Biblical Bowing
Going Beyond General Submission on into
Restoring Forgotten Extremist Bowing-Reverence
Part of a
3-Part Series: (1) “Family
Commands”; (2) “Submission”;
(3) “Biblical
Bowing”
; Foot Washing and Foot Kissing: 6/10/13; 7
Contents
Basic Introductory Considerations
Face the Facts: It is Biblical to Bow to People
Sometimes
Two Initial, Exciting Examples of Bowing!
Humanism Hates what Humility Honors
The Many Examples of When to Bow to People
Bowing to a King – By Subjects & Conquered
Enemies
Bowing to Father, Father-in-law, &
Grandfather
Bowing To One From Whom You Need Mercy or to
Request Favor
When You Desperately Need to Repent!
Deep Gratitude for Great Mercy, Help, and
Kindness
In Recognition of Spiritual Authority
Bowing to Jesus is Not Inherently About Bowing
to God
Summary Examples We Should Already Know by Now
Bowing to Angels Can Be Good, But NOT as gods
Don't
Bow Before the Wicked, But they Should Bow Before the Righteous
Bowing to Real, New Testament, Disciples is
Sometimes Appropriate
Under the Conviction of Prophecy
False, Fleshly Jews to Real (Gentile) Disciples
Repenting Guard to Paul and Silas
Jesus’ Special New Testament Bowing COMMAND:
Foot-Washing!
Adoration of Feet Connected with the Gospel
The Early Church Took these things Deeply to
Heart, to DO Them!
Bowing Summaries and Applications
Be Sensitive and Perceptive Before Bowing
Summaries of When Not to Bow to People
Summaries of When to Bow to People
Please consider these
thoughts before we talk about Biblical Bowing
· This is a “specialty Bible study.” It may not directly address the largest problems in society, but it can sure help in the few particular cases where it is especially needed
· This is a specialized tool for the tool belt of righteousness, and while it may or may not be something you use every day, it is something extremely powerful when the appropriate time comes
· The Word “worship” is mostly an English word that is not really used in the Bible (except for a few specific passages that discuss things like “fear”/ “reverence”/ doing an orderly service).
· The real words behind “worship” are usually words that describe “bowing”.
· When KJV says “he bowed and worshiped him” the Greek is not inherently implying an idea of attributing divinity (unless the context demands that idea).
· This teaching is aggressively antagonistic directly in the face of humanism, which means it is greatly contrary to Protestantism.
· It promotes a fervent, zealous reverence that opposes the staunch pride and liberal slavery in our modern culture
· No body today likes “humiliating themselves” and bowing, especially on your face!
· churches say you are committing idolatry
· Over in fabulous ghettos they started flipping their head up instead of tipping their head down when greeting their “boys,” (oh, they are so poor over in the ghetto aren’t they!)
· Overtly humanistic pagans burn with anger when someone is “dehumanized” (but how does that compare to Jesus reducing a foreign woman to a “dog”?)
· Humanism supposedly raises the level of “Fellow Humans”, but the Biblical humility of bowing (in Greek) reduces you to an adoring dog!
· We are convinced that there is something completely inappropriate and shameful about this “barbaric practice”, but whose right?
· We think it destroys our “inner child” because it is plainly anathema to self-esteem and self confidence
· It is something we all know that humans once did, but now humanism scorns with bitter opposition
· We know it was extravagantly humble for some people at some time, but no one today would ever even think of doing it in our modern context
· About all we have left today is “hanging the head” in shame, but even that is considered “weak” and undesirable
· It is a deeply troubling thing when the ambition to never suppress anyone else becomes a social norm to never let your own self be suppressed.
“The idea of falling on our face before someone is foreign to Americans. We don’t even prostrate ourselves to our president. But this is because we view everyone as equals, even if they carry greater power.”
http://lavistachurchofchrist.org/LVSermons/WorshipOfGod.htm
Retrieved 2/9/12
And, as it is typical when dealing with Protestants, one Catholic said,
“…My friend keeps bringing up that, in the Bible, the Lord says to bow to no man except God or Jesus…”
http://www.cpats.org/_webpostings/Answers/2010_04APR/2010AprAreThesePracticesWrong.cfm
Retrieved 2/9/12
Our independent nonsense is shameful and ridiculous. Let’s learn Truth so we can definitely repent in this area.
H7812 – Bowing Before
Someone (lit. Sharp Walls + Man with Raised Arms)
שׁחה (“ָשָׁחה”), (shâchâh)
– this appears to always have the idea of physically bowing down. The Hebrew
pictures imply getting low before a man with his arms raised (a lord or a
ruler).
H7817 – A Related Bow-Word
שׁחח shâchach shaw-khakh'
Strong: “A primitive root; to sink or depress
(reflexively or causatively): - bend, bow (down), bring (cast) down, couch,
humble self, be (bring) low, stoop.”
It
comes from another more basic, primary word:
H7807 – Getting Lower (lit. Sharp Walls)
שׁח shach shakh
“From H7817; sunk,
that is, downcast: - + humble.”
AHLB’s Take on H7807
1468) Hs% (Hs% ShHh) ac: Sink co:
Pit ab: ?: The pictograph s is a picture of the teeth representing sharpness, the
h is a picture of wall.
Combined these mean "sharp walls". A pit dug into the ground for the
purpose of trapping someone or something. To go down or sink
down as going into the pit.
We
see that the main Hebrew word behind bowing (H7812) comes from a more basic
word which figuratively means to get low (H7807).
H5186 – Bow/Bend/Stretch Out
נטה nâṭâh naw-taw'
“A primitive root; to stretch or spread out; by implication to bend away (including moral deflection); used in a great variety of applications: - + afternoon, apply, bow (down, -ing), carry aside, decline, deliver, extend, go down, be gone, incline, intend, lay, let down, offer, outstretched, overthrown, pervert, pitch, prolong, put away, shew, spread (out), stretch (forth, out), take (aside), turn (aside, away), wrest, cause to yield.”
H3766 – Kneeling
Strong’s
כּרע kâra‛ kaw-rah'
“A primitive root; to bend the knee; by implication
to sink, to prostrate: - bow (down, self), bring down (low), cast
down, couch, fall, feeble, kneeling, sink, smite
(stoop) down, subdue, X very.”
H86 – Another (Rarer) Kneel Word
אברך 'abrêk ab-rake'
“Probably an Egyptian word meaning kneel: - bow the knee.”
Also see
Ecc_12:3 – H5791
Mic_6:6 – H3721 Curve Down (before God)
H5456 – To Fall Down
Strong’s
סגד sâgad saw-gad'
“A primitive root; to prostrate oneself (in homage):
- fall down.”
