X

Positions of Prayer (Part 5)

Standing, Sitting, Bowing, Dancing, Eyes open, Eyes looking down and beating on the chest, In Bed, Facing the wall, Face between knees, Hidden face, Clapping, Walking, Eyes open, Laying on of Hands

What I am doing is seeking to let the Bible speak on the subject. I am not doing much interpreting of what it says. I want to present the total of all the times we find a position a person or persons are praying in. I want to give this information to you. The Holy Spirit will lead you in knowing better how to pray.
Remember this is not about what to pray about or how to pray or other things associated with the subject of prayer. We are looking only at positions of prayer. Should you find other positions please let me know and I will add it to this study.

Bow (11 times)

Some observations: Every instance of praying with the head bowed the person is prostrated also.
Nowhere have I found where a person bows the head without also lying face down.
I could not find one instance of a person praying with the head bowed and the eyes closed.

Strong’s Greek/Hebrew Dictionary 6915 qadad (kaw-dad’);

A primitive root; to shrivel up , i.e. contract or bend the body (or neck) in deference:
King James Version translates this word as: bow (down) (the) head, stoop.
The only Bible that I know that seeks always to be faithful to the Hebrew or Greek word ‘all’ the time is the Heritage Bible. It can be found on the web at: http://www.cathedraluniversity.com/heritagebible/index.asp
Dr. Gwin Turner is also on my board of directors.

Genesis 24:26 “And the man bowed his head , and prostrated himself to Jehovah.’
Genesis 24:48 “And I bowed , and prostrated myself to Jehovah, and I blessed Jehovah God of my lord Abraham.’
Genesis 24:31 “And the people believed; and when they attentively heard that Jehovah had visited the children of Israel, and that he had seen their misery, then they bowed , and prostrated themselves.’
Exodus 4:31 “And the people bowed , and prostrated themselves .’
Exodus 12:27 “And the people bowed , and prostrated themselves .’
Exodus 34:8 “And Moses flowed like liquid, and bowed his head toward the earth, and prostrated himself.’
Numbers 22:31 “And Jehovah uncovered the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the Messenger of Jehovah stationed in the road, with his sword drawn in his hand; and he bowed down , and fell prostrate on his nostrils.
1Chronicles 29:20 “And David said to all the congregation, Now bless Jehovah, your God. And all the congregation blessed Jehovah God of their fathers, and bowed down , and prostrated themselves to Jehovah and the king.’
2 Chronicles 20:18 “And Jehoshaphat bowed his nostrils to the ground , and all Judah, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem fell before the face of Jehovah, prostrating themselves to Jehovah.
2 Chronicles 29:30 “And they boasted with rejoicing, and they bowed and prostrated themselves .’
Nehemiah 8:6 “And Ezra blessed Jehovah, the great God, and all the people answered, Amen, Amen, with raising their hands; and they bowed , and prostrated themselves to Jehovah, their nostrils to the ground.

Standing (7 times)

2 Chronicles 6:12-13 “Then Solomon stood before the altar of the LORD in the presence of all the assembly of Israel, and spread out his hands (for Solomon had made a bronze platform five cubits long, five cubits wide, and three cubits high, and had set it in the midst of the court; and he stood on it , knelt down on his knees before all the assembly of Israel, and spread out his hands toward heaven);
Daniel 8:18 “Now, as he was speaking with me, I was in a deep sleep with my face to the ground ; but he touched me, and stood me upright.’
Daniel 10:11 “And he said to me, “O Daniel, man greatly beloved, understand the words that I speak to you, and stand upright , for I have now been sent to you.” While he was speaking this word to me, I stood trembling .’
Ezekiel 2:1 And He said to me, “Son of man, stand on your feet , and I will speak to you.”
1 Samuel 1:26 “And she said, “O my lord! As your soul lives, my lord, I am the woman who stood by you here, praying to the LORD.’
Luke 18:13 “And the tax collector, standing afar off , would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast , saying, ‘God, be merciful to me a sinner!’

Mark 11:25-26 Jesus: “And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses. But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your trespasses.

