Physical Expression in Worship

Many views have been proclaimed on this subject. "Do whatever you feel led." "Do whatever comes naturally" or "whatever feels right." "Clapping is wrong." "Lifting your hands is worldly." "Everybody, lift your hands in prayer to God." "Dance before Him." "Dancing is of the devil." It’s easy to get lost in the jungle. But what does the Bible say? I’m not entirely sure myself, so excuse me while I open my concordance and peruse God’s Word.

• Daniel 4:34
  Nebuchadnezzar
  Psalm 121:1; 123:1; John 11:41; 17:1
  “lifted up mine eyes unto Heaven”
• Leviticus 9:22
  Aaron
  Luke 24:50
  “extending [lifting up] hand toward people in a prayer of blessing”
• Psalm 28:2
  David
  Nehemiah 8:6; Psalm 63:4; 119:481; 134:2; 141:2; Lamentations 2:19; 3:41; 1 Timothy 2:8
  “lift up my hands toward Thy holy oracle”
• Ezra 9:6
  Ezra
  Luke 18:13
  “I am ashamed and blush to lift up my face to Thee”
• 1 Kings 8:54
  Solomon
  Ezra 9:5; Daniel 6:10
  “kneeling on his knees with his hands spread up to Heaven”
• 1 Kings 18:42
  Elijah
  “put his face between his knees”
• Luke 5:8
  Peter
  “fell down at Jesus’ knees”
• Romans 14: 11
  Everyone
  Ephesians 3:14; Philippians 2:10
  “every knee shall bow to Me”
• Psalm 95:6
  God’s people
  “Let us worship and bow down . . . and kneel”
• Luke 22:41
  Jesus
  Matthew 17:14; Mark 1:40; 10:17; Acts 7:60; 9:40; 20:36; 21:5
  “kneeled down and prayed”
• Deuteronomy 29:10
  Israel
  Genesis 18:22; Leviticus 9:5; Deuteronomy 10:8; 1 Kings 8:22; 2 Chronicles 20:13, 19; et cetera
  “stand this day . . . before the Lord”
• Psalm 149:3
  Israel
  Exodus 15:20-21; 2 Samuel 6:14; Psalm 150:4
  “praise His name in the dance”
• Ezra 9: 5
  Ezra
  “fell upon my knees”
• Genesis 17:3
  Abraham
  Leviticus 9:24; Numbers 22:31; Deuteronomy 9:18; Joshua 5:14; Judges 13:20; Samuel 5:3-4; Job 1:20; Psalm 72:11; Ezekiel 11:13; Mark 3:11; 5:33; 7:25; Luke 8:28,41; 17:16; John 11:32; 18:6; 1 Corinthians 14:25; Revelation 1:17; 4:10; 5:8,14; 7:11; 11:16; 19:4
  “fell on his face”
• Psalm 22:29
  All who die
  Psalm 72:9; Micah 6:6
  “bow before Him”
• Genesis 24:26
  Abraham’s servant
  Exodus 4:31; 12:27; Numbers 22:31; 1 Chronicles 29:20; 2 Chronicles 29:30
  “bowed down his head, and worshipped the Lord”
• 2 Chronicles 7:3
  God’s people
  2 Chronicles 20:18; 29:29
  “bowed themselves with their faces to the ground”
• Exodus 34:8
  Moses
  Nehemiah 8:16
  “bowed his head toward the earth, and worshipped”
• Judges 20:26
  Israel
  1 Chronicles 17:16
  “sat there before the Lord”
• Psalms 120-134 – Songs of Ascence – praise songs the children of Israel sung while walking up the hill to Jerusalem
• 2 Samuel 12:16
  Psalm 1:2; 17:3; 22:2; 42:8; 77:6; 88:1; 92:2; 119:55; 134:1; Luke 2:37; 18:7; Acts 26:7; 1 Thessalonians 3:10; 1 Timothy 5:5; 2 Timothy 1:3
  Lying down or at night
• Noises
  Ø Weeping
  Ø Shouting
  Ø Rejoicing
  Ø Crying out
  Ø Singing
  Ø Silence
  Ø Musical instruments