G4352 – Kiss Toward
προσκυνέω (proskuneō) – lit. toward dog-licking; Note: a κύων (kuōn) is a dog! (see G2965); implies bowing of some kind, as if to “lick” (or
adore) the hand of a master.
This bowing, is quite literally specified as ‘face upon ground’ in Gen_48:12, (which is one of our first examples given below).
For
the licking/ kissing connotations, see: Exo_18:7; 1Sa_20:41
Strong’s Says
“From G4314 and
probably a derivative of G2965 (meaning
to kiss, like a dog licking his master’s hand); to fawn or
crouch to, that is, (literally or figuratively) prostrate
oneself in homage (do reverence to, adore): - worship.”
We all should already know that we should bow before God* since all over the world this basically goes without saying. But did you know that the Bible very powerfully shows us that we sometimes should bow before people? Let us abandon our religious and wicked ideals and courageously submit to this very helpful truth!
[*
For a few example passages on bowing to God, see our “Prayer Lists”
Bible study]
Remember to ask yourself: Have you ever seen scenes like this in modern christianity?
Gen_48:12 CAB And Joseph brought them... and they bowed down [MT: bowed himselfH7812 – ; LXX: προσεκύνησαν – lit. kissed (like a dog) toward; same word as “worshipped”] to him [i.e. Jacob, Joseph's father], *with their face to the ground [* ἐπὶ πρόσωπον ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς].
1Sa_25:40-41 CAB So the servants [οἱ παῖδες – the boys] of David came to Abigail to Carmel [i.e. after her husband was dead (1Sa_25:37-39)], and spoke to her, saying, David has sent [ἀπέστειλεν] us to you, *to take you to himself for a wife [* λαβεῖν σε αὐτῷ εἰς γυναῖκα]. 41 And she arose [ἀνέστη], *and bowed down with her face to the earth [* προσεκύνησεν ἐπὶ τὴν γῆν ἐπὶ πρόσωπον], and said, Behold, your servant [δούλη] *is for a handmaid [* εἰς παιδίσκην – into a girl], to wash the feet of your servants [παίδων – boys].
Have you ever considered that the Bible promotes a woman bowing to a man when receiving a proposal, but we expect a man to bow (on one knee) to a woman? Wake up! We are missing something!
Somehow this seems like a much different marriage proposal than we are used to seeing. Have you ever considered or cared about the fact that the Bible presents to us an authoritative culture far superior to our own? Have you ever been courageous enough to imitate them and their faith as the Scriptures command us (Heb_6:12; Heb_13:7)? If these things are in the Bible, why aren’t they ever promoted or even allowed in church?
Our foolish cultures hate humility and despise such great and righteous subjection as these passages have shown. These “bowing” scenes would typically be illegal and considered outlandish, and even “cultish” in most modern American churches today, but let me ask you bluntly: when is the last time you even thought about bowing down to another human with your face to the ground? If it is in the Bible, then why is it never in church? – this bowing is not “idolatry” as religious people protest – this is the BIBLE! The reason we, in our modern cultures, do not like such bowing is because we are infested with the shameful foolishness of humanism and hate Jesus and do not know God. We hate everything to do with authority and subjection, as it says,
2Pe_2:10 CAB ...those who walk after [ὀπίσω] the flesh... despise authority [κυριότητος καταφρονοῦντας]...
(see also Jud_1:7-8)
If you disapprove of bowing down to people in the proper context (as described here), then repent and tremble at the authority of God who has glorified such blessed displays of humility.
Let us go beyond the standard, common, every-day, conventional, regular, generic claims of “submission” and let us take a hold of something that our shameful cultures have forgotten!
It may not be practical to list all of the examples of this, but here are a few
Gen_37, Gen_42-43 – Joseph’s dreams and fulfillments (esp., for example, Gen_37:7, 9; Gen_43:26, 28, Gen_50:18 MT)
2Sa_14:4
2Sa_14:22
2Sa_14:33
2Sa_24:20
1Ki_1:23 – Prophet (Nathan) bows before King (David)
1Ch_21:21
Isa_45:14
Isa_45:23 compare: Rom_14:11
Isa_49:23
1Sa_24:8 – David to Saul
2Sa_1:2 – Messenger in great sorrow
(Jdg_5:27 – Sisera dead before Jael)
(2Sa_19:14 – David bowed their hearts by kind words)
2Sa_24:20
1Ki_1:51-53 – Rebellious Adonijah to his brother-King Solomon
2Ch_24:17 – the princes of Judah
2Sa_19:18
Mat_2:2, 11 – A Baby King (who is also God)
Mat_18:26 – be patient and I will pay back…
2Sa_15:5 – Minimizing it in deceptive flattery (undermined such subjection)
2Sa_18:21 – a man dismissing himself from Joab
Psa_69:23 CAB Let their eyes be darkened that they should not see; and bow down their back continually.
Rom_11:10 Let their eyes be darkened, so that they do not see, and their back always be bowed down."
Isa_51:23
Psa_10:10
Psa_17:11
Psa_57:6
Isa_51:23 CAB And I will give it into the hands of them that injured you, and them that afflicted you; who said to your soul, Bow down, that we may pass over; and you laid your body to the ground to them passing by outside.
1Ki_1:16
1Ki_1:31 CAB And Bathsheba bowed [ἔκυψεν – i.e. bent forward] *with her face to the ground, and paid homage [* ἐπὶ πρόσωπον ἐπὶ τὴν γῆν καὶ προσεκύνησεν] to the king, and said, Let my lord King David live forever.
[* Recall: 1Sa_25:23 (after
Nabal’s great sin); 1Sa_25:40-41 (after David proposed
marriage) – these were covered at the beginning]
Est_8:3-4 CAB And *she spoke yet again to [* προσθεῖσα ἐλάλησεν πρὸς] the king, *and fell at his feet [* προσέπεσεν πρὸς τοὺς πόδας αὐτοῦ], and beseeched him to do away the mischief [κακίαν] of Haman, and all that he had done against the Jews. 4 Then the king stretched out to Esther the golden scepter; and Esther arose to stand near [παρεστηκέναι] the king.
Gen_48:12 – Joseph and sons to Jacob (as seen at the Beginning)
2Sa_14:33 – Absalom to David
Exo_18:7 CAB And Moses went forth to meet [συνάντησιν] his father-in-law [γαμβρῷ], and bowed down [προσεκύνησεν] and kissed [ἐφίλησεν] him, and they embraced [ἠσπάσαντο] each other, and he brought them [εἰσήγαγεν] into [εἰς] the tent.
Gen_27:19-30 – Isaac’s Blessing intended for Jacob (and others) to bow to Esau (which eventually became Esau to Jacob)
Gen_33:3 – Jacob to Esau (seven times!)