Sitting (7 times)

Acts 16:13 “And on the Sabbath day we went out of the city to the riverside, where prayer was customarily made; and we sat down .’
Jonah 3:6 “Then word came to the king of Nineveh; and he arose from his throne and laid aside his robe, covered himself with sackcloth and sat in ashes .
Jonah 3:6 “Then word came to the king of Nineveh; and he arose from his throne and laid aside his robe, covered himself with sackcloth and sat in ashes .
Ezra 10:9“So all the men of Judah and Benjamin gathered at Jerusalem within three days. It was the ninth month, on the twentieth of the month; and all the people sat in the open square of the house of God, trembling because of this matter and because of heavy rain.
1 Chronicles 17:16 “Then King David went in and sat before the LORD ; and he said: “Who am I, O LORD God?
2 Samuel 7:18 “Then King David went in and sat before the LORD ; and he said: “Who am I, O Lord GOD?
Nehemiah 1:4-5 “So it was, when I heard these words that I sat down and wept, and mourned for many days; I was fasting and praying before the God of heaven. And I said: “I pray, LORD God of heaven, O great and awesome God, You who keep Your covenant and mercy with those who love You and observe Your commandments,’

Dance (4 times)

2 Samuel 6:14 “Then David danced before the LORD with all his might; and David was wearing a linen ephod.’
2 Samuel 6:16 “and saw King David leaping and dancing before the face of Jehovah .’
Psalms 149:3 “Let them praise His name with the dance ; let them sing praises to Him with the timbrel and harp.’
Psalms 150:4“Praise Him with the timbrel and dance ; praise Him with stringed instruments and flutes!

Eyes open (3 times)

Luke 18:13 “And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven , but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me a sinner!’
John 11:41 “Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead man was lying. And Jesus lifted up His eyes and said, “Father, I thank You that You have heard Me.’
John 17:1 “Jesus spoke these words , lifted up His eyes to heaven , and said: “Father, the hour has come. Glorify Your Son, that Your Son also may glorify You,’

Eyes looking down, beat on chest

Luke 18:13 “And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast , saying, ‘God, be merciful to me a sinner!’

In Bed

Psalms 63:6 “When I remember You on my bed , I meditate on You in the night watches.’

Face toward the wall (2 times)

Isaiah 38:2 “Then Hezekiah turned his face toward the wall , and prayed to the LORD’
II Kings 20:2 “Then he turned his face toward the wall , and prayed to the LORD’

Face between the knees

I Kings 18:42 “So Ahab went up to eat and drink. And Elijah went up to the top of Carmel; then he bowed (prostrate) down on the ground, and put his face between his knees ‘

Hid face

Exodus 3:6 “He said, “I am the God of your father– the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” And Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look upon God.’

Clap

Psalms 47:1 “All you people, clap your palms ; shout to God with a shout of joy,

Walking

II Kings 4:33-35 “He went in therefore, shut the door behind the two of them, and prayed to the LORD. He returned and walked back and forth in the house , and again went up and stretched himself out on him; then the child sneezed seven times, and the child opened his eyes.’

Laying on of Hands (18 times)

In some of the following it is clear that the person or persons are laying hands on a person and praying. In other cases prayer is inferred but not clearly stated. So it is questionable whether the person also prays when hands are laid on but I do believe there is prayer associated with each of the following cases.

Matthew 19:13 “Then little children were brought to Him (Jesus) that He might put His hands on them and pray, but the disciples rebuked them.’
Matthew 19:14-15 “But Jesus said, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of heaven.’ And He laid His hands on them and departed from there.’
Mark 10:16 “And He (Jesus) took them up in His arms, put His hands on them, and blessed them.’
Mark 16:18 “They will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.’
Luke 4:40 “He (Jesus) laid His hands on every one of them and healed them.’
Luke 13:13 “And He (Jesus) laid His hands on her, and immediately she was made straight, and glorified God.’
Luke 24:50 “He (Jesus) led them out as far as Bethany, and He lifted up His hands and blessed them.
Acts 5:12 “And through the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders were done among the people.’
Acts 8:17 “Then they laid hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.’
Acts 8:18 “And when Simon saw that through the laying on of the apostles’ hands the Holy Spirit was given’
Acts 9:17 And Ananias went his way and entered the house; and laying his hands on him he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus’
Acts 19:6 “And when Paul had laid hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke with tongues and prophesied.’
Acts 19:11 “Now God worked unusual miracles by the hands of Paul.’
Acts 28:8 “Paul went in to him and prayed, and he laid his hands on him and healed him.’
Hebrews 6:2 “Of the doctrine of baptisms, of laying on of hands, of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.’
1 Timothy 4:14 “By prophecy with the laying on of the hands of the eldership.’
1 Timothy 5:22 “Do not lay hands on anyone hastily, nor share in other people’s sins; keep yourself pure.’
2 Timothy 1:6 “Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands.’

As far as I know you have now read every instance of the position a person was in when praying when you have read all of these columns. Now I want to be clear and state that it is possible and even likely that I have missed some position somewhere. Should you find one please e-mail me and I will add it in the proper place.
There is so much to digest in this column of different positions that I will just leave my comments few.

Now pray!
Pilgrim followers of Jesus,

Arthur and Denise Blessitt

Luke 18:1