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Standing
And the Levites--Jeshua, Kadmiel, Bani, Hashabneiah, Sherebiah, Hodiah, Shebaniah and Pethahiah--said: "Stand up and praise the Lord your God, who is from everlasting to everlasting. Blessed be your glorious name, and may it be exalted above all blessing and praise." Nehemiah 9:5 (NIV)
When a dignitary enters the room, you stand. When an athlete makes a great play, you stand. When you are introduced to a person, you stand to greet them. By standing, you are showing your respect for a position, a person, or recognizing great accomplishment. This is all true when praising the Lord. We call people to stand when praising the Lord because He is worthy of our highest honor.
Moses was standing on holy ground - that is where the Lord is (Exodus 3:5). Samuel stood in the presence of the Lord (1 Samuel 12:3). Elijah stood in the presence of the Lord on the mountain (1 Kings 19:11). We should stand in the presence of the Lord whether in sword, judgment, plague, or famine (2 Chronicles 20:9). In times of repentance, we cannot stand in God’s presence (Ezra 9:15). Sinners cannot stand in his presence (Psalms 5:5, 101:7; and Jeremiah 15:1). Angels stand in his presence (Zechariah 6:5). Gabriel stood in the presence of God when proclaiming the birth of Jesus (Luke 1:19).
Standing is very symbolic of what a Christian must do in this world: We stand praying (Mark 11:25). We stand as witnesses (Mark 13:9 and Acts 5:20). We stand in the grace of the Lord (Romans 5:2, 11:20; and 1 Peter 5:12). We will all stand before the judgment seat of God (Romans 14:10). We are to stand up under temptation (1 Corinthians 10:13). We are to take our stand on the gospel of God (1 Corinthians 15:1). We are to stand firm in the faith (1 Corinthians 15:58, 16:13; 2 Corinthians 1:24; Philippians 1:27, 4:1; Colossians 4:12; James 5:8). We are to stand against our enemies (Galatians 5:1 and Ephesians 6:11-14).
Singing
Sing to God, sing praise to his name, extol him who rides on the clouds -- his name is the Lord -- and rejoice before Him. Psalms 68:4 (NIV)
Sing to him, sing praise to him; tell of all his wonderful acts. 1 Chronicles 16:9 (NIV)
Sing to the Lord, all the earth; proclaim his salvation day after day. 1 Chronicles 16:23 (NIV)
I will be glad and rejoice in you; I will sing praise to your name, O Most High. Psalms 9:2 (NIV)
I will sing to the Lord, for he has been good to me. Psalms 13:6 (NIV)
Throughout the scriptures, we are exhorted to sing! Whether you have a voice like an angel or a bullfrog - sing! God’s people are a people who sing. We will sing of the Lord’s great love forever (Psalms 89:1). Get used to it, singing is eternal.
Sing to Him! God is your audience. Sing praise to Him! He is the one worthy of your highest praises! It is fitting to praise him in the song (Psalms 33:1). Sing to Him a new song! (Psalms 96:1).
They sang the song of Moses when God parted the Red Sea (Exodus 15). The Israelites sang to the water “Spring Up O Well” (Numbers 21:16). Moses taught the Israelites a song of remembrance (Deuteronomy 31:19). (Singing aids in scripture memorization.) In David’s Tabernacle, they sang to the Lord (1 Chronicles 15:16-27). Jehoshaphat overcame a superior army by singing (2 Chronicles 20:20-22). A man is snared by his own sin, but a righteous one can sing and be glad (Proverbs 29:6). Barren women were exhorted to sing and they’d have children (Isaiah 54:1). At the last supper, right before going to the Mount of Olives, Jesus and the disciples sang (Mark 14:26). Paul and Silas sang praises to God while in jail, the foundation of the prison was shaken, and their chains were broken (Acts 16:25). The apostle exhorts us to sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs in the New Testament. In any time of revival, there is a great deal of singing. In heaven they sing (Revelation 5:9).
