Sirach 4:17-31: a reflection

17For at the first she will walk with him in crooked ways, and will bring fear and dread upon him, and torment him with her discipline, until she may trust his soul, and try him by her judgments. 18Then she will return him again to the straight way, and will gladden him, and reveal to him her secrets. 19If he goes astray, she will forsake him, and hand him over to his fall. 20Watch for the opportunity, and beware of evil. Don’t be ashamed of your soul. 21For there is a shame that brings sin, and there is a shame that is glory and grace. 22Don’t show partiality, discrediting your soul. Don’t revere any man to your falling. 23Don’t refrain from speaking when it is for safety. Don’t hide your wisdom for the sake of seeming fair. 24For wisdom will be known by speech, and instruction by the word of the tongue. 25Don’t speak against the truth and be shamed for your ignorance. 26Don’t be ashamed to confess your sins. Don’t fight the river’s current. 27Don’t lay yourself down for a fool to tread upon. Don’t be partial to one who is mighty. 28Strive for the truth to death, and the Lord God will fight for you. 29Don’t be hasty with your tongue, or slack and negligent in your deeds. 30Don’t be like a lion in your house, or suspicious of your servants. 31Don’t let your hand be stretched out to receive, and closed when you should repay.

Among the counsels of this passage is a striking encouragement to stand for the truth: Strive for the truth to death, and the Lord God will fight for you. We are to contend for the truth, even at great cost, even to death; and we are given a promise: that when we do, God himself will fight for us. We do not contend for the truth alone or unaided; the Lord God fights for those who strive for the truth. The call to stand for the truth is joined to the promise of God's help.

Notice the call, and the promise joined to it: strive for the truth, and God will fight for you. We are to contend for the truth earnestly, even at great cost, not abandoning it when it is hard or dangerous to hold. And the promise is that we do not do so alone: the Lord God fights for those who strive for the truth. Our standing for the truth is not unaided; God himself takes up our cause, fighting for us as we contend for the truth. The call to stand for the truth, even to death, is joined to the assurance of God's help in the standing.

That call and promise are worth taking to heart, for we may be called to stand for the truth at cost, and can trust God to help us. There can be times when holding to the truth is hard, costly, even dangerous, and we are tempted to abandon it; but we are called to strive for the truth, even to death, and promised that God will fight for us as we do. Do not abandon the truth when it is hard or costly to hold; strive for it, contend for it earnestly, trusting that God himself fights for those who stand for the truth. Stand for the truth even at cost, not alone but with the assurance that God fights for you, as this passage promises that God will fight for the one who strives for the truth to death; for we do not contend for the truth unaided, but the Lord God himself takes up the cause of those who stand for it.

Lord, among the counsels of this passage is a striking encouragement to stand for the truth: strive for the truth to death, and the Lord God will fight for you. I am to contend for the truth, even at great cost, even to death; and I am given a promise: that when I do, you yourself will fight for me. I do not contend for the truth alone or unaided; you fight for those who strive for the truth. Show me the call, and the promise joined to it: strive for the truth, and you will fight for me. I am to contend for the truth earnestly, even at great cost, not abandoning it when it is hard or dangerous to hold. And the promise is that I do not do so alone: you fight for those who strive for the truth. My standing for the truth is not unaided; you yourself take up my cause. Take that call and promise to my heart, for I may be called to stand for the truth at cost, and can trust you to help me. There can be times when holding to the truth is hard, costly, even dangerous, and I am tempted to abandon it; but I am called to strive for the truth, and promised that you will fight for me. Keep me from abandoning the truth when it is hard or costly to hold; help me strive for it, contend for it earnestly, Lord, trusting that you yourself fight for those who stand for the truth. Help me stand for the truth even at cost, not alone but with the assurance that you fight for me.