This morning’s quiet time was Daniel 1:11-21, where Daniel and his friends, while captive in Babylon, choose to obey God’s law rather than indulge in the king’s delicacies. After being tested, Daniel and his friends were found in better shape than the rest who ate the king’s delicacies. It made me think about how often we are tempted with seemingly small sins, the white lie, the lustful glance, the judging thought…we must purpose in our hearts, as Daniel did (vs. 8), not to defile ourselves. I leave you with one of my favorite hymns from the midnight psalmody.

O Sing unto Him – MP3 (Produced by St. Antony Monastery)

O sing unto Him who was crucified, buried, and resurrected for us, and trampled and abolished death, Praise Him and exalt Him above all.
Take off the old man, and put on the new and superior one, come closer to greatness of mercy, Praise Him and exalt Him above all.
All you Christian people, the priests and the deacons, glorify the Lord for he is worthy, Praise Him and exalt Him above all.
Come to us o three children, whom Christ our God has lifted, and from the devil has delivered, Praise Him and exalt Him above all.
For the sake of your God the Messiah, the giver of all good things, come unto us O Hananiah, Praise Him and exalt Him above all.
O Azariah the zealot, evening, and morning and at noon glorify the power of the trinity, Praise Him and exalt Him above all.
Behold Emmanuel our, is now in our midst O Mishael, proclaim with the voice of joy, Praise Him and exalt Him above all.
Gather now and persevere, and proclaim with the priests, bless the Lord all his works, Praise Him and exalt Him above all.
The heavens declare the glory, of God until this day, O you angels whom he has made, Praise Him and exalt Him above all.
Now all you powers of the Lord bless his honored name, O sun and moon and all the stars, Praise Him and exalt Him above all.
And those O you rain and dew, sing praises unto our Savoir, for he is God of our fathers, Praise Him and exalt Him above all.
Glorify the Lord O clouds and winds, together with the souls and the spirits, O you cold and fire and heat, Praise Him and exalt Him above all.
You also nights and days, light and darkness and lightning, glorify the Lover of Mankind, Praise Him and exalt Him above all.
You trees and all that springs on the earth, and all that moves in the waters, mountains and the forests, Praise Him and exalt Him above all.
Praise without ceasing, the Lord the King of the Kings, O you rivers and seas, Praise Him and exalt Him above all.
And we also seeing them, let us say with all these things, Bless the Lord all you birds, Praise Him and exalt Him above all.
O snow and ice, cattle and wild beasts, bless the Lord of Lords, Praise Him and exalt Him above all.
Bless the Lord as befits Him, and not like the disobedient, all you sons of men, Praise Him and exalt Him above all.
O Israel offered, before him honor and glory in a joyful voice in the voice of joy, all you priests of Emmanuel, Praise Him and exalt Him above all.
You servants of the true God, the souls of the righteous, and the humble and the charitable, Praise Him and exalt Him above all.
God my God is the one, who saved you from danger, O Sedrach Misach and Abdenago, Praise Him and exalt Him above all.
Hurry with great haste, O you righteous of the Lord, and all the creatures he has made, Praise Him and exalt Him above all.
Coolness and repose without ceasing, grant unto all of us, that we may joyfully proclaim, Praise Him and exalt Him above all.
And also Your poor servant Sarkis, make him without condemnation, that we may join all those and say, Praise Him and exalt Him above all.

Additional Reading:
The missing chapters of the book of Daniel – Part of the deuterocanonical books.