O come, let us worship and bow down - Let us worship him by bowing down; by prostrating ourselves before him. The word here rendered “come” is not the same which is used in Psalms 95:1. Its literal meaning is “come,” and it is an earnest exhortation to come and worship. It is not a particle merely calling attention to a subject, but it is an exhortation to approach - to enter - to engage in a thing. The word rendered “worship,” means properly to bow down; to incline oneself; and then, to bow or prostrate oneself before anyone in order to do him homage, or reverence. Then it means to bow down before God in the attitude of worship. It would most naturally refer to an entire “prostration” on the ground, which was a common mode of worship; but it would also express adoration in any form. The word rendered “bow down,” means properly to bend, to bow, spoken usually of the knees. Isaiah 45:23 : “every knee shall bow.” Compare Judges 7:5-6; 1 Kings 8:54; 2 Kings 1:13. The word might be applied, like the former word, to those who bow down with the whole person, or prostrate themselves on the ground. 2 Chronicles 7:3.
Let us kneel before the Lord our Maker - The usual attitude of prayer in the Scriptures. See the notes at Daniel 6:10; compare 2 Chronicles 6:13; Luke 22:41; Acts 7:60; Acts 9:40; Acts 20:36; Acts 21:5. All the expressions here employed denote a posture of profound reverence in worship, and the passage is a standing rebuke of all irreverent postures in prayer; of such habits as often prevail in public worship where no change of posture is made in prayer, and where a congregation irreverently sit in the act of professedly worshipping God. People show to their fellowmen the respect indicated by rising up before them: much more should they show respect to God - respect in a posture which will indicate profound reverence, and a deep sense of his presence and majesty. Reverently kneeling or standing “will” indicate this; sitting does not indicate it.