This verse from Sirach 36:4 is a prayer, specifically for God's glory to be revealed and recognized. Let's break it down:
"As you were sanctified in us before them..." This refers to a past experience where God's holiness and power were demonstrated or experienced within the Jewish people ("in us") in a way that was visible or impactful to other nations ("before them"). This could refer to events like the Exodus from Egypt, the giving of the Law at Sinai, or victories in battle. The idea is that God's holiness was made manifest through the Israelites, serving as a testimony to His power.
"So be you magnified in them before us." This is a petition for a future event. The prayer is that God's greatness and glory will be magnified (made even more evident) within the Jewish people ("in them"). This time, however, the impact and display of God's glory will be specifically witnessed and acknowledged by the Jewish people themselves ("before us"). It's a request for God to work in such a way that the Jewish people will have a renewed and heightened awareness of His power and majesty.
In simpler terms:
"You have shown your holiness through us in the past, making it clear to the nations around us. Now, we pray that you will reveal your greatness through our people in a way that we ourselves can witness and truly understand."
Underlying Themes:
God's Glory: The central theme is the desire for God's glory to be recognized and magnified.
Testimony to Nations: The verse acknowledges the importance of God's actions being a witness to the world.
Internal Transformation: The prayer implies a need for the Jewish people to have a deeper, more personal experience of God's power, rather than just relying on past events.
Humility: The petition is based on acknowledging that the speaker has already been set apart to God for a divine purpose before others, and now wants God to show his divine greatness through them to themselves.
The verse expresses a longing for God to be more fully known and appreciated, both by the nations and by the Jewish people themselves. It is a prayer for a renewed experience of God's presence and power.
This verse from Sirach 36:4 is a prayer, specifically for God's glory to be revealed and recognized. Let's break it down:
"As you were sanctified in us before them..." This refers to a past experience where God's holiness and power were demonstrated or experienced within the Jewish people ("in us") in a way that was visible or impactful to other nations ("before them"). This could refer to events like the Exodus from Egypt, the giving of the Law at Sinai, or victories in battle. The idea is that God's holiness was made manifest through the Israelites, serving as a testimony to His power.
"So be you magnified in them before us." This is a petition for a future event. The prayer is that God's greatness and glory will be magnified (made even more evident) within the Jewish people ("in them"). This time, however, the impact and display of God's glory will be specifically witnessed and acknowledged by the Jewish people themselves ("before us"). It's a request for God to work in such a way that the Jewish people will have a renewed and heightened awareness of His power and majesty.
In simpler terms:
"You have shown your holiness through us in the past, making it clear to the nations around us. Now, we pray that you will reveal your greatness through our people in a way that we ourselves can witness and truly understand."
Underlying Themes:
God's Glory: The central theme is the desire for God's glory to be recognized and magnified.
Testimony to Nations: The verse acknowledges the importance of God's actions being a witness to the world.
Internal Transformation: The prayer implies a need for the Jewish people to have a deeper, more personal experience of God's power, rather than just relying on past events.
Humility: The petition is based on acknowledging that the speaker has already been set apart to God for a divine purpose before others, and now wants God to show his divine greatness through them to themselves.
The verse expresses a longing for God to be more fully known and appreciated, both by the nations and by the Jewish people themselves. It is a prayer for a renewed experience of God's presence and power.