Gen_33:6-7 – Jacob’s family to Esau
Gen_49:8 – Judah’s brothers to him
1Ki_1:51-53 – Rebellious Adonijah to his brother-King Solomon
Although bowing to women is not typical (because women are not natively in a place of authority), there are certainly cases where it may be appropriate:
Jdg_5:27 – Sisera dead before Jael
1Ki_2:13 – Son Adonijah to his Step mother, Queen Bathsheba (Although this was for a bad purpose, it still appears to be socially correct)
(1Ki_2:19 – The MT has a description of Solomon also bowing to his Queen mom, but the LXX says, “κατεφίλησεν” – intensely kissed down)
Est_7:8 CAB …and Haman had fallen upon the bed, begging the queen [Esther]…
Gen_18:2 – Abraham before the three “men”
Gen_19:1 WEB The two angels came to Sodom at evening. Lot sat in the gate of Sodom. Lot saw them, and rose up to meet them. *He bowed himself [in Hebrew and Greek (CAB: “worshipped”)] with his face to the earth [* προσεκύνησεν τῷ προσώπῳ ἐπὶ τὴν γῆν],
Hospitality is something serious in the Bible!
1Sa_20:41 – David to Jonathan
1Sa_25:23 – Abigail to David (after Nabal’s great sin)
(1Sa_24:8 – David to Saul)
(1Sa_2:36 – in a bad sense)
1Ch_21:16 – David and the elders before the judging angel
Mat_18:26 – be patient and I will pay back…
Est_7:8 CAB …and Haman had fallen upon the bed, begging the queen [Esther]…
2Sa_14:4 CAB So the woman of Tekoa went in to the king and fell upon her face to the earth, and bowed down before him, and said, Help, O king, help.
2Sa_19:18-20 CAB …And Shimei the son of Gera fell on his face before the king, as he went over the Jordan, 19 and said to the king, Let not my lord now impute iniquity, and remember not all the iniquity of your servant in the day in which my lord went out from Jerusalem, so that the king should mind it. 20 For your servant knows that I have sinned; and behold, I have come this day before all Israel and the house of Joseph, to go down and meet my lord the king.
Note: even with all of this, Shimei did not repent unto life: 1Ki_2:36-46 (just as it was with Adonijah: 1Ki_1:53; 1Ki_2:25), (see the sorrow according to God vs. the world: 2Co_7:9-11)
Vicariously: 1Sa_25:23 – Abigail to David (after Nabal’s great sin)
Gen_23:7, Gen_23:12 – Abraham needing help burring Sarah
After Boaz was kind to Ruth by providing a chance to find food and safety, she was filled with gratitude…
Rth_2:10 CAB And she fell upon her face, and bowed down to the ground, and said to him, How is it that I have found grace in your eyes, that you should take notice of me, seeing that I am a stranger?
1Sa_25:40-41 – Abigail to David (after David proposed marriage)
2Sa_9:3-9 CAB And the king said, Is there yet a man left of the house of Saul, that I may act towards him with the mercy of God? And Ziba said to the king, There is yet a son of Jonathan, lame in his feet. 4 And the king said, Where is he? And Ziba said to the king, Behold, he is in the house of Machir the son of Ammiel of Lo Debar. 5 And King David went, and took him out of the house of Machir the son of Ammiel of Lo Debar. 6 And Mephibosheth the son of Jonathan the son of Saul came to the King David, and *he fell upon his face and bowed down before him [* ἔπεσεν ἐπὶ πρόσωπον αὐτοῦ καὶ προσεκύνησεν αὐτῷ]. And David said to him, Mephibosheth; and he said, Behold your servant. 7 And David said to him, Fear not, for I will surely deal mercifully with you for the sake of Jonathan your father, and I will restore to you all the land of Saul the father of your father; and you shall eat bread at my table continually. 8 And Mephibosheth bowed down [προσεκύνησεν] and said, Who am I your servant, that you have looked upon a dead dog like me? 9 And the king called Ziba the servant of Saul, and said to him, All that belonged to Saul and to all his house have I given to the son of your lord.
2Sa 9:3 WEB The king said, Is there not yet any of
the house of Saul, that I may show the kindness of God to him? Ziba said to the king, Jonathan has yet a son, who is lame
of his feet.
2Sa 9:3 KJV+ And the kingH4428 said,H559 Is
there notH657 yetH5750 anyH376 of the houseH1004 of Saul,H7586 that I may shewH6213 the kindnessH2617 of GodH430 untoH5973 him? And ZibaH6717 saidH559 untoH413 the king,H4428 JonathanH3083 hath yetH5750 a son,H1121 which is
lameH5223 on his
feet.H7272
2Sa 9:3 LB And
the king said, “Is there yet a man left of the house of Saul, that I may act
towards him with the mercy of God?” And Ziba said to
the king, “There is yet a son of Jonathan, lame in his feet.”
2Sa 9:3 καὶ
εἶπεν ὁ βασιλεύς
Εἰ ὑπολέλειπται
ἐκ τοῦ οἴκου
Σαουλ ἔτι ἀνὴρ
καὶ ποιήσω μετ᾿
αὐτοῦ ἔλεος
θεοῦ; καὶ εἶπεν
Σιβα πρὸς τὸν
βασιλέα Ἔτι ἔστιν
υἱὸς τῷ
Ιωναθαν πεπληγὼς
τοὺς πόδας.
2Sa 9:4 WEB The king said to him, Where is he? Ziba said to the king, Behold, he is in the house of Machir the son of Ammiel, in Lo Debar.
2Sa 9:4 KJV+ And the kingH4428 saidH559 unto him, WhereH375 is he?H1931 And ZibaH6717 saidH559 untoH413 the king,H4428 Behold,H2009 heH1931 is in
the houseH1004 of Machir,H4353 the sonH1121 of Ammiel,H5988 in Lodebar.H3810
2Sa 9:4 LB And
the king said, “Where is he?” And Ziba said to the
king, “Behold, he is in the house of Machir the son of Ammiel
of Lo Debar.”
2Sa 9:4 καὶ
εἶπεν ὁ βασιλεύς
Ποῦ οὗτος; καὶ εἶπεν
Σιβα πρὸς τὸν
βασιλέα Ἰδοὺ ἐν
οἴκῳ Μαχιρ υἱοῦ
Αμιηλ ἐκ τῆς
Λαδαβαρ.
2Sa 9:5 WEB Then king David sent, and fetched him out of the house of Machir the son of Ammiel, from Lo Debar.
2Sa 9:5 KJV+ Then kingH4428 DavidH1732 sent,H7971 and fetchedH3947 him out of the houseH4480 H1004 of Machir,H4353 the sonH1121 of Ammiel,H5988 from Lodebar.H4480
H3810
2Sa 9:5 LB And King David went, and took him out of the
house of Machir the son of Ammiel of Lo Debar.
