In wartime, one of the most effective forms of surrender is forcing the enemy to raise empty hands above their heads. Why? Our hands hold our personal influence.
We shape instruments of war (such as swords, guns, cannons) and instruments of progress (such as machines, farming tools and technology) to be used by our hands. We create instruments of music to express ourselves creatively with our hands. We write motivating thoughts with the hand that holds the pen. We use hands to gesture peace or hostility, prayerful love or blatant disrespect. Hands may well be one of the most powerful parts of our bodies. With the actions of our hands, we have the opportunity to figuratively grab hold of our life’s initiatives or let go to God’s plans.
It is proper then that many Bible verses express and encourage the lifting of hands as a symbol of praise, rededication and supplication towards God. In Psalm 134:2 (ESV), we read: “Lift up your hands to the holy place and bless the Lord!” Also, in 1 Kings 8, King Solomon of Israel placed his magnificent Temple in Jerusalem, and his nation’s purposes, in God’s will, as seen in verse 54 (ESV): “Now as Solomon finished offering all this prayer and plea to the Lord, he arose from before the altar of the Lord, where he had knelt with hands outstretched toward heaven.”
In raising our hands towards God, we symbolically are saying, “Lord, You are in control. I surrender myself and my worship to You and I will not hold Your plans back with my heart or my hands.” In this respect, our role model is in Jesus: the ultimate example of surrendering to God.
-Josiah Milnes (shared at the Bethesda Board Meeting)
