A Lamp for Today

This week we consider Canticle 7 (Dan 3:25-56), which details Azariah’s confession, and the beginning of his song with the three friends. Here we see the themes of human praises based on understanding, the importance of God’s glory, and God’s merciful justice as he keeps covenant with us, looking also to 2 King 19:15-20:6 and Genesis 22:15-18.

The song of Jonah (Jonah 2:2-9), Old Testament Canticle 6, is notable for its poignancy and substance. We read it with reference to Jesus’ words in Matthew12:39-41 and with help from these Old Testament passages: Job 41, Psalm 104/LXX 103:26, Psalm 139/LXX 138: 8-12, and Psalm 148:7.

This week we consider the deep canticle of the Prophet Isaiah (Isaiah 26:9-20), interpreting its more difficult phrases in the light of some of the Church fathers, and with reference to the story of the flood in Genesis 6-9, Psalm 119, Romans 8:22-39, and 2 Peter 1:19.

The prophet Habakkuk, who waits with us during the Paschal vigil, gives us much to consider in the fourth Old Testament canticle, taken from Habakkuk 3.

Modelling humility, giving us grounds for hope by remembering God’s mighty acts in Exodus and Joshua, and lifting our eyes to the places on high, he continues to speak with force and poignancy even to those of us who know the fuller story of the Cross, Resurrection, and Ascension.

We read Hannah’s sober and joyful canticle (canticle 3), taken from 1 Samuel/1 Kingdoms 2:1–10, and consider what it means for God to “bring low” and to “exalt” us. In this we are helped by St. John Chrysostom, St. Basil and Great, and other sections of the Old Testament.

We read the second half of the second canticle of Moses, Deut 32:19-43, in the light of Jeremiah 1:10, Hosea 6:1-3, and the fathers. Its vigorous poetry must be read with care, but shows us strong truths concerning our holy God, and His desire for our purity and salvation.

At the head of the new year, we heed Deuteronomy 32:1–18 (Second Song of Moses, Part 1), in the light of other Biblical passages, and remember the days of old. Especially we contemplate the pictures of God offered here—Rock, Father, Ruler, like a mother giving birth—and learn from Moses to “ascribe greatness to the LORD our God.”

We begin our series on the Biblical canticles by introducing their significance in Liturgy, and by concentrating upon the first canticle, the Song of Moses (Exodus 15:1-19), as clarified by the fathers, and other parts of Scripture (Ezekiel 17; Rev. 15, and Gal 3).

In our final episode of this series, we take a “bird’s eye” view of the entire book, considering its structure, and how that fills out the central theme of the Apocalypse—the loving Victory of Christ, who includes us in God’s ongoing plan to recover His creation. Our hearts are grasped by this unusual book, if read in this light. Hearers are invited to join Edith for a new series after Thanksgiving, focused on the “canticles” of the Church.

The final section of the book of Revelation leads us to a sense of deep mystery, yet satisfaction. We read Rev 22:8-21 in the light of Deut 30:19; Genesis 1-3; Deut 30:19; Daniel 8:26, 12:14.