Morning Prayer: The Canticle of Daniel
The Canticle of Daniel (Daniel 3:57–88) is a cosmic litany of praise sung by the three young Israelites in the furnace. Its long list of “Bless the Lord…” is not God needing blessing from creation, but creation acknowledging God’s glory. To “bless God” means to speak well of Him, to praise Him, to recognize His holiness and His acts . It is the creature’s response to the Creator — not the other way around. 🌿 What the Canticle of Daniel is The Canticle comes from the story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who refused to worship Nebuchadnezzar’s idol and were thrown into the fiery furnace. Miraculously preserved, they respond not with fear but with a sweeping hymn of praise. This hymn is: Cosmic — it calls on sun, moon, stars, frost, fire, mountains, animals, angels, and humans to bless the Lord. Historical — it remembers God’s saving acts, especially His fidelity to His people in danger. Christian — early Christians prayed it as a “weekly Easter,” seeing in it a foreshadow...