Pardon My Asking … What’s New?
by Candice M. Coleman, Ph.D.
The biblical account of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego (Daniel 3:1-30) is a well-loved story many of us first heard years ago in Sunday School and numerous times since. When we read it out loud in church, it’s possible to find some freshness in it by using the logical principles and conversational patterns of Analytical Reading.
Quick Tip. Since the KJV doesn’t include quotation marks, you might want to pencil them in. It will make it easier to determine who is speaking and when.
Let’s start with Dan. 3: 5,6.
That at what time ye hear the sound of … all kinds of music, ye fall down and worship the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king hath set up: And whoso falleth not down and worshippeth shall the same hour be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.
After reading the command in the first verse to “fall down and worship the golden image,” isn’t the idea of falling down and worshipping old in the second one? In conversation, we generally stress new ideas and subdue old ones. (See, Giving the Sense: How to Read Aloud With Meaning, (pp. 15-25). So, if “falleth down and worshippeth” is old, we need to see if we can find something else that’s newer and stress that.
What about “not”? Generally, we don’t stress negatives because they’re naturally emphatic. However, if they’re in direct contrast with a previous idea, we might do so anyway. So, could “not” not only be a new idea, but a contrast with “fall down and worship” in the first verse? If so, you’d want to stress “not” and subdue what is old.
That at what time ye hear the sound of … all kinds of music, ye fall down and worship the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king hath set up: And whoso falleth not down and worshippeth shall the same hour be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.
Now, let’s go down to verses 24 and 25.
… “Did we not cast three men bound into the midst of the fire?… He answered and said, “Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire …”
Thinking again of contrasts, do you see that there might be two possible pairs of contrasts between the two verses? The first is the most obvious. What is “three” in contrast with? Right, “four”! Now, what could “bound” be in contrast with? Right again, “loose”! So, you would stress all 4 ideas.
… “Did we not cast three men bound into the midst of the fire?” … He answered and said, “Lo, I see four men loose, … “
But there’s one other possible new idea to stress here. The three “bound” men were “loosed” in that furnace, but what are they doing? Certainly not just sitting there waiting to be consumed! They were walking!
… “Did we not cast three men bound into the midst of the fire?” … He answered and said, “Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, …”
Let’s look at one last verse in this story – vs. 27. Because Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego were faithful to God, they were safe.
… the fire had no power, nor was an hair of their head singed, neither were their coats changed, nor the smell of fire had passed on them.
In the last phrase, is the idea of “fire” new or old? Is “has passed on them” new or old? What’s left that’s new?
… the fire had no power, nor was an hair of their head singed, neither were their coats changed, nor the smell of fire had passed on them.
Not only weren’t their hair and clothes burned, they also didn’t even ______ like fire!
Reading sacred texts aloud is a joy and a privilege. But just like most of us don’t play a musical instrument or participate in a sport without training and practice, the same is true for reading. It isn’t hard to make your text sound conversational, meaningful and inspirational, but it does take some analysis and practice. Our Authorized Affiliates are here to help.
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