Sirach 17:25 - Return to the Lord, and forsake sins: Make your prayer before his face, and lessen the offence.
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What does "Sirach 17:25" mean?
This verse from Sirach 17:25 is a powerful call to repentance and reconciliation with God. Let's break it down:
"Return to the Lord..." This is the core message. It implies that the person has strayed from God, likely through sin or neglect of their relationship with Him. The call is to turn back, to re-establish or strengthen that connection.
"...and forsake sins..." Returning to God is not just a passive act. It requires actively turning away from sin. "Forsake" means to abandon, to give up, to completely reject one's sinful behaviors and desires. This is crucial for genuine repentance.
"Make your prayer before his face..." This speaks to the importance of prayer as a means of communicating with God. "Before his face" emphasizes humility and sincerity. It's not just reciting words, but presenting oneself honestly and vulnerably to God. It implies seeking God's presence and acknowledging His holiness.
"...and lessen the offence." This suggests that sin is an offense against God. By returning to Him, forsaking sin, and praying with sincerity, one can "lessen" or mitigate the offense caused by their past actions. This isn't necessarily about completely erasing the consequences of sin, but rather about seeking forgiveness, making amends where possible, and changing one's behavior to avoid future transgressions. It's about diminishing the negative impact of sin on one's relationship with God.
In essence, the verse is a concise guide to repentance:
1. Acknowledge your separation from God and return to Him.
2. Turn away from sin with a sincere commitment to change.
3. Communicate with God through humble and honest prayer.
4. Seek to reduce the harm caused by your sins through forgiveness, amendment, and continued striving for righteousness.
The verse offers a hopeful message: that even when we have strayed, God is willing to accept us back if we are truly repentant and willing to change our ways. It emphasizes that repentance is an active process, involving both inward transformation and outward actions.
Sirach 17:25 - Return to the Lord, and forsake sins: Make your prayer before his face, and lessen the offence.
What does "Sirach 17:25" mean?
This verse from Sirach 17:25 is a powerful call to repentance and reconciliation with God. Let's break it down:
"Return to the Lord..." This is the core message. It implies that the person has strayed from God, likely through sin or neglect of their relationship with Him. The call is to turn back, to re-establish or strengthen that connection.
"...and forsake sins..." Returning to God is not just a passive act. It requires actively turning away from sin. "Forsake" means to abandon, to give up, to completely reject one's sinful behaviors and desires. This is crucial for genuine repentance.
"Make your prayer before his face..." This speaks to the importance of prayer as a means of communicating with God. "Before his face" emphasizes humility and sincerity. It's not just reciting words, but presenting oneself honestly and vulnerably to God. It implies seeking God's presence and acknowledging His holiness.
"...and lessen the offence." This suggests that sin is an offense against God. By returning to Him, forsaking sin, and praying with sincerity, one can "lessen" or mitigate the offense caused by their past actions. This isn't necessarily about completely erasing the consequences of sin, but rather about seeking forgiveness, making amends where possible, and changing one's behavior to avoid future transgressions. It's about diminishing the negative impact of sin on one's relationship with God.
In essence, the verse is a concise guide to repentance:
1. Acknowledge your separation from God and return to Him.
2. Turn away from sin with a sincere commitment to change.
3. Communicate with God through humble and honest prayer.
4. Seek to reduce the harm caused by your sins through forgiveness, amendment, and continued striving for righteousness.
The verse offers a hopeful message: that even when we have strayed, God is willing to accept us back if we are truly repentant and willing to change our ways. It emphasizes that repentance is an active process, involving both inward transformation and outward actions.