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Needed In Prayer – A Humble Posture Of The Heart

The ancient Greeks and Romans rejected kneeling as a part of their worship. They said that kneeling was unworthy of a free man, unsuitable for the culture of Greece, and appropriate only for barbarians. Aristotle called it a barbaric form of behavior. The scholars Plutarch and Theophrastus regarded kneeling as an expression of superstition.

In Psalm 95:6, the text reads:

“Oh come, let us worship and bow down; Let us kneel before the Lord our Maker.“

In this passage, the Psalmist indicates that kneeling expresses a deep reverence for God. In this one verse he uses three different Hebrew words to express what the attitude and position of the worshiper should be.

• First, he uses the word “worship” which means to fall prostrate as a sign of honor to the Lord, with an associated meaning of allegiance to Him.
• The second word he uses is “bow”. This means to sink down to one’s knees, giving respect and worship to the Lord.
• The third word he uses is “kneel” which means to be on one’s knees giving praise to God.

According to the Psalmist, kneeling in God’s presence is a sign of reverence (cf. Philippians 2:8-10). As we pray, let’s remember that a humble posture of the heart is far more important than merely our physical position (cf. Luke 18:13-14).