For today’s sermon, we were studying Daniel 3, as we go through the book of Daniel each week.
Daniel 3 in the oldest bible manuscripts includes a section called “The Prayer of Azariah”. It’s a song of praise. It has been removed from Masoretic bibles such as the KJV, NIV, NASB and the majority of other bibles that are based on the 1008 A.D. Leningrad Codex. But this song was present in the Theodotion version of 150 A.D. and the Codex Vaticanus of 325 A.D.
The song encourages all of the universe, the sun, moon, oceans, trees, etc. to proclaim praises to JESUS.
After the sermon, one of our brothers in South Africa shared that he had read 1 Chronicles 16:23-36 this week. And that’s amazing, because those verses are very similar to this section of Daniel 3, encouraging the creation to sing praises to JESUS. And he didn’t read Daniel 3 this week before the sermon.
This is divine confirmation of the sermon and of GOD’s presence in the ministry.
1 Chron. 16:23-36 (AOB)
23 SING YOU TO JESUS, ALL THE EARTH; PROCLAIM HIS SALVATION FROM DAY TO DAY.
24 DECLARE AMONG THE NATIONS HIS GLORY, HIS WONDROUS WORKS AMONG ALL PEOPLES.
25 FOR JESUS IS GREAT, AND GREATLY TO BE PRAISED: HE IS TO BE FEARED ABOVE ALL GODS.
26 FOR ALL THE GODS OF THE NATIONS ARE IDOLS; BUT OUR THEOS (The Alpha & Omega) MADE THE HEAVENS.
27 GLORY AND PRAISE ARE IN HIS PRESENCE; STRENGTH AND REJOICING ARE IN HIS PLACE.
28 GIVE TO JESUS, YOU FAMILIES OF THE NATIONS, GIVE TO JESUS GLORY AND STRENGTH.
29 GIVE TO JESUS THE GLORY BELONGING TO HIS NAME: TAKE GIFTS AND OFFER THEM BEFORE HIM; AND WORSHIP JESUS IN HIS HOLY COURTS.
30 LET THE WHOLE EARTH FEAR BEFORE HIM; LET THE EARTH BE ESTABLISHED, AND NOT BE (totally) DESTROYED. (Eccles. 1:4 The Earth will endure forever.)
31 LET THE HEAVENS REJOICE, AND LET THE EARTH REJOICE; AND LET THEM SAY AMONG THE NATIONS, “JESUS REIGNS!”
32 THE SEA WITH ITS FULLNESS SHALL RESOUND AND THE TREE OF THE FIELD, AND ALL THINGS IN IT.
33 THEN SHALL THE TREES OF THE FOREST REJOICE BEFORE JESUS, FOR HE IS COME TO JUDGE THE EARTH.
34 GIVE THANKS TO JESUS FOR HIS GOODNESS, FOR HIS MERCY IS FOREVER.
35 AND SAY YOU, “SAVE US, O THEOS (The Alpha & Omega) OF OUR SALVATION, AND GATHER US, AND RESCUE US FROM AMONG THE HEATHEN, THAT WE MAY PRAISE YOUR HOLY NAME, AND GLORY IN YOUR PRAISES.
36 BLESSED BE JESUS, THEOS (The Alpha & Omega) OF JESRAEL FROM EVERLASTING AND TO EVERLASTING”: AND ALL THE PEOPLE SHALL SAY, “THIS IS THE TRUTH!” SO THEY PRAISED JESUS.
Daniel 3:
The Prayer of Azariah (Old Greek)
24-OG AFTER THIS MANNER THEREFORE ANANIAS AND AZARIAS AND MISAEL PRAYED AND SANG PRAISES TO JESUS WHEN THE KING COMMANDED THEM TO BE CAST INTO THE FURNACE.