2Sa 9:5 καὶ
ἀπέστειλεν ὁ
βασιλεὺς
Δαυιδ καὶ ἔλαβεν
αὐτὸν ἐκ τοῦ οἴκου
Μαχιρ υἱοῦ
Αμιηλ ἐκ τῆς
Λαδαβαρ.
2Sa 9:6 WEB Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, came to David, and fell on his face, and did obeisance. David said, Mephibosheth. He answered, Behold, your servant!
2Sa 9:6 KJV+ Now when Mephibosheth,H4648 the sonH1121 of Jonathan,H3083 the sonH1121 of Saul,H7586 was comeH935 untoH413 David,H1732 he fellH5307 onH5921 his face,H6440 and did reverence.H7812 And DavidH1732 said,H559 Mephibosheth.H4648 And he answered,H559 BeholdH2009 thy servant!H5650
2Sa 9:6 LB And Mephibosheth the son of Jonathan the son
of Saul came to King David, and he fell upon his face and bowed down before
him. And David said to him, “Mephibosheth”; and he said, “Behold your servant.”
2Sa 9:6 καὶ
παραγίνεται
Μεμφιβοσθε υἱὸς
Ιωναθαν υἱοῦ
Σαουλ πρὸς τὸν
βασιλέα Δαυιδ
καὶ ἔπεσεν ἐπὶ
πρόσωπον αὐτοῦ
καὶ προσεκύνησεν
αὐτῷ. καὶ εἶπεν
αὐτῷ Δαυιδ
Μεμφιβοσθε· καὶ
εἶπεν Ἰδοὺ ὁ δοῦλός
σου.
2Sa 9:7 WEB David said to him, "Don't be afraid of him; for I will surely show you kindness for Jonathan your father's sake, and will restore you all the land of Saul your father; and you shall eat bread at my table continually."
2Sa 9:7 KJV+ And DavidH1732 saidH559 unto him, FearH3372 not:H408 forH3588 I will surely shewH6213 H6213
H5973 thee kindnessH2617 for JonathanH3083 thy father'sH1 sake,H5668 and will restoreH7725 thee(H853) allH3605 the landH7704 of SaulH7586 thy father;H1 and thouH859 shalt eatH398 breadH3899 atH5921 my tableH7979 continually.H8548
2Sa 9:7 LB And David said to him, “Do not fear, for I
will surely deal mercifully with you for the sake of Jonathan your father, and
I will restore to you all the land of Saul your grandfather; and you shall eat
bread at my table continually.”
2Sa 9:7 καὶ
εἶπεν αὐτῷ
Δαυιδ Μὴ φοβοῦ, ὅτι
ποιῶν ποιήσω
μετὰ σοῦ ἔλεος
διὰ Ιωναθαν τὸν
πατέρα σου καὶ ἀποκαταστήσω
σοι πάντα ἀγρὸν
Σαουλ πατρὸς
τοῦ πατρός σου,
καὶ σὺ φάγῃ ἄρτον
ἐπὶ τῆς τραπέζης
μου διὰ παντός.
2Sa 9:8 WEB He did obeisance, and said, "What is your servant, that you should look on such a dead dog as I am?"
2Sa 9:8 KJV+ And he bowed himself,H7812 and said,H559 WhatH4100 is thy
servant,H5650 thatH3588 thou shouldest lookH6437 uponH413 suchH834 a deadH4191 dogH3611 as IH3644 am?
2Sa 9:8 LB And
Mephibosheth bowed down and said, “Who is your servant, that you have looked
upon a dead dog such as me?”
2Sa 9:8 καὶ
προσεκύνησεν
Μεμφιβοσθε καὶ
εἶπεν Τίς εἰμι ὁ
δοῦλός σου, ὅτι ἐπέβλεψας
ἐπὶ τὸν κύνα τὸν
τεθνηκότα τὸν ὅμοιον
ἐμοί;
2Sa 9:9 WEB Then the king called to Ziba, Saul's servant, and said to him, "All that pertained to Saul and to all his house have I given to your master's son.
2Sa 9:9 KJV+ Then the kingH4428 calledH7121 toH413 Ziba,H6717 Saul'sH7586 servant,H5288 and saidH559 untoH413 him, I have givenH5414 unto thy master'sH113 sonH1121 allH3605 thatH834 pertainedH1961 to SaulH7586 and to allH3605 his house.H1004
2Sa 9:9 LB
And
the king called Ziba the servant of Saul, and said to
him, “All that belonged to Saul and to all his house have I given to the son of
your lord.
2Sa 9:9 καὶ
ἐκάλεσεν ὁ
βασιλεὺς Σιβα
τὸ παιδάριον
Σαουλ καὶ εἶπεν
πρὸς αὐτόν Πάντα,
ὅσα ἐστὶν τῷ
Σαουλ καὶ ὅλῳ τῷ
οἴκῳ αὐτοῦ, δέδωκα
τῷ υἱῷ τοῦ κυρίου
σου·
Jesus and The Ten
Lepers
Luk_17:11-19 CAB And it happened while He was traveling to Jerusalem that He passed through the midst of Samaria and Galilee. 12 Then as He entered a certain village, there met Him ten men who were lepers, who stood at a distance. 13 And they lifted their voice and said, "Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!" 14 And seeing them, He said to them, "Go, show yourselves to the priests." And so it was that as they went away, they were cleansed. 15 And one of them, seeing that he was healed, turned back, glorifying God with a loud voice, 16 and fell down on his face at His feet, thanking Him. And he was a Samaritan. 17 So Jesus answered and said, "Were there not ten cleansed? But where are the nine? 18 Were not any found returning to give glory to God except this foreigner?" 19 And He said to him, "Arise, go your way. Your faith has made you well."
Note 1: Bowing down to someone in great thanks and amazement for supernatural work (v. 15-16), glorifies God (v. 18), and not the flesh of the man to whom one bows down to!
Note 2: Ignorant church people will almost always excuse themselves from obeying this example by saying that “jesus is god,” but that is not the point of the passage, nor do we have any evidence at all that these lepers knew that! – Jesus truly is God, but that has nothing to do with why Jesus healed them, nor is it why the one (Samaritan) leper returned to thank Him and fall at His feet, nor is it particularly why God was glorified, since Jesus’ Divinity was not the factor that was at work when He was truly a man who healed some lepers by faith in this story.
Job_9:27
Psa_38:6
Psa_69:10 CAB And I bowed down my soul with fasting, and that was made my reproach.
Mat_26:39 – Jesus in prayer
1Sa_28:20 CAB And Saul instantly fell at his full length upon the earth, and was greatly afraid because of the words of Samuel; and there was no longer any strength in him, for he had eaten no bread all that day, and all that night.
