Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who has sent his angel and delivered his servants who trusted in him.
And to think we worship the same Scripture. Ha! This morning’s section from the book of Daniel includes the story of Daniel’s three friends, who Nebuchadnezzar renamed Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. They refused to worship the gods of Nebuchadnezzar and bow down before the golden idol he’d constructed. As a result, they were thrown into the fiery furnace. It was so hot that it burned up the men charged with putting them in the furnace.
Instead of burning them up, however, when one of the guards looked in, he saw the three men and a fourth, standing in the flames, but not being consumed. God was with them. Nebuchadnezzar was awestruck and proclaimed that everyone now needed to worship their god. Oh, and if they didn’t they’d be torn limb from limb.
In my tradition, we pray canticles that are contained in our common prayer book. These are all songs or poetry from various places in scripture – the song of Mariam as she dances through the walls of water with her brother Moses, several songs from Isaiah, the song of Mary when Gabriel visits her. There’s also a canticle from the three young men, but whereas the Song of Mary is attributed to the first chapter of Luke, the Song of the Three Young Men does not reference a book from Scripture. It turns out, it’s a song sung by these three young men who were thrown in the fiery furnace. Hmm.
This song of praise, while long, is one of my favorites from Morning Prayer, and oddly the translation my tradition uses (NRSV) does not include this part from Daniel. These verses were not included in the original Hebrew translation, but are included in the earliest Greek translation. Roman Catholics include these writings in the Old Testament, because they were likely contained in the translation Jesus used. Martin Luther said they should be omitted. My tradition takes a middle way, and includes the writings, but includes them in creative ways. Some bits they include in a third section of scripture, wedged between the Old and New Testament, and other parts they include in things in our common prayer book, like this canticle. But any quick review of looking for Daniel 3:30-90 will come up with a variety of translations, and entire omissions. So much for the one good book.
But since it’s one of my favorite canticles, I am grateful to have read the full story that precedes this powerful prayer, which references all creation worshipping God. On one hand, it’s easy to imagine that the three young men would worship God after having been saved from the furnace. On the other, I can imagine many would be testy, that they were allowed to be thrown in there in the first place. While I am unlikely to be thrown in a fiery furnace, I do face trials. At the end of the day, when I’m able to put my head on the pillow having conquered whatever I had that day, I want to be able to be even a portion as grateful as these men. I want to see and help the natural and man made world be as grateful. (Note, the canticle can read as repetitive, but imagine it sung to the most beautiful melody, with call and response and refrains).
The Song of the Three Young Men
Glorify the Lord, all you works of the Lord,
praise him and highly exalt him for ever.
In the firmament of his power, glorify the Lord,
praise him and highly exalt him for ever.
Glorify the Lord, you angels and all powers of the Lord,
O heavens and all waters above the heavens.
Sun and moon and stars of the sky, glorify the Lord,
praise him and highly exalt him for ever.
Glorify the Lord, every shower of rain and fall of dew,
all winds and fire and heat.
Winter and Summer, glorify the Lord,
praise him and highly exalt him for ever.
Glorify the Lord, O chill and cold,
drops of dew and flakes of snow.
Frost and cold, ice and sleet, glorify the Lord,
praise him and highly exalt him for ever.
Glorify the Lord, O nights and days,
O shining light and enfolding dark.
Storm clouds and thunderbolts, glorify the Lord,
praise him and highly exalt him for ever.
Let the earth glorify the Lord,
praise him and highly exalt him for ever.
Glorify the Lord, O mountains and hills,
and all that grows upon the earth,
praise him and highly exalt him for ever.
Glorify the Lord, O springs of water, seas, and streams,
O whales and all that move in the waters.
All birds of the air, glorify the Lord,
praise him and highly exalt him for ever.
Glorify the Lord, O beasts of the wild,
and all you flocks and herds.
O men and women everywhere, glorify the Lord,
praise him and highly exalt him for ever.
Let the people of God glorify the Lord,
praise him and highly exalt him for ever.
Glorify the Lord, O priests and servants of the Lord,
praise him and highly exalt him for ever.
Glorify the Lord, O spirits and souls of the righteous,
praise him and highly exalt him for ever.
You that are holy and humble of heart, glorify the Lord,
praise him and highly exalt him for ever.
Let us glorify the Lord: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit;
praise him and highly exalt him for ever.
In the firmament of his power, glorify the Lord,
praise him and highly exalt him for ever.
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