A Song of Praise

Canticle 13: A Song of Praise
Benedictus es, Domine
Song of the Three Young Men, 29-34

Glory to you, Lord God of our fathers;
you are worthy of praise; glory to you.

Glory to you for the radiance of your holy Name;
we will praise you and highly exalt you for ever.

Glory to you in the splendor of your temple;
on the throne of your majesty, glory to you.

Glory to you, seated between the Cherubim;
we will praise you and highly exalt you for ever.

Glory to you, beholding the depths;
in the high vault of heaven, glory to you.

Glory to you, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit;
we will praise you and highly exalt you for ever.

Canticle, from the Latin canticulum, a diminutive of canticum, “song”, is a psalm-like song with biblical lyrics taken from scripture. Canticle 13, Benedictus es, Domine entered our prayer book in 1928, and it is a song of praise. I cannot read the words without my favorite musical setting by John Rutter entering my mind and spirit. Music has an amazing ability to transport us from one place to another.

This canticle is taken from scripture found in the Apocryphal book, The Prayer of Azariah and the Three Jews, verses 29-34. The Apocryphal/Deuterocanonical books are those that are included in the Septuagint, the ancient Greek translation of the Hebrew Bible with additions but are not included in the Hebrew text that forms both the canon for Judaism and the Protestant Old Testament. This additional material adds to the story told in the book of Daniel about Daniel and his three companions, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego (Azariah is his Hebrew name) who refuse to bow down and worship King Nebuchadnezzar’s golden statue idol. They would not worship anyone but God, the God of their Hebrew ancestors. King Nebuchadnezzar was furious and ordered that the three men be thrown into a fiery furnace. Of course, the three men emerge unharmed, saved by God, and King Nebuchadnezzar immediately issued a decree honoring their God.

Canticle 13 is intended to depict the three men’s song of praise to God for their deliverance. If I had been through that experience, I would have been singing and shouting from the rooftops! How about you? The truth is life often brings its own form of trial and “fiery furnace.” When that happens, we are reminded that God is indeed our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. (Psalm 46) I invite you to reflect on a time in your life when God brought you through some trial, and can you imagine joining the three young men in offering a song of praise? The Benedictus es, Domine is not a bad place to start!

Blessings and in faith, Jan+

prayer

Almighty God our heavenly Father, renew in us the gifts of your mercy; increase our faith, strengthen our hope, enlighten our understanding, widen our charity, and make us ready to serve you; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

—Lesser Feasts and Fasts, Fourth Edition, page 50