1Sa_28:14, 20 – Saul to Samuel (when coming up from hell)
1Ki_18:7 CAB And Obadiah was alone in the road; and Elijah came alone to meet him. And Obadiah made haste, and fell upon his face, and said, My lord [κύριέ μου] Elijah, are you indeed he?
2Ki_2:14-15 CAB and he took the mantle of Elijah, which fell from off him, and struck the water, and said, Where is the Lord God of Elijah? And he struck the waters, and they were divided this way and that; and Elisha went over. 15 And the sons of the prophets who were in Jericho on the opposite side saw him, and said, The spirit of Elijah has rested upon Elisha. And they came to meet him, and bowed down before him to the ground.
When a woman’s son had died, it says…
2Ki_4:27-28 CAB And she came to Elisha to the mountain, and laid hold of his feet; and Gehazi drew near to thrust her away. And Elisha said, Let her alone, for her soul is much grieved in her, and the Lord has hidden it from me, and has not told it to me. 28 And she said, Did I ask a son of my lord? For did I not say, Do not deal deceitfully with me?
Critical
Notes
· This is very similar to Judas protesting when Mary washed Jesus’ feet.
· Jesus also said ‘leave her alone’ when people looked down on Mary’s good work
· Beware that you are not looking down on/despising what is good like the disciple Gehazi (at least temporarily did in this case), and Judas, who was the son of perdition (a type of antichrist)
After Elisha raised a son from the dead…
2Ki_4:36-37 WEB He called Gehazi, and said, Call this Shunammite. So he called her. When she was come in to him, he said, Take up your son. 37 Then she went in, and fell at his feet, and bowed herself to the ground; and she took up her son, and went out.
Many, many more examples can be seen under Bowing to Jesus…
Basic Facts We Ought
to Know By Now
· Bowing was (and should still be) a common recognition of superiority in the display of extreme humility and submission.
· Although it is obvious that Jesus is God, “bowing” or “worshiping” has nothing to do with this unless specifically specified (such as Mat_14:33; Mar_5:6-7; Heb_1:6 with the context of Heb_1:8-12; and compare Joh_9:35-38; Joh_20:28 – ὁ Κύριός μου καὶ ὁ Θεός μου).
· Examples of bowing to Jesus in the Bible are not special attributions of His Divinity, but examples of their humility which we should walk in and imitate (Heb_6:12; Heb_13:7).
· You cannot use Jesus’ Divinity as a lame and treacherous excuse to disobey imitating the authoritative examples of those who bowed to Him in the Bible.
· If you disagree with these basic realities, then you should not even be reading this, but you should rather be contacting us and asking us how to repent and get discipled into Truth!
Example Passages
Mat_2:2, 11 – A Baby King (who also happens to be God)
Luk_5:3-9
Mat_20:20
Mat_28:9
Mat_8:2-3 CAB And behold, a leper came and worshipped Him, saying, "Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean." 3 And reaching out His hand, Jesus touched him, saying, "I am willing; be cleansed." Immediately his leprosy was cleansed.
Mat_9:18 CAB As He spoke these things to them, behold, a certain leader came and worshipped Him, saying, "My daughter has just died, but come and lay Your hand on her, and she shall live."
Mat_15:22-28 CAB And behold, a Canaanite woman coming forth from that region cried out to Him, saying, "Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David! My daughter is severely demon-possessed." 23 But He answered her not a word. And His disciples approached and urged Him, saying, "Send her away, for she cries out after us." 24 But He answered and said, "I was not sent except to the lost sheep of the house of Israel." 25 Then she came and worshipped [προσεκύνησεν] Him, saying, "Lord, help [βοήθει] me!" 26 But He answered and said, "It is not good to take the children's bread and to throw it to the little dogs." 27 But she said, "Yes, Lord, for even the little dogs eat from the crumbs falling from their masters' table." 28 Then Jesus answered and said to her, "O woman, great is your faith! Let it be to you as you desire." And her daughter was healed from that very hour.
Important
Notes
· There is nothing at all particularly indicating that these examples were worshiping Jesus as God by doing these things.
· If they were secretly revering Him as God, all the better, but that is not what these passages teach us.
· We are not responsible to imitate what we think was going on in these passages, but we are obligated to actually DO what they themselves actually teach us to do! – which is to love humility and submission, recognizing one’s own inferiority and humbling one’s self to honor others.
These Examples Could possibly Be Described Either Way?
Mat_28:17
Luk_24:52
Examples
of times and occasions when we should not to bow. (Hopefully these are obvious and we already
know and recognize them)
·
Don't Bow
Down Before Idolatry
We usually do not need to list every occurrence of this for anyone who has read
the Bible.
·
Don't Bow
Before the
Wicked
·
Don’t
Promote Bitter
Oppression For Innocent People
(notice that this has an important, exclusive qualification attached to it, only protecting “Innocent People” –
guilty people can be bitterly oppressed, and that can be appropriate)
·
Don't Bow
to Angels as gods
(1) What is this “Worship of Angels”?
As TSK lists: Dan_11:38,*Heb: Rom_1:25, 1Co_8:5, 1Co_8:6, 1Ti_4:1;
Col_2:18 CAB Let no one *rule against you [* καταβραβευέτω], desiring to do so in false humility and *in worship of the angels [* θρησκείᾳ τῶν ἀγγέλων], intruding into those things which he has not seen, in vain being puffed up by his carnal mind,
Note: this “Worship” is not the bowing word in the Bible.
This is nothing more than the typical paganism which has always been condemned from the beginning:
Rev_9:20 CAB But the rest of mankind, who were not killed by these plagues, did not repent from the works of their hands, that they should not worship [προσκυνήσουσι] demons, and idols of gold, silver, bronze, stone, and of wood, which neither are able to see nor to hear nor to walk.
A Few Other
Examples Against Idolatry
Deu_29:26; 2Ki_21:3, 2Ki_21:21; 2Ch_25:14, 2Ch_33:3; Mat_4:9-10; Luk_4:7-8; Act_7:43; 1Co_10; Rev_9:20; Rev_13:4, Rev_13:8; Rev_13:12, Rev_13:15; Rev_14:7; Rev_14:9, Rev_14:11; Rev_16:2; Rev_19:20; Rev_20:4
(There are obviously many, many more)
Deu_6:13-16 CAB You shall fear [current LXX: φοβηθήσῃ (conforms to MT) – NT says “προσκυνήσεις” (Mat_4:10)] the Lord your God, and Him only [although Jesus includes “only” some LXX manuscripts omit it as seen in NETS] shall you serve [λατρεύσεις]; and you shall cleave to [κολληθήσῃ] Him, and by His name you shall swear. 14 Go not after other gods, of the gods of the nations round about you, 15 for the Lord your God in the midst of you is a jealous [or zealous (ζηλωτὴς)] God, lest the Lord your God be very angry [ὀργισθεὶς θυμωθῇ] with you, and destroy you from off the face of the earth. 16 You shall not tempt [ἐκπειράσεις – i.e. intensely (ἐκ) put God threw things] the Lord your God, as you tempted Him in the temptation.
