Worshipping Face Down

This evening I am going to be sharing a topical message related to worship. I want us to examine the worship-related action of falling face down before the Lord; so, I have entitled our sermon/Bible study, “Worshipping Face Down.” The title of our message is also found in a book on worship called Face Down, written by song writer and worship leader Matt Redman. I am going to be sharing some comments made by Redman tonight; however, my message was not inspired by him. My inspiration came from God’s Word as I was reading the Bible, and noticed how people fell prostrate before the Lord in response to His glorious presence.

It is awe-inspiring to read about these encounters with the Lord; and so, we are going to read through many of them together. I remember how when I read each of them I wanted to fall face down before the Lord myself, and I hope this will be the response that each of us will have this evening. I am not expecting you to fall down before the Lord in worship on the spot, but I sure don’t want to stop you if this is how you feel led. I am hoping, however, that we will be encouraged to worship the Lord in this manner in our own devotional and prayer time.

I am going to begin this evening by reading through some of these face down experiences found in the Scripture; therefore, I want to encourage you to either turn to each Bible passage with me, or make note of them for future study. Also, I want us to ask us some questions concerning what the people in theses verses fell down in response to; and I encourage you to feel free to answer the questions.

Falling Face Down in the Presence of God

Genesis 17:1-3 – When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to Abram and said to him, “I am Almighty God; walk before Me and be blameless. And I will make My covenant between Me and you, and will multiply you exceedingly.” Then Abram fell on his face, and God talked with him. Who appeared directly before Abraham, which caused him to fall face down? We read, “The Lord appeared to Abraham” (v. 1). So, he fell down in response to God.

Leviticus 9:23-24 – And Moses and Aaron went into the tabernacle of meeting, and came out and blessed the people. Then the glory of the LORD appeared to all the people, and fire came out from before the LORD and consumed the burnt offering and the fat on the altar. When all the people saw it, they shouted and fell on their faces. What did the people see that led to them falling on their faces? We read that is was “the glory of the Lord” (v. 23). So, the people fell down in response to the glory of the Lord displayed through fire consuming the offering upon the altar.

Numbers 16:20-22 – And the LORD spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying, “Separate yourselves from among this congregation, that I may consume them in a moment.” Then they fell on their faces, and said, “O God, the God of the spirits of all flesh, shall one man sin, and You be angry with all the congregation?” Who appeared directly before Moses and Aaron, which caused them to fall face down? We read, “The Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron” (v. 20). So, Moses and Aaron heard God’s voice. It may have been an audible voice with no physical form, yet it was enough to cause them to fall on their faces.

Numbers 16:44-45 – And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, “Get away from among this congregation, that I may consume them in a moment.” And they fell on their faces. Who spoke to Moses that caused the people to fall on their faces? We read, “The Lord spoke to Moses” (v. 44). Could the message have had something to do with their response as well? God said that He was going to kill the people.

Numbers 20:6 – So Moses and Aaron went from the presence of the assembly to the door of the tabernacle of meeting, and they fell on their faces. And the glory of the LORD appeared to them. What appeared to Moses and Aaron that caused them to fall on their face? We read, “And the glory of the Lord appeared to them.” So, they fell down in response to the glory of God.

Numbers 22:31 – Then the LORD opened Balaam’s eyes, and he saw the Angel of the LORD standing in the way with His drawn sword in His hand; and he bowed his head and fell flat on his face. What did Balaam see that caused him to fall face down? We read, “And he saw the Angel of the Lord.” The Angel of the Lord represented God’s presence; so, Balaam not only fell out of, perhaps, fear or surprise, but he fell flat on his face in the response to the holiness of God.