Harvest Bible Church

 

Did You Know… People raise their hands to worship God in many churches today. For those who do lift their hands, why? For those who don’t, why not? Does God require it? Does raising hands reflect true worship? Consider the Apostle Paul’s command to Timothy: I desire then that in every place the men should pray, lifting up holy hands without anger or quarreling (1 Tim. 2:8). Well, first of all it is the men who are addressed, not the women. And it is the men who are to offer prayers – lifting up holy hands. Notice that the lifting of hands has nothing to do with singing songs (as is so common today) but with prayer. And the men who did pray were to do so without quarrelling – or without disputing among themselves. But is God really concerned about hands being raised during one’s prayers? Does it really matter to God?

            The answer to that question is yes, it does matter, but lifting “holy hands” has nothing to do with one’s literal hands and arms. Lifting “holy hands” is an idiom for a morally pure and spiritually clean life. And since it is the men who are to lead the family and to preside over the affairs of the church, it is the men who are to offer prayers to God when the saints gather together. And God requires the shepherds of His flock (the church) to live holy lives.

            Consider how God rebuked Israel through the prophet Isaiah: So when you spread out your hands in prayer, I will hide My eyes from you, yes, even though you multiply prayers, I will not listen. Your hands are covered with blood (1:15). Clearly the lifting up of hands was in relation to prayer from a pure life and motive, not literal hand-raising. Proverbs 15:8 says, The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD, but the prayer of the upright is His delight. Job 16:17 says, There is no violence in my hands, and my prayer is pure.” So one’s hands in the Bible are metaphors for one’s life – either a life of debauched sin or one of purity.

            Maybe you’ve been convicted that you need to “upgrade” your spiritual life by raising your hands in church and really prove your worship to all those around you. There’s nothing necessarily wrong with that, but before you “upgrade” your worship consider what holy hands really are. James 4:8 says, Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. In other words, drawing near to God through prayer entailed not washing one’s hands but cleansing one’s life! King David said, I shall wash my hands in innocence, and I will go about Your altar, O LORD…” (Psalm 26:6). And another Psalmist said, Lift up your hands to the sanctuary, and bless the LORD (134:2). The prophet Jeremiah asked Israel, Will you steal, murder, and commit adultery, and swear falsely… then come and stand before me in this house which bears my Name? (7:9-10).

            God indeed commends prayers from “holy hands.” Cornelius, in Acts 10:2, was called a devout man, one who feared God with all his household, and gave many alms to the Jewish people, and prayed to God continually. And the writer of Hebrews says, Let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water (10:22). Now that is what lifting holy hands is all about – drawing near to God with a sincere and pure heart and offering our lives to God as our spiritual act of worship (Romans 12:1-2). So lift your hands if you must, but make sure your public display of worship corresponds to your private life of fellowship with Christ. Upgrading our public worship in church starts with upgrading our private prayer life with a life pleasing to God.