Mat_4:8-11 CAB Again, the devil took Him up on a very high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world, and their glory. 9 And he said to Him, "All these things will I give You, if You will fall down and worship me [πεσὼν προσκυνήσῃς]." 10 Then Jesus said to him, "Get behind Me, Satan! For it is written, 'You shall worship [προσκυνήσεις] the LORD your God, and Him alone you shall serve [λατρεύσεις].' " 11 Then the devil left Him, and behold, angels came and ministered to Him.
Exo_32:7-9 CAB And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, Go quickly, descend from here, for your people whom you brought out of the land of Egypt have transgressed; 8 they have quickly *gone out of the way [* παρέβησαν – i.e. broken boundaries] which you have commanded; they have made for themselves a calf, and worshipped [προσκεκυνήκασιν] it, and sacrificed to it, and said, 9 These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt.
Exo_34:14 CAB For you shall not worship [προσκυνήσητε] strange gods, for the Lord God, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God;
Note: ironically, a number of people have tried to use this passage to teach that you should not bow down to people [προσκυνήσητε] but this passage clearly does not say that at all. It says not to bow toward daemons (other gods) but it does not say to never bow to men. Bowing to other gods is clearly a spiritual practice of connecting to daemons by an evil faith, and this has nothing to do with properly lowering yourself before another human which requires no particular faith in that person whom you can plainly see. Bowing to spiritual things by faith, means a recognition of their spiritual claims, but bowing to a person simply acknowledges or displays the fact that you are less than them.
Kissing [κυνή-] a man is obviously very different than kissing a woman, and kissing a daughter means something very different than kissing a wife. These things automatically have extreme differences to them, and we ought not to suppose that there is no automatic distinction when it comes to bowing before “gods” and bowing before men. It is obvious that it is pure evil to lower yourself in reverence before evil spirits, and we all know this automatically if we have read the Bible, but it is also obvious that the Bible frequently praises lowering yourself in humility before other people when appropriate. Since we know these things, it is also time to embrace them.
Some Prime Examples of the Best Bowing to God
Psa_95:6; Psa_138:2; Joh_4:20-24, etc.; Rev_15:4;
(2) Revelation
Confirms this Propriety
Rev_1:17-18 – It is good to bow before Jesus as God (context: Rev_1:13-18)
Rev_19:10; 22:8-9 – It is not good to bow before angels in the place of God
(3) Bowing Before Angels Can be Very Appropriate
Gen_18:2 – Abraham before the three (although one of them was God, as seen in Gen_17:3, 17, neither of the other two Angels was called God in Gen_19:1)
Jos_5:13-14 – Joshua to “the Commander of the army of the Lord”
1Ch_21:16 – David and the elders before the judging angel
Dan_8:16-18 – Daniel before the Angel (Gabriel) giving the vision
Dan_10:8-12, 15 – another double-bowing of Daniel before an Angel
Gen_19:1 WEB The two angels came to Sodom at evening. Lot sat in the gate of Sodom. Lot saw them, and rose up to meet them. *He bowed himself [or “worshipped” (CAB) – in Hebrew and Greek!] with his face to the earth [* προσεκύνησεν τῷ προσώπῳ ἐπὶ τὴν γῆν],
Luk_24:3-6 CAB And going in they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. 4 And it happened, as they were greatly perplexed about this, that behold, two men stood by them in dazzling apparel. 5 Then, as they became afraid and bowed their faces to the ground, they said to them, "Why do you seek the living among the dead? 6 He is not here, but is risen!…
Note: this is the proper bowing to Angels, even after the official death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus.
Whenever it is Mixed Up With the Pagan Worship
of “Demigods” (or “god-men” or “Emperor Worship”) you are compelled to refrain
from bowing
Rom_10:9 – Interesting Cultural context: “Jesus is Lord” (i.e. not Caesar) – this saying denies the worship of “god-men” (i.e. daemons)
Mat_4:10
Act_10:25-26 (compare Rev_19:10; Rev_22:9) – Peter did not consider it appropriate to receive reverence as being anything superior to the reverent Cornelius. Peter made it clear that his unworthy humanity was the most pressing social need to acknowledge in this occasion of bringing spiritual news of salvation, lest (for example) Peter at any time be confused with the Jesus who was about to save Cornelius. Cornelius was from a non-Jewish context, and reinforcing monotheism and denying “human divinity” was of prime importance, and it was also now emphatically necessary to stress the equality of Jews and gentiles in this pivotal event.
Cornelius was already very reverent toward God, and Peter (coming from a rough background) did not consider there to be anything appropriate about him receiving reverence from Cornelius. The essential difference between Peter and Cornelius was the free reception of the forgiveness of sins, and since this was to be freely received by both of them, neither of them should get in the way of this and be superior to the other in such a time of benefiting from God’s hand.
All things being equal then, there was nothing setting Peter above being anything more than “a man” to Cornelius.
JFB
“fell down at his feet, and worshipped him — In the East this way of showing respect was customary not only to kings, but to others occupying a superior station; but among the Greeks and Romans it was reserved for the gods. Peter, therefore, declines it as due to no mortal [Grotius]…”
Meyer
“The welcome that Cornelius gave was very significant. That a high-born Roman should prostrate himself before a Jewish evangelist was unprecedented, though it revealed the true reverence and humility of Cornelius’s soul; but the noble simplicity of Peter’s reply was also a revelation of the true greatness of the Apostle, and ought to have more obviously influenced his would-be successors.”
Rev_19:10; Rev_22:8
Mat_23 – Jesus made it clear that we must treat other obeyers as brothers and avoid extravagant titles that are reserved for the new teacher in heaven.
(1) Don't Bow Before the Wicked
As we indicated earlier, it is not good to bow before the wicked
Est_3:2, 5
[Also compare the explanation
given in the current LXX’s additions to Est_4:17]
Pro_25:26 CAB As *if one should stop a well [* MT: “a muddied spring” (WEB)], and *corrupt a spring of water [* MT: “a polluted well” (WEB)], so is *it unseemly for [* not in MT] a righteous man *to fall before [* MT: “who gives way before” (WEB)] *an ungodly man [* LXX: ἀσεβοῦς – irreverent].
(2) The Closest thing
to an “Exception” to Bowing Before the Wicked?
