Posture in Prayer by G. B. Thompson

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D.C. · Dec 21, 1905

Posture in Prayer

By G. B. Thompson

G. B. THOMPSON

THERE is no doubt but that the Lord will hear the earnest supplications of any heart, regardless of the particular attitude the person may be in while praying. But that we should reverently bow down before the great and terrible God seems indeed most fitting. Just in proportion as spirituality wanes in a church, and the worship becomes cold and formal, the practise of kneeling during prayer is abandoned. The preacher stands, and the congregation

sit. But surely nothing can be more fitting than that the congregation should kneel when the blessing of the great Master of assemblies is being invoked. Anciently in times of special humbling of the heart, we find the servants of God lying prostrate before the Lord. We can not conceive of Elijah sitting or standing while he sought God to send rain upon the earth, at the close of the terrible struggle with the prophets of Baal. 1 Kings 18: 42.

The following instances are sufficient to indicate the mind of the Lord, and the teaching of his Word concerning this matter:— “And he [Jesus] . . . kneeled down and prayed.” Luke 22: 41. “And he [Jesus] went forward a little, and fell on his face, and prayed.” Matt. 26: 39. “And [Solomon] kneeled down upon his knees before all the assembly of Israel.” 2 Chron. 6: 13. Ezra fell upon his knees, and spread out his hands unto God. Ezra 9: 5. Daniel “kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime.” Dan. 6: 10. Paul “kneeled down, and prayed with them all.” Acts 20: 36. “But Peter put them all forth, and kneeled down, and prayed.” Acts 9: 40. The believers at Tyre, when bidding Paul farewell, kneeled down on the beach, and prayed. Acts 21: 5. When being stoned, Stephen “kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge.” Acts 7: 60. “And there cometh to him a leper, beseeching him, and kneeling down to him, and saying, If thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.” Mark 1: 40. “And when they were come to the multitude, there came to him a man, kneeling to him, and saying, Lord, have mercy on my son.” Matt. 17: 14, 15. “Wherefore also God highly exalted him, and gave unto him the name which is above every name; that in the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven and things on earth and things under the earth.” Phil. 2: 9, 10. “By myself have I sworn, the word is gone forth from my mouth in righteousness, and shall not return, that unto me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear.” Isa. 45: 23. “O come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before Jehovah our Maker.” Ps. 95: 6.

Washington, D. C.