25-OG AND AZARIAS STOOD UP, AND PRAYED ON THIS MANNER; AND HE OPENED HIS MOUTH AND GAVE THANKS TO JESUS TOGETHER WITH HIS COMPANIONS IN THE MIDST OF THE FIRE OF THE FURNACE which was BEING EXCEEDINGLY HEATED FROM BENEATH BY THE CHALDEANS, AND THEY SAID,
26-OG “BLESSED ARE YOU, O LORD GOD OF OUR FATHERS: YOUR NAME IS WORTHY TO BE PRAISED AND GLORIFIED FOREVERMORE:
27-OG FOR YOU ARE RIGHTEOUS IN ALL THE THINGS THAT YOU HAVE DONE TO US: YES, TRUE ARE ALL YOUR WORKS, YOUR WAYS ARE RIGHT, AND TRUE ARE ALL YOUR JUDGMENTS.
28-OG AND YOU HAVE EXECUTED TRUE JUDGMENTS IN ALL THE THINGS THAT YOU HAVE BROUGHT UPON US, AND UPON YOUR HOLY CITY OF OUR FATHERS, even JERUSALEM: FOR IN TRUTH AND JUDGMENT DID YOU EXECUTE ALL THESE THINGS BECAUSE OF OUR SINS.
29-OG FOR IN ALL THINGS WE HAVE SINNED AND TRANSGRESSED, DEPARTING FROM YOU.
30-OG NOR KEPT THEM, NEITHER DONE AS YOU HAVE COMMANDED US, THAT IT MIGHT GO WELL WITH US.
31-OG AND NOW ALL THAT YOU HAVE BROUGHT UPON US, AND EVERY THING THAT YOU HAVE DONE TO US, YOU HAVE DONE IN TRUE JUDGMENT.
32-OG AND YOU DID DELIVER US INTO THE HANDS OF OUR ENEMIES, LAWLESS AND MOST HATEFUL FORSAKERS of God, AND TO AN UNJUST KING, AND THE MOST WICKED IN ALL THE LAND.
33-OG AND NOW WE CANNOT OPEN our MOUTH; IT IS BECOME A SHAME AND REPROACH TO YOUR SERVANTS, AND TO THEM THAT WORSHIP YOU.
34-OG DO NOT GIVE/SURRENDER US UP COMPLETELY, FOR YOUR NAME'S SAKE, NEITHER BREAK YOU YOUR COVENANT:
35-OG AND CAUSE NOT YOUR MERCY TO DEPART FROM US, FOR YOUR BELOVED ABRAHAM'S SAKE, AND FOR YOUR SERVANT ISAAC'S SAKE, AND for YOUR HOLY JESRAEL'S SAKE;
36-OG AS YOU HAVE SPOKEN TO THEM, SAYING, THAT YOU WOULD MULTIPLY THEIR SEED AS THE STARS OF THE UNIVERSE, AND AS THE SAND WHICH IS BY THE SHORE OF THE SEA.
37-OG FOR WE, O MASTER, ARE BECOME LESS THAN ANY NATION, AND BE KEPT UNDER TODAY IN ALL THE LAND BECAUSE OF OUR SINS.
38-OG NEITHER IS THERE AT THIS TIME PRINCE, OR PROPHET, NOR LEADER, NOR WHOLE-BURNT-OFFERING, NOR SACRIFICE, NOR OFFERING, NOR INCENSE, NOR PLACE TO SACRIFICE BEFORE YOU, AND TO FIND MERCY.
39-OG NEVERTHELESS IN A BROKEN SOUL AND A HUMBLE SPIRIT LET US BE ACCEPTED.
40-OG SO LET OUR SACRIFICE BE IN YOUR SIGHT TODAY! AND MAKE YOU ATONEMENT AFTER YOU! FOR THERE IS NO SHAME FOR THEM THAT PUT THEIR TRUST IN YOU; AND MAKE them PERFECT AFTER YOU!
41-OG AND NOW WE FOLLOW YOU WITH ALL OUR HEART, AND WE FEAR YOU, AND SEEK YOUR FACE.
42-OG BUT DEAL WITH US AFTER YOUR LOVING KINDNESS AND ACCORDING TO THE MULTITUDE OF YOUR MERCIES!
43-OG DELIVER US ALSO ACCORDING TO YOUR WONDERS! AND GIVE GLORY TO YOUR NAME, O LORD!
