Never really understood the whole waving hands in the air thing.
One might feel inspired to hail an important enough human figure that way... why not God?
“Never really understood the whole waving hands in the air thing.”
Read Scripture.
I hear ya!
RE: Never really understood the whole waving hands in the air thing.
SOME PRECEDENTS FROM SCRIPTURE MIGHT HELP (ESV, English Standard Version):
Nehemiah 8:6 ESV
And Ezra blessed the Lord, the great God, and all the people answered, “Amen, Amen,” lifting up their hands. And they bowed their heads and worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground.
1 Kings 8:54
Now as Solomon finished offering all this prayer and plea to the Lord, he arose from before the altar of the Lord, where he had knelt with hands outstretched toward heaven.
1 Timothy 2:8-10 ESV
I desire then that in every place the men should pray, lifting holy hands
Psalm 28:2 ESV
Hear the voice of my pleas for mercy, when I cry to you for help, when I lift up my hands toward your most holy sanctuary.
Ezra 9:5 ESV
And at the evening sacrifice I rose from my fasting, with my garment and my cloak torn, and fell upon my knees and spread out my hands to the Lord my God,
1 Kings 8:22 ESV
Then Solomon stood before the altar of the Lord in the presence of all the assembly of Israel and spread out his hands toward heaven,
Psalm 119:48 ESV
I will lift up my hands toward your commandments, which I love, and I will meditate on your statutes.
1 Kings 8:38 ESV
Whatever prayer, whatever plea is made by any man or by all your people Israel, each knowing the affliction of his own heart and stretching out his hands toward this house,
I never did until I started going to Nazarene Church. I was raised Catholic, Latin masses, etc. It wasn’t until I attended a Nazarene Church, had Bible studies, worship music (yes with a band,singers,drums, etc) that I first experienced the raising hand(s) in the air.
I felt so uncomfortable at first, seeing this in a church. Catholic churches were also so strict about any movement outside of the standing, kneeling, standing, sitting, kneeling.
I really felt I WAS committing a sin by raising my hands in the air at the Nazarene church.
It took me a while until I finally was “moved” to do so as well. I do it when I feel the Holy Spirit, the Lord moving in me. For me, it’s either when the Pastor is preaching or the music, songs are being played. The people in the Bible did sing and dance and raise their hands up to the Lord in praise.
“Never really understood the whole waving hands in air thing”
1 Timothy 2:8
Therefore I want the men in every place to pray, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and dissension.
Psalm 63:4
So I will bless You as long as I live; I will lift up my hands in Your name.
Psalm 119:48
And I shall lift up my hands to Your commandments, Which I love; And I will meditate on Your statutes.
Psalm 28:2
Hear the voice of my supplications when I cry to You for help, When I lift up my hands toward Your holy sanctuary.
Psalm 141:2
May my prayer be counted as incense before You; The lifting up of my hands as the evening offering.
Psalm 134:2
Lift up your hands to the sanctuary And bless the LORD.
Lamentations 2:19
“Arise, cry aloud in the night At the beginning of the night watches; Pour out your heart like water Before the presence of the Lord; Lift up your hands to Him For the life of your little ones Who are faint because of hunger At the head of every street.”
Lamentations 3:41
We lift up our heart and hands Toward God in heaven;
It's in the Book...
It now appears to be an expression of 'giving up' to God: submission to His will.