Sirach 50:17-29: a reflection

17Then all the people together hurried, and fell down to the ground on their faces to worship their Lord, the Almighty, God Most High. 18The singers also praised him with their voices. There was a sweet melody in the whole house. 19And the people implored the Lord Most High, in prayer before him who is merciful, until the worship of the Lord was finished, and so they accomplished his service. 20Then he went down, and lifted up his hands over the whole congregation of the children of Israel, to give blessing to the Lord with his lips, and to glory in his name. 21He bowed himself down in worship the second time, to declare the blessing from the Most High. 22Now bless the God of all, who everywhere does great things, who exalts our days from the womb, and deals with us according to his mercy. 23May he grant us joyfulness of heart, and that peace may be in our days in Israel for the days of eternity, 24to entrust his mercy with us, and let him deliver us in his time! 25With two nations my soul is vexed, and the third is no nation: 26Those who sit on the mountain of Samaria, the Philistines, and the foolish people who live in Shechem. 27I have written in this book the instruction of understanding and knowledge, I Jesus, the son of Sirach Eleazar, of Jerusalem, who out of his heart poured forth wisdom. 28Blessed is he who will exercise these things. He who lays them up in his heart will become wise. 29For if he does them, he will be strong in all things, for the light of the Lord is his guide.

This passage describes a scene of wholehearted worship: as the service reaches its climax, all the people together hurry and fall to the ground on their faces to worship God; the singers praise him, sweet melody fills the house, the people pray, and the priest lifts his hands to bless them. It is a picture of a congregation caught up together in reverent, joyful worship, bowing low before God, singing his praise, blessing his name with one accord.

Notice the wholehearted, corporate worship here: the whole congregation bowing, singing, praying, blessing God together. This was not distracted or half-hearted worship, nor a few worshiping while the rest looked on; the whole people together fell on their faces, joined in song and prayer, caught up in reverent praise. There is something deeply moving in such united, wholehearted worship, a congregation together bowing before God, giving him the reverence and praise that are his due, with one accord.

That picture of wholehearted, united worship is worth aspiring to in our own worship. Our worship can be distracted, half-hearted, going through the motions while our hearts are elsewhere; or divided, a few engaged while others look on. But this passage shows a congregation caught up together in reverent, joyful worship, bowing low, singing, blessing God with one accord. When you worship, whether alone or with others, give yourself wholly to it, as these worshipers did, bowing before God with reverence and joy, not distracted or half-hearted. And treasure the united worship of God's people together, the whole congregation caught up in praise; for God is worthy of such worship, wholehearted and united, and there is joy in giving it to him together, as the people gave it, falling on their faces to worship, singing his praise, blessing his name with one accord.

Lord, this passage describes wholehearted worship: the whole congregation falling on their faces to worship you, the singers praising you, sweet melody filling the house, the people praying, the priest lifting his hands to bless them, all with one accord. Let that picture of united, wholehearted worship be something I aspire to in my own. My worship can be distracted, half-hearted, going through the motions while my heart is elsewhere; or divided, a few engaged while others look on. But this passage shows a congregation caught up together in reverent, joyful worship, bowing low, singing, blessing you with one accord. When I worship, whether alone or with others, help me give myself wholly to it, as these worshipers did, bowing before you with reverence and joy, not distracted or half-hearted. And help me treasure the united worship of your people together, the whole congregation caught up in praise; for you are worthy of such worship, wholehearted and united, and there is joy in giving it to you together. Help me worship you wholeheartedly, Lord, and treasure worshiping you with your people.