Moses fell before the assembly when he was falsely accused by the wicked. (However, he did turn around and issue prophecies against them):
Num_14:2-7 CAB And all the children of Israel murmured against Moses and Aaron; and all the congregation said to them, 3 If only we would have died in the land of Egypt! Or if only we would have died in this wilderness! And why does the Lord bring us into this land to fall in war? Our wives and our children shall be for a prey: now then it is better to return into Egypt. 4 And they said to one another, Let us select a leader and return into Egypt. 5 And Moses and Aaron fell upon their face before all the congregation of the children of Israel. 6 But Joshua the son of Nun, and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, of those that spied out the land, tore their clothes, 7 and spoke to all the congregation…
Num_16:1-5 CAB And Korah… and Dathan and Abiron… spoke; 2 and *rose up [*
LXX: ἀνέστησαν;
compare with NT: στερεὸς θεμέλιος… ἕστηκεν… ἀποστήτω
ἀπὸ ἀδικίας
(2Ti_2:19)] before Moses, and two hundred
and fifty men of the sons of Israel, chiefs of the assembly, chosen [σύγκλητοι –
lit. chosen together; compare: “whom
He has chosen” (v. 5)] counselors, and men of renown [ὀνομαστοί
– i.e. men that have a well-known name;
compare: τὸ ὄνομα
Κυρίου (2Ti_2:19)]. 3 *They rose
up [* συνέστησαν –
stood up together] against [ἐπὶ – lit. upon] Moses and Aaron, and
said, *Let it be enough [* Ἐχέτω
– lit. have/ hold it]
for you that *all the
congregation is holy [* πᾶσα
ἡ συναγωγὴ πάντες
ἅγιοι – everyone of all the synagogue (lit. the place of together leading) is
holy; i.e. anti-christ’s theology],
and the Lord [κύριος –
compare: τὸ ὄνομα
Κυρίου (2Ti_2:19)]
is among [ἐν – lit. in] them; and *why
[διὰ τί –
through what] do you *set up [stand
down] yourselves against [lit. upon] [* κατανίστασθε ἐπὶ]
the *congregation of the Lord [* συναγωγὴν
κυρίου]? 4 And when Moses heard it, he fell on his face [ἔπεσεν ἐπὶ
πρόσωπον]. 5 And he spoke to Korah
and all his assembly [συναγωγὴν],
saying, God has *visited [* Ἐπέσκεπται – lit. scoped upon (same root as overseer or “bishop”)] and
known *those that are His [* MT: “Yahweh will show who
are his” (WEB); LXX: ἔγνω ὁ
θεὸς τοὺς ὄντας
αὐτοῦ – this is quoted in the NT as: ἔγνω
Κύριος τοὺς ὄντας
αὐτοῦ – “lord knows those who are
being his” (2Ti_2:19 Jos.Trans.) –
Paul is clearly quoting this passage primarily from the Greek LXX
and not the current Heb. MT]
and *who are holy [τοὺς
ἁγίους (adjective)],
and *has brought them to Himself [*
προσηγάγετο
πρὸς ἑαυτόν];
and whom He has chosen [ἐξελέξατο]
for Himself, *He has brought to Himself [προσηγάγετο
πρὸς ἑαυτόν – i.e. Jesus’ theology (eg. Mat_7:13-29)].
(Ironically, they did so later before God on behalf of Israel for these wicked people: Num_16:45)
2Ti_2:19
GNTtr
ὁ μέντοι στερεὸς θεμέλιος τοῦ Θεοῦ ἕστηκεν, ἔχων τὴν σφραγῖδα ταύτην· ἔγνω Κύριος τοὺς ὄντας αὐτοῦ, καί· ἀποστήτω ἀπὸ ἀδικίας πᾶς ὁ ὀνομάζων τὸ ὄνομα Κυρίου.
(3) But it is Good
for the Wicked to Bow Before the Righteous
But contrary to “bowing before the wicked,” it is definitely clear that it is good for the wicked to fall down and bow before the righteous
Pro_14:19 CAB Evil men [κακοὶ – nasty/ evil ones] shall fall [ὀλισθήσουσιν – lit small (ὀλι-) + lay (θάνω), i.e., lay down small/ low; fig. bow/ prostrate ] before the good, and the ungodly [ἀσεβεῖς – irreverent] shall attend [θεραπεύσουσιν – i.e. wait in helpful service] at the gates of the righteous.
There are countless examples of this:
Gen_42:6, Gen_43:28, Est_7:7, Est_7:8, Psa_49:14, Mic_7:10, Mic_7:16-17, Mal_4:3
2Sa_22:40 CAB And You shall strengthen me with power for the war; You shall cause them that rise up against me to bow down under me.
(compare Psa_18:39)
Like we quoted previously…
Luk_24:3-6 CAB And going in they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. 4 And it happened, as they were greatly perplexed about this, that behold, two men stood by them in dazzling apparel. 5 Then, as they became afraid and bowed their faces to the ground, they said to them, "Why do you seek the living among the dead? 6 He is not here, but is risen!…
1Co_14:24-25 CAB But if all prophesy, and
*an
unbeliever [* τις ἄπιστος] or an
unlearned person [ἰδιώτης]
comes in, he is reproved [ἐλέγχεται
– convicted] by [ὑπὸ – under]
all, he is discerned [ἀνακρίνεται
– thoroughly/again/up-judged] by [ὑπὸ]
all. 25 And
so the secrets [κρυπτὰ]
of his heart become clear [φανερὰ
– i.e. appear in pubic light];
and so, *falling down on his face [πεσὼν
ἐπὶ πρόσωπον],
he will *worship [kiss toward] [the]
God [προσκυνήσει
τῷ Θεῷ],
reporting [ἀπαγγέλλων]
that [the] God is truly [ὄντως]
among [ἐν] you!
Rev_3:8-10 CAB "I know your works. Behold, I have set before you an open door, and no man can shut it; because you have a little strength and have kept My word, and you have not denied My name. 9 Behold, I will give those of the synagogue of Satan, those who say they are Jews and are not, but they are lying—behold, I will compel [ποιήσω] them to come [ἵνα ἥξουσι – (for the purpose) that they might come] and bow down at your feet [καὶ προσκυνήσουσιν ἐνώπιον τῶν ποδῶν σου], and they shall know that I have loved you. 10 Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of testing which is about to come upon the whole world, to test those that dwell upon the earth.
Act_16:24-30 CAB …having received such a command, cast them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks. 25 Now about midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. 26 And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and all the bonds were loosed. 27 And becoming awake, the prison keeper, seeing the doors of the prison open, drawing a sword, he was about to kill himself, supposing the prisoners to have escaped. 28 But Paul called out with a loud voice, saying, "Do to yourself nothing bad, for we are all here."
