The book of Daniel occupies different places in different scripture canons. The Hebrew Scripture is divided into three sections: Torah, Prophets and Writings. Torah is also called the Pentateuch, the Five Books of Moses, the Law. Joshua, Judges, 1 & 2 Samuels, 1 & 2 Kings, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel and the 12 Minor Prophets form the Prophets section. Ruth, 1 & 2 Chronicles and Daniel go with the Writings, the Wisdom Literature.
Septuagint, the Greek translation of the Hebrew Scripture collects more books and has a different structure. Joshua, Judges, Ruth, 1 & 2 Samuels, 1 & 2 Kings, 1 & 2 Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther, Judith* and Macabees* I to IV form a new group of History books. Daniel and Baruch* go to the Prophets section. Moreover, the Greek version of Daniel is longer, including the prayer of Azariah*, Susanna*, Bel and the Dragon*. Those marked with an asterisk are Greek.
The Christian Old Testament follows the Septuagint but Macabees III & IV are removed. After Martin Luther, the Greek books are removed from the Protestant Bible. This brief sketch is only intended to illustrate the different status of the book of Daniel in different canons.
Septuagint, the Greek translation of the Hebrew Scripture collects more books and has a different structure. Joshua, Judges, Ruth, 1 & 2 Samuels, 1 & 2 Kings, 1 & 2 Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther, Judith* and Macabees* I to IV form a new group of History books. Daniel and Baruch* go to the Prophets section. Moreover, the Greek version of Daniel is longer, including the prayer of Azariah*, Susanna*, Bel and the Dragon*. Those marked with an asterisk are Greek.
The Christian Old Testament follows the Septuagint but Macabees III & IV are removed. After Martin Luther, the Greek books are removed from the Protestant Bible. This brief sketch is only intended to illustrate the different status of the book of Daniel in different canons.
After Daniel had interpreted the dream of King Nebuchadnezzar to the King's satisfaction, the King made a gold statue (Daniel 3:1) and decreed that all people should bow down to worship it. The three companions of Daniel refused to do so and were bound and cast into a fiery furnace.
And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego (Azariah), fell bound into the burning fiery furnace.
Then King Nebuchadnezzar was astonished and rose up in haste. He said to his counselors, "Did we not cast three men bound into the fire?" They answered the king, "True, O king."
He answered, "But I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they are not hurt; and the appearance of the fourth is like a son of the gods."(Daniel 3:23-25)
Between verses 23 and 24, something seems to be missing. It provides rooms for literary imagination and here we have the Greek version of the Prayer of Azariah, a total of 67 verses. A look at these 67 verses shows that they consist of two hymns in which there is nothing new. Most of the contents are found elsewhere in the Scripture. The first hymn is a confession of sins and an appeal to God for delivery. The second one is a song of praise.
For thy name's sake do not give us up utterly, and do not break thy covenant,
and do not withdraw thy mercy from us, for the sake of Abraham thy beloved and for the sake of Isaac thy servant and Israel thy holy one,
to whom thou didst promise to make their descendants as many as the stars of heaven and as the sand on the shore of the sea (PrAzar 11-13).
We trust in the faithfulness of God who makes covenant with the Patriarchs. Now, in times of danger, we cry to God for deliverance with a humble and contrite heart.
Yet with a contrite heart and a humble spirit may we be accepted, as though it were with burnt offerings of rams and bulls, and with tens of thousands of fat lambs;
such may our sacrifice be in thy sight this day, and may we wholly follow thee, for there will be no shame for those who trust in thee.
And now with all our heart we follow thee, we fear thee and seek thy face (PrAzar 16-18).
A contrite heart and a humble spirit worth tens of thousands of fat lambs. Amazing! But the most important thing is to keep this heart to follow God, to fear Him and seek His face. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom (Job 28:28, Psalm 111:10, Proverbs 9:10).
And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego (Azariah), fell bound into the burning fiery furnace.
Then King Nebuchadnezzar was astonished and rose up in haste. He said to his counselors, "Did we not cast three men bound into the fire?" They answered the king, "True, O king."
He answered, "But I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they are not hurt; and the appearance of the fourth is like a son of the gods."(Daniel 3:23-25)
Between verses 23 and 24, something seems to be missing. It provides rooms for literary imagination and here we have the Greek version of the Prayer of Azariah, a total of 67 verses. A look at these 67 verses shows that they consist of two hymns in which there is nothing new. Most of the contents are found elsewhere in the Scripture. The first hymn is a confession of sins and an appeal to God for delivery. The second one is a song of praise.
For thy name's sake do not give us up utterly, and do not break thy covenant,
and do not withdraw thy mercy from us, for the sake of Abraham thy beloved and for the sake of Isaac thy servant and Israel thy holy one,
to whom thou didst promise to make their descendants as many as the stars of heaven and as the sand on the shore of the sea (PrAzar 11-13).
We trust in the faithfulness of God who makes covenant with the Patriarchs. Now, in times of danger, we cry to God for deliverance with a humble and contrite heart.
Yet with a contrite heart and a humble spirit may we be accepted, as though it were with burnt offerings of rams and bulls, and with tens of thousands of fat lambs;
such may our sacrifice be in thy sight this day, and may we wholly follow thee, for there will be no shame for those who trust in thee.
And now with all our heart we follow thee, we fear thee and seek thy face (PrAzar 16-18).
A contrite heart and a humble spirit worth tens of thousands of fat lambs. Amazing! But the most important thing is to keep this heart to follow God, to fear Him and seek His face. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom (Job 28:28, Psalm 111:10, Proverbs 9:10).
Dear Lord, I pray for the firefighting officer who died in action in the factory fire yesterday. May his soul find peace in You. You are the Lord of life. Into Your hand, we render our whole being. Amen.
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