Ancient Of Days
Ancient of Days
Ancient of Days, who sittest throned in glory,
To Thee all knees are bent, all voices pray;
Thy love has blessed the wide world’s wondrous story
With light and life since Eden’s dawning day.
O holy Father, who hast led Thy children
In all the ages with fire and cloud,
Through seas dryshod, through weary wastes bewildering,
To Thee in reverent love our hearts are bowed.
O holy Jesus, Prince of Peace and Savior,
To Thee we owe the peace that still prevails,
Stilling the rude wills of men’s wild behavior,
And calming passion’s fierce and stormy gales.
O Holy Ghost, the Lord and the Life-giver,
Thine is the quickening power that gives increase:
From Thee have flowed, as from a mighty river,
Our faith and hope, our fellowship and peace.
O Triune God, with heart and voice adoring,
Praise we the goodness that doth crown our days;
Pray we that Thou wilt hear us, still imploring
Thy love and favor, kept to us always.
IN 1886, the city of Albany, New York, was celebrating its bicentennial. Episcopal bishop William Croswell Doane wrote this hymn for the occasion, and J. Albert Jeffery, who was in charge of music at St. Agnes School and the recently completed All Saints Cathedral, wrote the music. That new cathedral was the setting for the hymn’s introduction, and Bishop Doane himself conducted the singing. It was a memorable day in Albany, as it celebrated its own “ancient days.”
But the hymn draws our attention further back, to the majesty of the triune God who existed before all time began. In stanza 1, we see the Ancient of Days, in stanza 2 the Father who leads us through the wilderness, in stanza 3 the Son who calms the storms, in stanza 4 the Holy Spirit who gives life and hope, and in stanza 5 the triune God who answers our prayers and sustains us day by day.
I watched as thrones were put in place and the Ancient One sat down to judge. His clothing was as white as snow, his hair like purest wool. He sat on a fiery throne with wheels of blazing fire, and a river of fire was pouring out, flowing from his presence.
Daniel 7:9-10
From the book