Playing Musical Instruments
Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet, praise him with the harp and lyre, praise him with tambourine and dancing, praise him with the strings and flute, praise him with the clash of cymbals, praise him with resounding cymbals. Psalms 150:3-5 (NIV)
God used a trumpet when calling his people to meet with Him on Mt. Sinai (Exodus 19:16-19). Sacred assemblies were commenced with the trumpet (Leviticus 23:24 and 25:9). The trumpet was sounded to bring people together (Numbers 10:1-8). The trumpet was used when an enemy was coming against the people (Numbers 10:9 and Nehemiah 4:20). A trumpet blast, and a shout dropped the walls of Jericho (Joshua 6:20). A trumpet stopped the battle (2 Samuel 2:28 and 18:16). A trumpet blast preceded the crowning of a new king (1 Kings 1:34 and 2 Kings 9:13). We are commanded to praise him with the sound of the trumpet (Psalms 150:3). God will gather his elect with a loud trumpet call (Matthew 24:31, 1 Corinthians 15:52, and 1 Thessalonians 4:16). Harps were used by the procession of prophets (1 Samuel 10:5). David played the harp, and Saul found relief from a spirit (1 Samuel 16:23). Musical instruments were used in celebration of the ark coming from captivity (2 Samuel 6:5; 1 Chronicles 13:8; 1 Chronicles 15:16, 28). The harpist playing enabled Elisha to prophesy (2 Kings 3:15). In David’s Tabernacle, musical instruments were used (1 Chronicles 15:16 and 16:5). These instruments were specially made by David (2 Chronicles 7:6). The music of strings makes the Lord glad (Psalms 45:8). Hezekiah wrote of singing with stringed instruments all the days of his life (Isaiah 38:20). When the prodigal son came home, they celebrated with music and dancing (Luke 15:25). In heaven, there are harpists playing harps (Revelation 14:2).
The phrase “to make melody” (Ephesians 5:19) in Greek points to playing a musical instrument.
5567. psallo, psal'-lo; prob. strengthened from psao (to rub or touch the surface; comp. G5597); to twitch or twang, i.e. to play on a stringed instrument (celebrate the divine worship with music and accompanying odes):-- make melody, sing (psalms).
In the Old Testament - they made music (1 Samuel 16:16).
5059. nagan, naw-gan'; a prim. root; prop. to thrum, i.e. beat a tune with the fingers; espec. to play on a stringed instrument; hence (gen.) to make music: -- player on instruments, sing to the stringed instruments, melody, ministrel, play (-er. -ing).
Clapping of hands
Clap your hands, all you nations; shout to God with cries of joy. Psalms 47:1 (NIV)
Clapping is used in a variety of settings to show appreciation to someone for something they have achieved or accomplished. No one has accomplished more than the Lord!
Floods clap their hands (Psalms 98:8). The trees of the field clap their hands (Isaiah 55:12).
Lifting of Hands
Lift up your hands in the sanctuary and praise the Lord. May the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth, bless you from Zion. Psalms 134:2-3 (NIV)
May my prayer be set before you like incense; may the lifting up of my hands be like the evening sacrifice. Psalms 141:2 (NIV)
Lifted hands were used when taking an oath before the Lord (Genesis 14:22 and Deuteronomy 32:40). Aaron lifted up his hands when giving the priestly blessing (Leviticus 9:22). As long as Moses kept his hands lifted, the Israelites were conquering the Amalek army (Exodus 17:11). Jeremiah lifted up his hands for mercy and repentance (Lamentations 2:19 and 3:41). David lifted up his hands when crying out for mercy (Psalms 28:2), and when looking at God’s commands (Psalms 119:48). Paul exhorted men everywhere to lift up holy hands without wrath and doubting (1 Timothy 2:8).