29 And asking for a light he rushed in, and coming trembling [ἔντρομος γενόμενος], he fell before [προσέπεσε] Paul and Silas, 30 and he brought them forth outside and said, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?"
This definitely and clearly
proves that the apostles do not always lift people up when they bow to them.
Note 1: Even Jesus bowed to other people!
Note 2: There is a New Covenant concept of 'brethren', especially ever since Anointed One Came
A Superior Cultural Background: Gen_18:4; Gen_19:2; Gen_24:32, Gen_43:24; 1Sa_25:41; Luk_7:44; 1Ti_5:10
Joh_13:1-20 CAB Now before the feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that His hour had come that He should depart from this world to the Father, having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end. 2 And after supper, the devil having already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, to betray Him, 3 Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come from God and was going to God, 4 He rose from the supper and laid aside His garments, and having taken a towel, He girded Himself. 5 Then He poured water into a basin and began to wash the feet of the disciples, and to dry them with the towel with which He was girded. 6 Then He came to Simon Peter. And Peter said to Him, "Lord, do You wash my feet?" 7 Jesus answered and said to him, "What I am doing you do not understand now, but you shall know after this." 8 Peter said to Him, "You shall never wash my feet!" Jesus answered him, "Unless I wash you, you have no part with Me." 9 Simon Peter said to Him, "Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head!" 10 Jesus said to him, "He that is bathed need only to wash his feet, but is completely clean; and you are clean, but not all of you." 11 For He knew who would betray Him; therefore He said, "You are not all clean." 12 So when He had washed their feet, and had taken His garments, He reclined again, and said to them, "Do you know what I have done to you? 13 You call me Teacher and Lord, and you say correctly, for so I am. 14 Therefore if I, your Lord and your Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. 15 For I gave you an example, that just as I did to you, you also should do. 16 Most assuredly I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master, nor a messenger greater than he who sent him. 17 If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them. 18 I do not speak concerning all of you. I know those whom I chose; but that the Scripture may be fulfilled, 'He who eats bread with Me has lifted up his heel against Me.' 19 From now on I tell you before it happens, so that when it happens, you may believe that I AM. 20 Most assuredly I say to you, he who receives whomever I send receives Me; and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me."
[Context Reminder Note: Joh_13:2, 18-31 – this included Judas]
Good Announced message
Isa_52:7 CAB as a season of beauty upon the mountains, as the feet of one preaching glad tidings of peace, as one preaching good news; for I will proclaim your salvation, saying, O Zion, your God shall reign.
Rom_10:13-18 WEB For, "Whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved." 14 How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in him whom they have not heard? How will they hear without a preacher? 15 And how will they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: "How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the Good News of peace, who bring glad tidings of good things!" 16 But they didn't all listen to the glad news. For Isaiah says, "Lord, who has believed our report?" 17 So faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. 18 But I say, didn't they hear? Yes, most certainly, "Their sound went out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world."
Honesty Challenge
· How likely is it that Mary was thinking of these verses when she kissed Jesus’ feet?
· Is Romans speaking exclusively of adoring Jesus’ feet, or also generally of “those who preach the gospel”?
It is true that Abigail, wife of Nebal, motioned to wash the feet of David's servants (1Sa_25:41), and it is true that as humiliating as this practice was it was still a deed known well enough about in the ancient world. Nonetheless, when Mary of Bethany took a huge plunge and maxed out on the extreme of this humiliating act, she simultaneously accomplished inspiring the God of heaven to institute the gloriously humble practice of foot washing, which is now renowned in the Assembly of Jesus upon the earth .
7/7/13-7/8/13
Kissing a martyr's chains is a type of feet kissing
“Who would let her creep into a prison to kiss a martyr's* chains…?”
Tertullian
* martyr = one who testified, i.e. to the point of being imprisoned or even eventually put to death.
Instead of pretending to ‘worship christ’ they actually imitated those who loved the real Jesus by doing the same things they did when Jesus was on the earth.
Abigail may
have seen servants washing feet in some other context, and in any case, she
seeks to humble herself as a slave to wash feet even though she is of a noble
decent. despite the pervading custom of politely
letting others wash their own feet, she seeks the humiliating honor of washing
the men's feet, and in doing so she also links her previous bowing posture wish
feet washing (which is bowing even lower than a normal bow!)!
Marry is
special and does what has never been thought of before in several ways...
- the quality of her washing: who has ever thought to wash
with tears, dry with hair, and anoint head and feet with the most extravagant
ointment???
- she was
socially free from all obligation to Jesus, and without any requirement or
demanded duty, she recognized the purely moral debt that Jesus had canceled on
her bahalf and honored a man who did not physically
own her or even have a relation to her.
- she recognized the surpassing reality and potency of the
forgiveness of her sins, and defied all convention to glory in the Truth and
steadfastness of what had spiritually happened.
- her recognition of what Jesus did for her necessarily
exalted the imminent importance of doing justice to the truth of Jesus far
above the fleshly obligations of this life.
- she cashed in
on the eternal life of doing justice that finally displays a reasonable response
to truth that sat right in front of her, and her contemporaries had not even dreamed
of this yet, but where instead offended at her righteous love that they should
have been imitating.
- even though they stalled to join her, yet at the last supper
Jesus instituted a practice based on what she had pioneered.
How “Caution” has been Exploited to Abolished all
Bowing
Interestingly, all of these legitimate “cautions” concerning “when not to bow” have been fragmented, exploited, molested, and used as leverage to promote a humanistic, standard practice based on paranoia, that has basically abolished all bowing to “men” in modern society – but this is completely unbiblical!
- Be sensitive as to the right timing when determining if you should bow
- the fact that the Bible particularly mentions them “bowing” means that, in general, they were not necessarily “bowing” at other times.
- Diligently study the Scriptures and carefully internalize why and when they bowed before seeking to carry it out for yourself
- There is a difference in intensity and purpose between bowing face down, on your knees, and partial bows. (Perhaps we can consider a feminine curtsy, a cowboy tipping his hat, or a Chinese or Japanese bow –some with hands together–).
(see Daniel)
· Mistaking prophecy as God before you.
· Confusion over a person’s significance and or identity
· Hang-ups/ misunderstandings about a person’s flesh.
Important Reminder Note: keep in
mind that different levels of need may call for various levels of
bowing
When you need mercy from
someone
When you need to repent to
someone (think about the unthinkable crimes humans sometimes commit against
each other)
Bowing for special moments to
display extreme reverence for another person
What do you say? Are we ready to not only bring that beautiful curtsy back, but in some cases, we could even see appropriate displays of desperate humility and saving faith again?
Don’t bow hypocritically, but
bow from the heart.
If your heart is not there
yet, then rend your heart until you are there, and until you are rejoicing at
the very privilege!