8/9/2019 Should We Raise Our Hands or Clap Our Hands During Worship

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Should we raise our hands/clap

our hands during worship?

Scripture commands that we worship God, that we exalt

His name and offer Him our praise. There is biblical

precedent for both the lifting of hands and the clapping of

hands as an act of worship. Psalms 47:1 says, Clap your

hands, all you nations; shout to God with cries of joy. In

this instance, both clapping and shouting out joyful

worship to God are urged. In 2 Timothy 2:8, we read, I

want men everywhere to lift up holy hands in prayer,

without anger or disputing. The emphasis of this verse is

the attitude of the heart; however, we see that lifting

hands is an appropriate posture for prayer and worship.

Having these biblical precedents, we can safely conclude

that both of those expressions can be an act of worship.

What we need to ascertain is if those expressions, or

indeed if any specified expression, are an actual

requirement for worship. In examining specific acts of

worship in the Scriptures, we see there are a variety of

expressions and postures. Weve already seen the

command to clap our hands and shout to the Lord. The

trumpeters and singers joined in unison, as with one

voice, to give praise and thanks to the LORD.

Accompanied by trumpets, cymbals and other

instruments, they raised their voices in praise to the

LORD and sang: He is good; his love endures forever.

http://bible.logos.com/passage/niv/Psalms%2047.1http://bible.logos.com/passage/niv/2%20Timothy%202.8http://bible.logos.com/passage/niv/Psalms%2047.1http://bible.logos.com/passage/niv/2%20Timothy%202.8

8/9/2019 Should We Raise Our Hands or Clap Our Hands During Worship

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Then the temple of the LORD was filled with a cloud (2

Chronicles 5:13). So we see that singing praises and

playing instruments was also an appropriate expression

of worship. Singing as worship is also found in Ephesians5:19, Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and

spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the

Lord.

The postures of worship include standing, kneeling,

prostrating ourselves, eyes lifted up, eyes cast down, and

hands raised. We do not see one specific posture

universally required in worship, and neither do we see

one specific authorized expression of worship. We can

conclude, therefore, that the raising of hands and/or the

clapping of hands during worship is an appropriate

expression of worship, although neither is required for

worship.John 4:24 says, God is spirit, and his worshipers

must worship in spirit and in truth." Worship is a spiritual

event, and true worship comes from the heart. If our

worship is not heartfelt, it doesnt matter what posture or

expression of worship we use. If our worship is from the

heart, God accepts our worship.

Recommended Resource: How to Worship Jesus Christ

by Joseph Carroll.

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