With One Voice

A Reflection on the Psalm for June 7th, 2020:
The Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity

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​Daniel 3

R. Glory and praise for ever!

Blessed are you, O Lord, God of our fathers
and blessed is your glorious and holy name.

R. Glory and praise for ever!∙

Blessed are you in the temple of your holy glory,
and to be extolled and highly glorified forever.

R. Glory and praise for ever!

Blessed are you on the throne of your kingdom,
and to be extolled and highly exalted forever.

R. Glory and praise for ever!

Blessed are you who look into the depths
from your throne on the cherubim.

R. Glory and praise for ever!

Blessed are you in the firmament of
heaven, to be sung and glorified forever.

R. Glory and praise for ever! ​

Pause. Pray.

And then read more...

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, with one voice, praised, glorified, and blessed God with these prayers, and many more. They had been thrown into King Nebuchadnezzar’s fiery furnace after having refused to bow down and worship the king’s golden statue; yet the incredible heat and flames did not harm them. An angel of the Lord came to be with them and “drove the fiery flame out of the furnace, and made the inside of the furnace as though a moist wind were whistling through it.” (Daniel 3:49-50)


The king was amazed. In Daniel 3:95: “Nebuchadnezzar said, “Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who has sent his angel and delivered his servants who trusted in him. They disobeyed the king’s command and yielded up their bodies rather than serve and worship any god except their own God.””


Nebuchadnezzar’s words prompted me to consider all the gods I’ve worshipped throughout my life, and most recently as I walk in the fire of the COVID-19 pandemic. At times, I’ve given too much time and attention to control, pride, and fear; three of the gods that my humanity continues to want to worship. What has helped to keep me coming back to the true God is prayer and the fellowship of my faith family; together, with one voice, we praise, glorify, and bless God in the midst of grief, isolation and the many other struggles that life brings.


These three faithful men in Nebuchadnezzar’s furnace demonstrated a level of trust in God that inspires me. For me, practicing trust looks like many different things, which could be as simple as following the good advice of public health officials or as complex as cultivating new depths of generosity in my heart. Ultimately, though, the key to freedom is the surrender of my life and the lives of those around me as I trust God with all the things that are beyond my control. This level of surrender is only possible if I trust that God truly desires good for me, and that His abundant love is truly more than I can fathom.


This song of praise, sung with the one voice of His church, speaks of the glory of God’s extravagant goodness and gives me tremendous hope. ​




Lindsay Elford

Photo by Mazhar Zandsalimi on Unsplash

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