44-OG AND LET ALL THEM THAT DO YOUR SERVANTS HURT BE ASHAMED;
45-OG AND LET THEM KNOW THAT YOU ALONE ARE JESUS, GOD, AND GLORIOUS OVER THE WHOLE WORLD!”
The Song of the Three Judeans
46-OG AND THE KING'S OFFICERS, THAT CAST THEM IN, CEASED NOT TO HEAT THE FURNACE. AND WHEN THEY CAST THE THREE INTO THE FURNACE AT ONCE, THE FURNACE WAS FIERY-HOT, SEVENFOLD IN ITS HEAT. AND WHEN THEY CAST THEM IN, THEY THAT CAST THEM IN WERE INDEED ABOVE THEM, BUT THEY WERE HEATING THEM FROM BENEATH WITH ROSIN AND TOW AND PITCH AND SMALL WOOD;
47-OG SO THAT THE FLAME STREAMED FORTH ABOVE THE FURNACE FORTY AND NINE CUBITS, (73 feet).
48-OG AND ISSUED OUT, AND BURNED those WHOM IT FOUND ABOUT THE FURNACE OF THE CHALDEANS.
49-OG BUT THE MANIFESTATION OF JESUS CAME DOWN INTO THE FURNACE TOGETHER WITH AZARIAS AND HIS COMPANIONS, AND SHOOK OFF THE FLAME OF THE FIRE OUT OF THE FURNACE,
50-OG AND MADE THE MIDST OF THE FURNACE AS IT HAD BEEN A MOIST WHISTLING WIND, SO THAT THE FIRE TOUCHED THEM NOT AT ALL, NEITHER HURT NOR TROUBLED THEM.
51-OG MOREOVER THE THREE, AS OUT OF ONE MOUTH, LIFTED UP their voice AND PRAISED AND GLORIFIED AND BLESSED AND EXALTED GOD IN THE FURNACE, SAYING,
52-OG “BLESSED ARE YOU, O LORD GOD OF OUR FATHERS: AND TO BE PRAISED AND HIGHLY EXALTED FOREVER.
53-OG BLESSED ARE YOU IN THE TEMPLE OF YOUR HOLY GLORY: AND TO BE HIGHLY PRAISED AND HIGHLY GLORIFIED FOREVER.
54-OG BLESSED ARE YOU ON THE THRONE OF YOUR KINGDOM: AND TO BE PRAISED AND HIGHLY EXALTED FOREVER.
55-OG BLESSED ARE YOU THAT BEHOLD THE DEPTHS, AND SIT UPON THE CHERUBIM: AND TO BE PRAISED AND GLORIFIED FOREVER.
56-OG BLESSED ARE YOU IN THE EXPANSE/FIRMAMENT: AND TO BE PRAISED AND GLORIFIED FOREVER.
57-OG O ALL YOU WORKS OF JESUS, BLESS YOU JESUS! PRAISE AND HIGHLY EXALT HIM FOREVER!
58-OG O YOU ANGELS/MESSENGERS OF JESUS, BLESS YOU JESUS! PRAISE AND HIGHLY EXALT HIM FOREVER!
59-OG O YOU SKIES, BLESS YOU JESUS! PRAISE AND HIGHLY EXALT HIM FOREVER!
60-OG O ALL YOU WATERS THAT BE ABOVE THE SKY, BLESS YOU JESUS! PRAISE AND HIGHLY EXALT HIM FOREVER!
61-OG O ALL YOU POWERS OF JESUS, BLESS YOU JESUS! PRAISE AND HIGHLY EXALT HIM FOREVER!
62-OG O YOU SUN AND MOON, BLESS YOU JESUS! PRAISE AND HIGHLY EXALT HIM FOREVER!
63-OG O YOU STARS OF THE UNIVERSE, BLESS YOU JESUS! PRAISE AND HIGHLY EXALT HIM FOREVER!
64-OG O EVERY SHOWER AND DEW, BLESS YOU JESUS! PRAISE AND HIGHLY EXALT HIM FOREVER!
65-OG O ALL YOU WINDS, BLESS YOU JESUS! PRAISE AND HIGHLY EXALT HIM FOREVER!
