This verse prompted me to contemplate on the value of standing silent before God, to adore him without being busy putting out a multitude of words that would honor him.

Often, our worship is characterized entirely by words as we pray and sing to God. Don’t get me wrong, I am sure God loves to hear beautiful language that is directed to him, and we should strive to exalt him with the loftiest words we have, but I think  sometimes the words get in the way of us reaching a genuine posture of worship and adoration before God.

I believe we would do well to follow Solomon’s advice in this verse and refrain from rushing to offer God impressive language. It will do us good to be griped by the infinite difference between God and us, by our unworthiness to say anything that is not stained by our sinful nature. Sometimes, it is better to be silent and, instead, to listen.

As I reflected on this theme, although I have never written poetry before, I was compelled to express my findings in the form of a poem. I want to share this poem with you in the hope that you will give your heart the proper consideration, especially before you join others in corporate worship, that you will not be hasty with your words.  

So here goes my humble approach at poetry. I pray that God would speak to you through it, so that you may consider the occasional need for silent worship. 

God, you alone are worthy of worship.
There is none like you.

My praise to express,
In some way I try to do.
But how? 
How can I extol your name? 

My Lord, I shall praise you
With wonderful words,
With many metaphors I shall adorn my speech.
My soul is eager to present them all to you,
To arrange them in a majestic way
That you may be honored 
By my worship.

In song to exalt you,
I restlessly desire.
To revere and honor you,
Forever a burning fire.

I labour hard to prepare a feast for you,
Before your people.
But to my utter despair,
I discover that all I have is wanting. 

The table wobles, 
the chairs squick,
the dishes are scratched, chiped, and dirty. 
Even the food, which I toiled to prepare, 
While multitasking, I succeeded to burn. 

I wanted you to be impressed,
But now I am embarassed. 
I am emberassed at my shortcomings,
But also, at the futility of it all.
Turns out your table is filled with delicacies,
With food I can never match.
Instead of trying to be the cook,
I should have come to eat.

My many words have failed.
Who I am Lord to speak? 
What can I say to you that is not polluted in some way? 
You deserve the loftiest words of praise,
but I have no such words. 
You deserve riches,
and all I have is rags. 

I will no longer seek to give you words,
but my ear. 
Yes, I will listen and not speak. 
I will give you my quiet and humble heart. 
Like Job, I will cover my mouth. 
No speech, no song, just a murmur. 
Only the inner groanings of my soul,
I want to set before you. 
Fewer words and more worship.