Shouting
Clap your hands, all you nations; shout to God with cries of joy. Psalms 47:1 (NIV)
So all Israel brought up the ark of the covenant of the LORD with shouts, with the sounding of rams' horns and trumpets, and of cymbals, and the playing of lyres and harps. 1 Chronicles 15:28 (NIV)
We will shout for joy when you are victorious and will lift up our banners in the name of our God. May the LORD grant all your requests. Psalms 20:5 (NIV)
Shout with joy to God, all the earth! Psalms 66:1 (NIV)
Sing for joy to God our strength; shout aloud to the God of Jacob! Psalms 81:1 (NIV)
The Israelites shouted when God lit the burnt offering (Leviticus 9:24). The walls of Jericho came tumbling down with a shout (Joshua 6). Gideon’s tiny army overcame the Midianites with a trumpet blast and a shout (Judges 7:20). The Ark of the Covenant was brought up from captivity with shouts and trumpets (2 Samuel 6:15 and 1 Chronicles 15:28). Shouts were used at the crowning of a king (1 Kings 1:39 and 2 Kings 9:13). When the foundation of the temple was laid there was shouting (Ezra 3:11-13). When God is victorious, we shout (Psalms 20:5). Demoniacs* shouted to the Lord and found deliverance (Matthew 8:29, Luke 4:41, and Luke 8:28). Blind men shouted to the Lord and received their sight (Matthew 20:30-34 and Luke 18:39-43). Jesus’ victorious entry into Jerusalem was accompanied with shouting (Matthew 21:9). The Lord’s return will be introduced with a shout (1 Thessalonians 4:16).
* Person possessed or controlled by a demon. (The Catholic Encyclopedia)
Rejoicing
There are two Hebrew words that tell us that rejoicing is a form of worship. These two words are giyl and ranan.
1523. giyl, gheel; or (by perm.) ` guwl, gool; a prim. root; prop. to spin round (under the influence of any violent emotion), i.e. usually rejoice, or (as cringing) fear: -- be glad, joy, be joyful, rejoice.
Let Israel rejoice in him that made him: let the children of Zion be joyful in their King. Psalms 149:2 (KJV)
This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it. Psalms 118:24 (KJV)
7442. ranan, raw-nan'; a prim. root; prop. to creak (or emit a stridulous sound), i.e. to shout (usually for joy):--aloud for joy, cry out, be joyful, (greatly, make to) rejoice, (cause to) shout (for joy), (cause to) sing (aloud, for joy, out), triumph.
"Ranan" is shout for joy, rejoice, sing aloud, or triumph. Triumph is associated with shouting and rejoicing!
But let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice: let them ever shout for joy, because thou defendest them: let them also that love thy name be joyful in thee. Psalms 5:11 (KJV)
We will rejoice in thy salvation, and in the name of our God we will set up our banners: the Lord fulfil all thy petitions. Psalms 20:5 (KJV)
They rejoiced at the Lord’s appointed feasts (Leviticus 23:40). We do not worship the Lord in the way the world worships their “gods”. We are to rejoice in the place where the Lord dwells (Deuteronomy 12:5-7). Hannah rejoiced in the Lord and boasted over her enemies when Samuel was born (1 Samuel 2:1). The hearts of those who seek the Lord should rejoice (1 Chronicles 16:10). We rejoice when the Lord defeats our enemies (2 Chronicles 20:27 and Isaiah 13:3). We rejoice in God’s love (Song of Solomon 1:4). We are to rejoice in our salvation (Isaiah 25:9). We rejoice at the comfort and compassion of the Lord (Isaiah 49:13). Rejoicing replaces disgrace and shame (Isaiah 61:7). We rejoice because the Lord has done great things (Joel 2:21). We should rejoice when everything goes wrong (Habakkuk 3:17-18). We should rejoice when persecuted and slandered (Matthew 5:11-12).
Dancing
And Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, took a timbrel in her hand; and all the women went out after her with timbrels and with dances. And Miriam answered them, Sing ye to the Lord, for he hath triumphed gloriously; the horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea. Exodus 15:20-21 (KJV)
Let them praise his name with dancing and make music to him with tambourine and harp. For the Lord takes delight in his people; he crowns the humble with salvation. Let the saints rejoice in this honor and sing for joy on their beds. Psalms 149:3-5 (NIV)
Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet, praise him with the harp and lyre, praise him with tambourine and dancing, praise him with the strings and flute, praise him with the clash of cymbals, praise him with resounding cymbals. Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord. Psalms 150:3-6 (NIV)
I will build you up again and you will be rebuilt, O Virgin Israel. Again you will take up your tambourines and go out to dance with the joyful. Jeremiah 31:4 (NIV)
Miriam and the women danced at the Lord’s victory over the Egyptians. Dancing was used to celebrate military victories (1 Samuel 18:6). The Benjamites found their wives among the dancers (Judges 21:21-23). David danced before the Lord with all his might when bringing the ark into his tabernacle (2 Samuel 6:14). The Lord turns our mourning into dancing (Psalms 30:11). There is a time to mourn, and a time to dance (Ecclesiastes 3:4). We are exhorted to praise him in the dance (Psalms 149:3 and 150:4). When God restores us, we dance (Jeremiah 31:4 and 13). Music and dancing was found in the father’s house when the prodigal came home (Luke 15:25).
