stephen R Harrison

Some of the greatest times I’ve had in worshipping the Lord have been at night. After a busy day, settling down at night for a time of studying the Word, prayer, listening to a sermon or praise music has always brought me closer to the Lord. It makes me more thankful and helps me dedicate more of tomorrow to the Lord. In Psalm 134, the priests “ministered by night in the house of the Lord” (v. 1). For some, the time of the day when they praise the Lord may seem significant, but Psalm 113:3 reminds us, “From the rising of the sun to the place where it sets, the name of the Lord is to be praised.” This is the last of the fifteen Songs of Ascent psalms (Psalm 120-134). These psalms were sung in worship as the Israelites went to Jerusalem to worship in the three annual festivals. It seems Psalm 134 conveys the continual worship day and night that took place during these festivals. While worshipping the Lord in the morning helps me to start my day and focus it on the Lord, worshipping Him at night helps me reflect on how my day was used in worship and how I can dedicate tomorrow to Him in a greater way. We should worship the Lord throughout the day and night!

Psalm 134:2 is a clear picture of lifting hands in church as an act of worship. I don’t know if your traditions for worship include lifting hands, but according to this Scripture, they should. It literally says, “Lift up your hands in the sanctuary and praise the Lord.” We use physical gestures to communicate emotions with others, so why not with God? Apart from lifting hands, worship should be expressed in biblical ways such as speaking (Psalm 34:1), shouting (Psalm 27:6), clapping (Psalm 47:1), singing (Psalm 47:6), bowing (Psalm 95:6), standing (Psalm 119:120), dancing (Psalm 149:3), and playing instruments (Psalm 33:2-3). Lifting hands is not just an Old Testament expression of worship, it also a New Testament one (1 Timothy 2:8). One thing lifting hands does is communicate surrender. It is a humbling of self. Lifting hands also displays how much we need God as we reach our hands towards heaven. It is also conveys we are ready to receive more from the Lord, like a football player lifting his hands to catch a pass. Lifting hands also brings liberty to the worshipper as they abandon their pride, selfishness, and reputation unto the Lord. It also says, “Lord, do I have clean hands and a pure heart” (Psalm 24:3-4)? Next time you are singing, praying, reading Scripture, listening to a sermon, or doing anything in worship, lift your hand(s) to the Lord and connect more intimately to Him!

Psalm 134:3 ends the Songs of Ascent with a great beatitude: “May the Lord bless you from Zion, He who is the Maker of heaven and earth.” When we worship the Lord day and night (v. 1), and abandon all of who we are to Him by lifting our hands in worship (v. 2), we will truly receive a blessing from the Lord (v. 3). The God who made heaven and earth by speaking them into existence can also create blessing in your life as you praise Him. As the worshippers made their way back home from the three worship festivals, a blessing was pronounced over them for their journey and life “in between the festivals”. A great practice for you may be to pray blessings over people you worship with as they leave church each week “in between Sundays”.

Questions:

1. Do you have a time of worshipping the Lord in the morning and night?
2. Are you free in worship to lift your hands? Why or why not?
3. Have you thanked the Lord for all His blessings and prayed them for someone else?

Prayer:
Lord, I will make sure to worship You before I end my day. What a thought of ending my day in praise to the God Who never sleeps and watches over me while I sleep! I will arise the next day and lift my hands to You in worship. I will remember and thank You for all the blessings You have given me. You are worthy to be praised! In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.