CityAlight – Ancient of Days

Australian Contemporary Christian band CityAlight is a church-based worship band like Hillsong, Elevation Worship, and Bethel.  Based at St Paul’s Castle Hill, all songs undergo a rigorous review process to ensure Biblical accuracy.  Reviewers include musicians, pastors, and lyricists.

CityAlight released two albums and one EP:

• Yours Alone (2014)
• Only a Holy God (2016)
• Yet Not I (EP; 2018)

Also, check out my reviews of Only a Holy God, Christ is Mine Forevermore and Yet not I but through Christ in Me.

Lyrics can be found at https://genius.com/Cityalight-ancient-of-days-lyrics.

Note to new users: This is a different kind of review site!  Read About the Berean Test and Evaluation Criteria prior to reading this review.  I strongly encourage you to consider the potential blessings and dangers of this artist‘s theology by visiting Resources.

1. What message does the song communicate?

This song proclaims God’s everlasting existence, power, and rulership.  He also subdues the darkness within CityAlight, prompting their faith in God.  They await God’s triumphant return.

Score: 10/10

2. How much of the lyrics line up with Scripture?

All of it lines up with Scripture.

[Verse 1]

Lines 1 and 2: Borrows from Psalm 2:1-9, which contrasts the rebellious nations that fall with God’s everlasting throne.  Also, see Psalm 46:6, Acts 4:25-26, and Revelation 17:14.

Lines 3 and 4: The term “Ancient of Days” appears in Daniel 7:9, Daniel 7:13, and Daniel 7:22, representing God’s eternality.  CityAlight will not fear because God still rules on His throne.  More on this in Chorus.

[Chorus]

Lines 1-3: God is eternal (Deuteronomy 33:27, 1 Chronicles 16:34, Job 36:26, Psalm 48:14, Psalm 90:2-4, Psalm 102:12, Psalm 102:26-27, Proverbs 8:23, Isaiah 40:28, Isaiah 41:4, Habakkuk 1:12, John 17:5, Romans 1:20, 1 Corinthians 2:7, Ephesians 1:4, Hebrews 1:11-12, 1 Peter 1:20, 2 Peter 3:8, Revelation 1:8, Revelation 11:17, and Revelation 22:13).  So is His reign (Exodus 15:18, Psalm 10:16, Psalm 29:10, Psalm 145:13, Psalm 146:10, Lamentations 5:19, Daniel 4:3, Daniel 6:26, Micah 4:7, 1 Timothy 6:16, 1 Peter 5:11, and Revelation 11:15).

Line 4: God is omnipotent (Genesis 1:1-31, Job 11:7-11, Psalm 33:6, Jeremiah 32:17, Romans 4:17, Hebrews 1:3, and Jude 1:24-25), with glory due to Him (Exodus 16:7, Exodus 24:17, Exodus 40:34-35, Leviticus 9:23, 1 Chronicles 29:11, Psalm 3:3, Psalm 8:1, Psalm 19:1-4, Isaiah 6:1-3, Isaiah 40:5, Isaiah 42:8, Isaiah 58:8, Isaiah 60:1, Habakkuk 2:14, John 1:14, John 17:22, Romans 3:23, 2 Corinthians 3:18, 2 Corinthians 4:6, Philippians 4:19, Hebrews 1:1-3, Revelation 21:10-14, and Revelation 21:23).

Lines 5 and 6: Because God is the ruling Ancient of Days (see Verse 1, line 4), CityAlight will trust in Him.

[Verse 2]

Lines 1 and 2: CityAlight contrasts their struggles with God’s Presence that defeats the darkness within (Psalm 107:10-16, Luke 1:79, John 1:1-13, John 12:46, Ephesians 5:8, Colossians 1:13, and 1 Peter 2:9).

Line 3: God is faithful (Numbers 23:19, Deuteronomy 7:9, Psalm 33:4, Psalm 91:4, Psalms 119:90, Lamentations 3:22-23, 1 Corinthians 1:9, 1 Corinthians 10:13, 2 Thessalonians 3:3, 2 Timothy 2:13, Hebrews 10:23, 2 Peter 3:9, and 1 John 1:9) and omniscient (1 Kings 8:39, 1 Chronicles 28:9, Psalm 44:21, Psalm 139:4, Psalm 147:4-5, Isaiah 40:28, Matthew 10:30, John 16:30, John 21:17, Acts 1:24, Hebrews 4:13, and 1 John 3:20).

Line 4: Repeats Verse 1, line 4.

[Bridge]

Lines 1 and 2: Though CityAlight does not know their future (James 4:14), they will wait upon the Lord (Psalm 27:14 and Isaiah 40:31).

Lines 3 and 4: CityAlight concludes that their happiness will be complete when they spend their eternal life with God (Mark 10:29-30, John 3:15-16, John 3:36, John 4:14, John 5:24, John 5:39-40, John 6:27, John 6:40, John 10:28, John 17:3, John 20:31, Romans 5:21, Romans 6:22-23, Romans 8:18, 2 Corinthians 4:16-18, Galatians 6:8, 1 Timothy 1:16, 1 Timothy 6:12, 2 Timothy 2:11, Hebrews 5:9, 1 Peter 5:10, 1 John 2:23-27, 1 John 5:10-13, 1 John 5:20, Jude 1:20-21, Revelation 3:5, Revelation 7:16-17, and Revelation 21:3-4).

Score: 10/10

3. How would an outsider interpret the song?

CityAlight uses everyday language to communicate God’s attributes in contrast to the nations.  It serves as a subtle pleading to unbelievers, that they should cease rebelling and yield to God.  This song is easy for them to interpret with little to no misunderstanding.

Score: 10/10

4. What does this song glorify?

It glorifies God as our eternal Lord and King.

Score: 10/10

Closing Comments

CityAlight’s Ancient of Days is great.  It exemplifies God’s qualities such as His everlasting existence, rulership, and lovingkindness that helps us overcome personal darkness, bringing Him glory.  Unbelievers should find interpretation easy.

I highly recommend it for corporate worship.

Final Score: 10/10

Artist Info

Track: Ancient of Days (listen to the song)

Artist: CityAlight

EP: Yet Not I – EP

Genre: Contemporary Christian Music (CCM), Rock

Release Year: 2018

Duration: 4:46

Agree?  Disagree?  Don’t be shy or have a cow!  Calmly and politely state your case in a comment, below.

Updates:

06/18/2022 –  Changed Introduction from “Castle Church” to “Castle Hill”.  Thanks to Astrid Barends for finding it!

06/11/2021 – Per Artist Theology announcement, I expanded the red text to encourage others to study CityAlight’s theology.

05/27/2021 – Added CCM as the primary genre, with Rock as the sub-genre.