“Let the rivers clap their hands in glee! Let the hills sing out their songs of joy.” – Psalm 98:8, New Living Translation

The day I got a standing ovation with loud cheers is still fresh in my mind, though it happened several years ago.

We all love to be acknowledged publicly, don’t we?

Throughout the generations, clapping has had a long history as a form of non-verbal expression and communication, especially as a way to applaud or show appreciation or commendation to victorious kings and war heroes.

The Bible commands us, indeed all creation, to clap our hands – to give an ovation – to the Lord for what He is and has done.

Psalm 98 contains various forms of physical expression in worship, including dancing, singing, and playing musical instruments.

Clapping fits within this broader tradition of using physical gestures to convey spiritual sentiments to God for what He has done.

“Let the rivers clap their hands in glee,” says our meditation today.

Ordinarily, rivers cannot be expected to ‘clap hands.’ However, in anthropomorphic fashion, the psalmist attributes human traits to the non-human entities (rivers and hills).

The imagery of rivers clapping their hands and mountains singing is used to express the exuberant response of nature to the Almighty God for what He did, has done and is going to do.

This reflects a sense of unity between humanity and nature when it comes to celebrating the reign and sovereignty of God.

Now, if the non-living rivers can be admonished to make ovation to God, what about us who continually witness of His Goodness and mercy on a daily basis?

While clapping is not as central to worship as playing instruments, singing, dancing, or other forms of worship mentioned in the Bible, it is recognized as a legitimate form of expressing joy and reverence towards God.

“If we can cheer and applaud fallible politicians, artistes and sports personalities for their fleeting achievements, what about the Almighty God, creator of heaven and earth?”

When we clap our hands, we are celebrating or applauding God’s deliverance, blessing and divine interventions in our lives.

Psalm 47:1 says; “O clap your hands, all you people; shout to God with the voice of triumph.” See also Isaiah 55:12.

In this context, clapping is encouraged as a way to celebrate and honor God, reflecting a communal way of applauding God for what He has done.

Clapping can also symbolize a celebration of victory and triumph as we do when our team scores a goal.

In 2 Kings 11:12, clapping is mentioned in relation to the eventual crowning of a new king after many years without one.

“And he brought forth the king’s son, and put the crown upon him, and gave him the testimony; and they made him king, and anointed him; and they clapped their hands, and said, God save the king!”

Unfortunately, in contemporary Christianity, the focus of clapping has tended to shift from God to people.

It is also common to hear the congregation being ordered to clap for every little statement made by the preacher.

Yes, clapping is an important part of praise and worship or a natural expression of joyful praise to a testimony; however, it should not be a distraction from the primary focus of fellowship – prayer, meditation, or the teaching of the Word.

That is probably why it is not encouraged as a form of worship in many traditional religious activities.

However, misuse should not mean disuse.

I mean, if we can cheer and applaud fallible politicians, artistes and sports personalities for their fleeting achievements, what about the Almighty God, creator of heaven and earth?