Given the examples of people praying in the Old Testament, what might we conclude about posture and prayer?

Proper posture is essential to prayer.
We may pray only when kneeling, sitting, standing.
Posture of our body is unimportant when we pray.
We may not pray while lying prostrate or on one side.

1 answer

In examining the examples of prayer in the Old Testament, we can conclude that the posture of our body is unimportant when we pray.

Throughout the Old Testament, various postures are depicted during prayer, including standing, kneeling, lying prostrate, and even sitting. For instance, Solomon prayed while standing (1 Kings 8:22), while David is noted for praying on his face (2 Samuel 12:16). This diversity of postures suggests that while certain postures may be appropriate in specific contexts, there is no singular "correct" posture for prayer. What matters more is the heart and intent behind the prayer, rather than the physical position one takes.