Waiving Banners
We will shout for joy when you are victorious and will lift up our banners in the name of our God. May the Lord grant all your requests. Psalms 20:5 (NIV)
The Lord is our banner (Jehovahnissi) is one of the compound names of God (Exodus 17:15). A banner is the rallying point in time of battle. It is the flag that the warriors look to for encouragement and perseverance. The Star Spangled Banner is the United States’ national anthem.
And the rocket's red glare, the bomb bursting in air,
Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there,
O say does that star-spangled banner yet wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?
Through all the battles, Jesus stands from everlasting to everlasting, victorious over all. Through the deepest, darkest night, He is still there! He is the banner that stands for everyone (Jews and Gentiles) to behold and run to (Isaiah 49:22-23). He is the banner given to those who fear him (Psalms 60:4). His banner over us is love (Song of Solomon 2:4). He is the banner that men rally to and find rest (Isaiah 11:10). He is the rallying point where scattered nations gather (Isaiah 11:12 and 62:10). Looking to Him, we can execute his sentence upon our mutual enemies (Isaiah 13:2, 31:9; Jeremiah 50:2, 51:12, and 51:27).
We should lift up our banners in the name of Lord! We should rally to Jesus and to his strength in the opposition of our enemies. The banner in the congregation symbolizes Christ victory residing in the midst of his people. He is the mighty and glorious King who has triumphed over all! In this world we will have many troubles, but we are to take heart for he has overcome the world (John 16:33).
Bowing
The word "worship" translated in Hebrew and Greek means to "bow down". The word "prostrate" is used in the Strongs.*
* The famous Hebrew and Greek dictionaries written by James Strong.
4098. pipto, pip'-to; a redupl. and contr. form of peto, pet'-o (which occurs only as an alt. in cert. tenses); prob. akin to G4072 through the idea of alighting; to fall (lit. or fig.): --fail, fall (down), light on.
The Maji bowed and worshiped the baby Jesus (Matthew 2:11). Every knee will one day bow before the Lord (Romans 14:7 and Philippians 2:10). Many who had plagues and unclean spirits fell down before Jesus and were healed (Mark 3:10-11). The man, who was possessed of demons, fell down before Jesus and was delivered (Luke 8:28). Jairus fell at Jesus’ feet and the Lord raised his daughter from the dead (Luke 8:41). Mary fell at Jesus’ feet and pleaded with him over her brother’s death (John 11:32). Jesus raised Lazarus from the grave. In heaven, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fall down before the Lamb (Revelation 5:8, 14 and 19:4).
4352. proskuneo, pros-koo-neh'-o; from G4314 and a prob. der. of G2965 (mean. to kiss, like a dog licking his master's hand); to fawn or crouch to, i.e. (lit. or fig.) prostrate oneself in homage (do reverence to, adore): --worship.
When Jesus rebuked the wind and the waves, the disciples worshiped him (Matthew 14:31-33). The blind man that Jesus healed found him and worshiped him (John 9:38). The women coming from the empty tomb worshiped the resurrected Jesus (Matthew 28:9). When worshiping and fasting, God gave the disciples at Antioch instructions about Barnabas and Saul (Acts 13:2). Lydia was a worshiper (Acts 16:14). Titius Justus was a worshiper (Acts 18:7). The twenty-four elders throw down their crowns and worship the Lamb (Revelation 4:10). The angels, the elders and the four living creatures worship him (Revelation 7:11). All are commanded to worship the Lord (Revelation 14:7). We are not to worship angels or anything else except God (Revelation 22:9).
Source:
Indianapolis Christian Fellowship ~ icfonline.org
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