The Need In Prayer Is 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 (source).

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).

Beloved, as we pray, let us remember that a humble posture of the heart is far more important than merely our physical position (cf. Luke 18:13-14).

—Mike Riley, Gospel Snippets