66-OG O YOU FIRE AND HEAT, BLESS YOU JESUS! PRAISE AND HIGHLY EXALT HIM FOREVER!
67-OG O YOU CHILL AND COLD, BLESS YOU JESUS! PRAISE AND HIGHLY EXALT HIM FOREVER!
68-OG O YOU DEWS AND SNOW, BLESS YOU JESUS! PRAISE AND HIGHLY EXALT HIM FOREVER!
71-OG O YOU NIGHTS AND DAYS, BLESS YOU JESUS! PRAISE AND HIGHLY EXALT HIM FOREVER!
72-OG O YOU LIGHT AND DARKNESS, BLESS YOU JESUS! PRAISE AND HIGHLY EXALT HIM FOREVER!
69-OG O YOU ICE AND COLD, BLESS YOU JESUS! PRAISE AND HIGHLY EXALT HIM FOREVER!
70-OG O YOU FROSTS AND SNOWS, BLESS YOU JESUS! PRAISE AND HIGHLY EXALT HIM FOREVER!
73-OG O YOU LIGHTNINGS AND CLOUDS, BLESS YOU JESUS! PRAISE AND HIGHLY EXALT HIM FOREVER!
74-OG O LET THE EARTH BLESS JESUS! LET IT PRAISE AND HIGHLY EXALT HIM FOREVER!
75-OG O YOU MOUNTAINS AND HILLS, BLESS YOU JESUS! PRAISE AND HIGHLY EXALT HIM FOREVER!
76-OG O ALL YOU THINGS THAT GROW ON THE EARTH, BLESS YOU JESUS! PRAISE AND HIGHLY EXALT HIM FOREVER!
77-OG O YOU FOUNTAINS, BLESS YOU JESUS! PRAISE AND HIGHLY EXALT HIM FOREVER!
78-OG O YOU SEAS AND RIVERS, BLESS YOU JESUS! PRAISE AND HIGHLY EXALT HIM FOREVER!
79-OG O YOU WHALES, AND ALL THAT MOVE IN THE WATERS, BLESS YOU JESUS! PRAISE AND HIGHLY EXALT HIM FOREVER!
80-OG O YOU FOWLS OF THE AIR, BLESS YOU JESUS! PRAISE AND HIGHLY EXALT HIM FOREVER!
81-OG O YOU FOURFOOTED AND ANIMALS OF THE EARTH, BLESS YOU JESUS! PRAISE AND HIGHLY EXALT HIM FOREVER!
82-OG O YOU CHILDREN OF HUMANS, BLESS YOU JESUS! PRAISE AND HIGHLY EXALT HIM FOREVER!
83-OG O JESRAEL, BLESS YOU JESUS! PRAISE AND HIGHLY EXALT HIM FOREVER!
84-OG O YOU PRIESTS, BLESS YOU JESUS! PRAISE AND HIGHLY EXALT HIM FOREVER!
85-OG O YOU SERVANTS, BLESS YOU JESUS! PRAISE AND HIGHLY EXALT HIM FOREVER!
86-OG O YOU SPIRITS AND SOULS OF THE RIGHTEOUS, BLESS YOU JESUS! PRAISE AND HIGHLY EXALT HIM FOREVER!
87-OG O YOU HOLY AND HUMBLE MEN OF HEART, BLESS YOU JESUS! PRAISE AND HIGHLY EXALT HIM FOREVER!
88-OG O ANANIAS, AZARIAS, AND MISAEL, BLESS YOU JESUS! PRAISE AND HIGHLY EXALT HIM FOREVER! FOR HE RESCUED US FROM THE GRAVE, AND SAVED US FROM THE HAND OF DEATH, AND DELIVERED US OUT OF THE MIDST OF THE BURNING FLAME, AND OUT OF THE FIRE HE REDEEMED US.
89-OG O GIVE THANKS UNTO JESUS! BECAUSE HE IS GRACIOUS: FOR HIS MERCY endures FOREVER.
90-OG O ALL YOU THAT WORSHIP, BLESS THE GOD OF GODS! PRAISE HIM AND GIVE HIM THANKS, FOR HIS MERCY endures FOREVER, EVEN FOREVER AND EVER!”