Worship is an expression of praise and thanksgiving to God. It is not surprising that we find different ways of expression among believers because worship is not a religious routine but an individual expression of gratitude and communion with God.
Every believer that worships God must worship Him “in Spirit and in truth” (John 4:24 NLT). As the Spirit leads us in worship, the expressions may differ depending on the overflow of our hearts.
Some expressions include clapping hands and kneeling in worship. There’s also dancing, jumping in joy, stomping the feet, and in intense worship services, you may even see somebody lying prostrate on the ground. Some people prefer to be still, seated, or standing up.
It’s also interesting how different nations and cultures express their individuality in worship as well. A worship service in America is unlike a worship service in Africa. Christians in a free country will not look like Christians in a country that forbids Christianity.
Just like art, where beauty is in the eye of the beholder, the beauty of worship is in the eye of the DIvine Beholder as well—God, who sees beyond our movements, and looks deep into the motives of our hearts.
We are here to talk about the most Biblical form of worship—lifting our hands in praise to God—a symbol of absolute surrender.
Illustration from the Old Testament: Moses and the Victory of Israel
When the Amalekites attack the Israelites in Exodus 17, Moses must devise a strategy to protect the people. On a hilltop, he extends his hands in surrender while holding God’s staff. The staff represents God’s authority through His Word. The effect is similar to someone saying: “No one of us can accomplish it on our own. We need Your divine help, God.”
The Israelites prevailed as long as Moses kept his hands raised. Because God was on their side, the Israelites were victorious. Their ability to completely surrender to God gives them their power. He battled for them, and God gave Israel victory.
We lift our hands, just as we do in worship because we give control to God. We’re saying, “God, I’m nothing without Your help.” When people raise their hands in church, they admit that they are helpless and powerless without the Holy Spirit. They’re praising God by physically demonstrating their dependence on Him.
In worship, we are praising God’s authority through His Word in our lives. We declare His Word through the songs and hymns that we sing, the prayers that we utter, trusting God is moving on our behalf, and that in Him, we have victory over every adversary or challenge against us.
New Testament Worship: What Lifting of Hands Signify
We usually clap to applaud somebody or something. Psalm 47:1 reads, “Oh, clap your hands, all you peoples! Shout to God with the voice of triumph!” It’s vital to notice that clapping in this passage indicates an act of victory rather than praise.
Only in the Old Testament is clapping before the Lord mentioned. However, people clapped their hands for causes unrelated to worshiping God.
There isn’t a single verse in the New Testament that mentions someone clapping to worship. However, we have a New Testament verse that encourages us to raise our hands in praise to the Lord. The only direction we have in the New Testament about using our hands in worship is to lift them up.
In every place of worship, I want men to pray with holy hands lifted up to God, free from anger and controversy. (1 Timothy 2:8 NLT)
The world claps or applauds, but no one raises their hands to praise or rejoice. If the congregation is singing a happy song, clap along. When the worship leader asks the congregation to thank the Lord, we raise our hands in worship, as the Bible instructs.
Conclusion
True spiritual worship comes from the heart. When we offer God praise, He sees our hearts. Never mind what other people are doing in their worship. Those who worship Him with a humble and contrite heart are sought after by the Lord (Psalm 51:17; Isaiah 57:15).
He’s on the lookout for those who are prepared to give everything they’ve got for Him (Romans 12:1). Express yourself sincerely before the Lord in worship, and lift your hands in worship daily to praise, give thanks, and love on God.
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