300. Uplifted Hands in Prayer

Narrator: Chris Genthree
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1 Kings 8:2222And Solomon stood before the altar of the Lord in the presence of all the congregation of Israel, and spread forth his hands toward heaven: (1 Kings 8:22). Solomon stood before the altar of the Lord in the presence of all the congregation of Israel, and spread forth his hands toward heaven.
This was an ancient custom in prayer, not only among the Hebrews, but among the heathen. At the present day a favorite praying posture with Mohammedans is standing with hands uplifted. The allusions to it in classic writers are frequent, and so also are the references in Scripture. See Exodus 9:29,3329And Moses said unto him, As soon as I am gone out of the city, I will spread abroad my hands unto the Lord; and the thunder shall cease, neither shall there be any more hail; that thou mayest know how that the earth is the Lord's. (Exodus 9:29)
33And Moses went out of the city from Pharaoh, and spread abroad his hands unto the Lord: and the thunders and hail ceased, and the rain was not poured upon the earth. (Exodus 9:33); 2 Chronicles 6:1212And he stood before the altar of the Lord in the presence of all the congregation of Israel, and spread forth his hands: (2 Chronicles 6:12); Ezra 9:55And at the evening sacrifice I arose up from my heaviness; and having rent my garment and my mantle, I fell upon my knees, and spread out my hands unto the Lord my God, (Ezra 9:5); Job 11:1313If thou prepare thine heart, and stretch out thine hands toward him; (Job 11:13); Psalm 28:2; 44:20; 68:31; 88:9; 134:2; 141:2; 143:62Hear the voice of my supplications, when I cry unto thee, when I lift up my hands toward thy holy oracle. (Psalm 28:2)
20If we have forgotten the name of our God, or stretched out our hands to a strange god; (Psalm 44:20)
31Princes shall come out of Egypt; Ethiopia shall soon stretch out her hands unto God. (Psalm 68:31)
9Mine eye mourneth by reason of affliction: Lord, I have called daily upon thee, I have stretched out my hands unto thee. (Psalm 88:9)
2Lift up your hands in the sanctuary, and bless the Lord. (Psalm 134:2)
2Let my prayer be set forth before thee as incense; and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice. (Psalm 141:2)
6I stretch forth my hands unto thee: my soul thirsteth after thee, as a thirsty land. Selah. (Psalm 143:6); Isaiah 1:1515And when ye spread forth your hands, I will hide mine eyes from you: yea, when ye make many prayers, I will not hear: your hands are full of blood. (Isaiah 1:15).