The open hand indicates the emptiness with which we come to God, and the need for Him to bless us (Psalm 134:2). There is more of a biblical case for open hands before God in prayer than clasped hands. If we are not kneeling, at least we can bow our heads to express our humility. The point is that our bodily posture in worship should indicate humility and obedience to God.

The primary words for worship in the Old Testament and New Testament indicate bowing or kneeling in obeisance. I think I can make the case for bowing my head. There might be some good practical reasons for doing it at times, but not biblical reasons. The truth is that I can find no place in scripture that tells me I must close my eyes when I pray. What gives us the right to change the words of scripture because it does not fit our tradition? We criticize the Catholics for doing that. The first great Baptist distinctive is that the Bible is our only rule for faith and practice. Lift up your hands in the sanctuary (holy place).īut we are Baptists! Baptists don’t lift up their hands in worship. Psalm 134, from which this chorus is taken, says clearly, If you use a very popular hymnbook for fundamental churches, the song says, Who stand by night in the house of the Lord.īow your heads, close your eyes, and clasp your hands together in the holy place, and bless the Lord. Come bless the Lord, ye servants of the Lord.

Closed hands prayer pose