiley hide.gif



well that and they just happen to be bacon vaults.