Coram Deo
Puritan Board Junior
The Spreading out and/or Lifting Heavenward of the Hands
Does it matter what physical position God’s people assume when they engage in public prayer? The Scriptures mentions posture in prayer and indicates that it is not a matter of indifference or of little consequence. William Hendriksen, commenting on 1 Timothy 2:8-15, wrote:
Posture in prayer is never a matter of indifference. The slouching position of the body while one is suppose to be praying is an abomination to the Lord. . . . Different positions of arms, hands, and of the body as a whole, are indicated. All of these are permissible as long as they symbolize different aspects of the worshipper’s reverent attitude, and as long as they truly interpret the sentiments of the heart..
Exodus 9:29
And Moses said unto him, As soon as I am gone out of the city, I will spread abroad my hands unto the LORD; and the thunder shall cease, neither shall there be any more hail; that thou mayest know how that the earth is the LORD's.
Exodus 17:11, 12
And it came to pass, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed: and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed. But Moses hands were heavy; and they took a stone, and put it under him, and he sat thereon; and Aaron and Hur stayed up his hands, the one on the one side, and the other on the other side; and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun.
1 Kings 8:22
And Solomon stood before the altar of the LORD in the presence of all the congregation of Israel, and spread forth his hands toward heaven:
Nehemiah 8:6
And Ezra blessed the LORD, the great God. And all the people answered, Amen, Amen, with lifting up their hands: and they bowed their heads, and worshipped the LORD with their faces to the ground.
Psalm 63:4
Thus will I bless thee while I live: I will lift up my hands in thy name.
Psalm 134:2
Lift up your hands in the sanctuary, and bless the LORD.
Psalm 141:2
Let my prayer be set forth before thee as incense; and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice.
Isaiah 1:15
And when ye spread forth your hands, I will hide mine eyes from you: yea, when ye make many prayers, I will not hear: your hands are full of blood.
Lamentations 2:19
Arise, cry out in the night: in the beginning of the watches pour out thine heart like water before the face of the LORD: lift up thy hands toward him for the life of thy young children, that faint for hunger in the top of every street.
Lamentations 3:41
Let us lift up our heart with our hands unto God in the heavens.
Habakkuk 3:10
The mountains saw thee, and they trembled: the overflowing of the water passed by: the deep uttered his voice, and lifted up his hands on high.
Luke 24:50
And he led them out as far as to Bethany, and he lifted up his hands, and blessed them.
1 Timothy 2:8
I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting.
James 4:8
Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.
Remaining Questions....
1. Is it suppose to be only men who lift up holy hands as per 1 Timothy 2:8 or men and women which seem to be exampled by the other passages....
2. It regard to Church Order.. Should everybody have to practice it, sort of a All or None approach? The passages above show Ministers, and Laymen Lifting up of hands.. So it seems to be both or is it just the one who is speaking the words of prayer?
3. What if only one person does it in the congregation? Is he disorderly by being a distraction?
Does it matter what physical position God’s people assume when they engage in public prayer? The Scriptures mentions posture in prayer and indicates that it is not a matter of indifference or of little consequence. William Hendriksen, commenting on 1 Timothy 2:8-15, wrote:
Posture in prayer is never a matter of indifference. The slouching position of the body while one is suppose to be praying is an abomination to the Lord. . . . Different positions of arms, hands, and of the body as a whole, are indicated. All of these are permissible as long as they symbolize different aspects of the worshipper’s reverent attitude, and as long as they truly interpret the sentiments of the heart..
Exodus 9:29
And Moses said unto him, As soon as I am gone out of the city, I will spread abroad my hands unto the LORD; and the thunder shall cease, neither shall there be any more hail; that thou mayest know how that the earth is the LORD's.
Exodus 17:11, 12
And it came to pass, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed: and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed. But Moses hands were heavy; and they took a stone, and put it under him, and he sat thereon; and Aaron and Hur stayed up his hands, the one on the one side, and the other on the other side; and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun.
1 Kings 8:22
And Solomon stood before the altar of the LORD in the presence of all the congregation of Israel, and spread forth his hands toward heaven:
Nehemiah 8:6
And Ezra blessed the LORD, the great God. And all the people answered, Amen, Amen, with lifting up their hands: and they bowed their heads, and worshipped the LORD with their faces to the ground.
Psalm 63:4
Thus will I bless thee while I live: I will lift up my hands in thy name.
Psalm 134:2
Lift up your hands in the sanctuary, and bless the LORD.
Psalm 141:2
Let my prayer be set forth before thee as incense; and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice.
Isaiah 1:15
And when ye spread forth your hands, I will hide mine eyes from you: yea, when ye make many prayers, I will not hear: your hands are full of blood.
Lamentations 2:19
Arise, cry out in the night: in the beginning of the watches pour out thine heart like water before the face of the LORD: lift up thy hands toward him for the life of thy young children, that faint for hunger in the top of every street.
Lamentations 3:41
Let us lift up our heart with our hands unto God in the heavens.
Habakkuk 3:10
The mountains saw thee, and they trembled: the overflowing of the water passed by: the deep uttered his voice, and lifted up his hands on high.
Luke 24:50
And he led them out as far as to Bethany, and he lifted up his hands, and blessed them.
1 Timothy 2:8
I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting.
James 4:8
Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.
Remaining Questions....
1. Is it suppose to be only men who lift up holy hands as per 1 Timothy 2:8 or men and women which seem to be exampled by the other passages....
2. It regard to Church Order.. Should everybody have to practice it, sort of a All or None approach? The passages above show Ministers, and Laymen Lifting up of hands.. So it seems to be both or is it just the one who is speaking the words of prayer?
3. What if only one person does it in the congregation? Is he disorderly by being a distraction?