Lifting Hands

I can find 12 reasons why we lift our hands to the Lord in Praise and Worship:

1.   Supplication (A humble prayer of request.)

     Ps. 28:2 Hear the voice of my supplications...when I lift my hands...  Also Ps. 88:9; Lam. 2:19; Is. 1:15 (Amp.)

2.   Repentance (A prayer of contrition or penitence)

     Lam. 3:40-41 Let us search and try our ways, and turn again to the Lord.  Let us lift up our heart with our hands unto God in the heavens.

3.   Praise and blessing God

     Ps. 63:4 So will I bless Thee while I live; I will lift up my hands in your name.  Also Neh. 8:6; Ps. 134:2

4.   Worship

    Ps. 44:2 If we have stretched out our hands to a strange God... This scripture is talking about the worship of false Gods; however, we also may lift our hands as we worship our King.

5.   Thirsting or seeking after God

       Ps. 143:6 I spread forth my hands to you; my soul thirsts after you like a thirsty land.

6.   Prayer habit

      1 Tim. 2:8 I desire therefore that in every place men should pray...lifting up holy hands.

      Also: 1 Ki. 8:22; 8:38; 8:54; 2 Chron. 6:12; 6:19; Ps. 141:2; Is. 1:15

7.   Warfare

     Ex. 17:11-12  "When Moses held up his hand, Israel prevailed; and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed."

8.   Seeking, and as a sign of, divine power

      Ex. 9:15  ...I will stretch out my hand, that I may smite thee...

      Also Ex 7:19; 8:5-6; 5:17; 9:22; 9:29; 10:21-22; 14:16; 14:26-27; Num. 20:11

9.   Meditation

      Ps. 119:48 My hands also will I lift up...and I will meditate on Thy statutes.

10. To bless others

      Lu. 24:50 And lifting up His hands He invoked a blessing on them.  Also Lev. 9:22

11. Making a solemn declaration or oath  (As in a modern day court of law.)

      Deut. 32:40 For I will lift up my hand to heaven and swear as I live forever...

      Also Gen. 14:22; Is. 62:8; Dan. 12:7

12. A sign of the heart

      Heb. 12:12 Lift up the hands that hang down.

      Also Neh. 8:6; Job 11:13; Lam. 3:41