Corporate Worship Series: Raising Hands

Posted by on Jan 24, 2011 | Comments Off

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I grew up in the Church of Christ. It was a conservative congregation so the only hands in the air were to flag down family members who showed up late. I encountered my first worshiping “hand raisers” after Jennifer and I got married and we started attending a Spirit-filled little Nazarene church. But even then, it was rare and usually only one hand raised just above the shoulder.

Later, after attending some worship events and some other churches, I noticed that some people even raised both hands in worship. This seemed strange and exciting. I remember the first time I decided to lift my hands while singing. I felt like every eye in the place was on me. I hated that feeling, but for me, lifting my hands was a sign of inward surrender and humility. After all that God had done for me, He deserved my lifted hands even if I felt like a dork doing it.

In the Old Testament, we find various examples of lifting hands during corporate worship. Some would say, “Body posture is not what’s important. It is what is in the heart that counts.” There is truth to this. The Bible says that we make judgments based on outward appearances, but God looks at the heart.

But there are too many accounts of lifting of hands in the Bible to ignore them. Here are some Biblical examples of where the people of God lifted their hands to God:

  • In Response: Nehemiah records, “Ezra praised the LORD, the great God; and all the people lifted their hands and responded, “Amen! Amen!” Then they bowed down and worshiped the LORD with their faces to the ground.” Worship happens when there is revelation. God reveals Himself to us, we respond in worship, which in turn causes God to reveal more of Himself. Lifting our hands is a proper and Biblical response to God’s revelation.
  • A Cry For Help: Psalms 28:2 records this encouraging cry for help, “Hear my cry for mercy as I call to you for help, as I lift up my hands toward your Most Holy Place.” Like a child reaching for their parent when they are scared or hurt, we too can lift our hands to God for is love and deliverance.
  • In Prayer: Paul exhorts Timothy in 1 Tim 2:8 “Therefore I want the men everywhere to pray, lifting up holy hands without anger or disputing.” I’m not sure why, but I’ve found that praying with lifted hands adds a measure of intensity to my prayers. It’s like a spiritual exclamation point – not for God’s sake, but for mine.

Your personality may be quiet and reserved. Lifting even one hand in worship would make you extremely uncomfortable. For me, that was precisely why I needed to do it. I needed to lay down my pride and give Him the glory! Nehemiah reminds us that “all the people lifted their hands”. When we join together as a church singing, praying and lifting our hands together, there’s power in our unity.

Church, let’s join together with one voice and one heart, lifting our hands together to the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords!

Jimi Williams
Worship Pastor, The Bridge

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