Regional Synod of Canada - Reformed Church in America

Pioneer Christian Monthly

Date - Sept. 16/60

Contributor - R. Vander Pol

Title - Praying Hands

Topic - Prayer

When we hear or read these words, no doubt, a certain picture comes to our minds. We are reminded of a drawing or painting a certain artist made of the hands of a devout man at prayer. These hands are placed with finger tips touching and palms apart.

It may interest us to know what the Bible teaches about praying hands. In the account given in Exodus 17 we read of Israel's battle with the Amalekites. We learn that when Moses lifted up his hands Israel was victorious, but when he lowered his hands the Amalekites were the victors. No doubt this man of God prayed for the armies of God to subdue the enemy. In order that Moses might not become utterly exhausted it was arranged that he should seat himself on a stone and that Aaron and Hur would brace his hands so that they could be held up until God's people had conquered their enemies.

Psalm 28 : 2 gives us this picture of praying hands: "Hear the voice of my supplication, as I cry to thee for help, as I lift up my hands toward thy most holy sanctuary".

We see another illustration in Psalm 141 :2, "Let my prayer be counted as incense, the lifting up of my hands as an evening offer". .

In 1 Tim. 2 :8 Paul gives this instruction to Timothy: "I desire that in every place the men should pray, lifting up holy hands without anger or quarreling".

During the time of his service as a chaplain in the U.S. Army the writer has held many services at which the worshippers would stand with uplifted hands during prayer. He has attended services of a certain religious fellowship in which almost the entire audience would stand with raised hands during the time of prayer.

In connection with the prayer of dedication for the Temple we read of praying hands in 1 Kings 8 :22. "Then Solomon stood before the altar of the Lord in the presence of all the assembly of Israel, and spread forth his hands toward heaven." This was at the beginning of the prayer. Later he must have knelt because we read in verse 54, "Now as Solomon finished offering all his prayer and supplication to the Lord, he arose from before the altar of the Lord where he knelt with hands outstretched toward heaven". Then follows the benediction concerning which we read in verse 55, "And he stood, and blessed all the assembly of Israel wit a loud voice, saying, 'Blessed be the Lord who has given rest to his people Israel, according to all that he promised'." It may be possible that Solomon pronounced both salutation and benediction with upraised hands. Possibly the entire prayer was made with hands which were lifted up.

In our Reformed Church it has long been the custom for the minister to raise his hands for the salutation at the beginning of the service thus declaring that God's grace, mercy and peace might be upon the worshippers during the service. When the service was ended the minister would again extend his hands and pronounce the benediction. The writer is of the opinion that this still is the custom in the large majority of our churches.

It would be proper and biblical for the minister to keep his hands upraised throughout every prayer during a worship service. But this is not expected in our Reformed Church circles. It is sufficient that he raise his hands for salutation and benediction.

A few more words about praying hands. In Psalm 24 the question is asked, "Who shall ascend the hill of the Lord, and who shall stand in his holy place?" The answer is, "He who has clean hands and a pure heart. . . "

Fellow Christians, are our praying hands clean? Have our hands as well as our hearts been made clean by Christ's atonement? Have they been made holy by the power of the Holy Spirit? May God grant that this may be true.

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