Lifting up holy hands
I desire therefore that the men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting (1 Timothy 2:8).
But Moses’ hands became heavy; so they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat on it. And Aaron and Hur supported his hands, one on one side, and the other on the other side; and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun. So Joshua defeated Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword (Exodus 17:12-13).
We recently re-started our local prayer meeting by Zoom. It is so encouraging to be able to pray together. I remember, as a young Christian, going to the prayer meeting for the first time. We started with a hymn, and afterwards, when the first brother started to pray, everyone got down on their knees. It was a hard floor to kneel on. But as we knelt down, so our hearts rose up to the Throne of Grace in heaven. As in marriage, those who pray together stay together, so praying together binds the people of God together. Paul speaks about “lifting up holy hands”. The expression conveys stretching out in an appeal to God from lives which seek to walk in His paths of righteousness. We don’t come with anger and discontentment in our hearts. And we don’t come doubting. We approach God as the recipients of His mercy and His glorious grace, and we come in faith. The Lord Jesus invites us to ask in His name and assures us we will be heard.
The battle between Israel and Amalek was decided on a hill above the battlefield. Three men went to the top of the hill: Moses, Aaron the brother of Moses, and their friend Hur. Moses held up the rod of God and Joshua prevailed in the battle. But as he tired, he could not keep his hand raised, and Amalek became stronger. So Aaron and Hur found a rock for Moses to sit on and they supported his hands, one on the left, and the other on the right. This fellowship of intercession defeated Amalek.
This miraculous event is a vivid illustration of intercessory prayer. Moses took the responsibility to act on behalf of others. Prayer demands time, energy and commitment. We need to bring our families, fellow believers and many others to the Throne of Grace. This holy activity can become too heavy for us. We can become disheartened and discouraged. Sometimes we can feel that God isn’t answering our prayers. But we have two advocates who are far greater than Moses, Aaron and Hur who come to our aid: our risen Saviour and the indwelling Holy Spirit of God. Their strength is never diminished, their ears and eyes are never closed, and their work of intercession never ceases. They know our weakness, and they come to our aid. So never let us despair, but pray without ceasing.
“Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God … Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us” (Romans 8:26-27, 34).
