Let's Give A Clap Offering To The Lord

There is one thing that troubles me when I attend worship services. It is when the worship leader says, “Let’s give a clap offering to the Lord.”

Is clapping of hands appropriate in worship?

I say no.

I searched the Scriptures for any thing that is related to clapping of hands especially that which pertains to worship. I found out that most passages that speak about clapping has a negative connotation. Clapping of hands was negatively mentioned in the Bible. Allow me to share to you these passages.

2 Kings 11:12
“Jehoiada brought out the king's son and put the crown on him; he presented him with a copy of the covenant and proclaimed him king. They anointed him, and the people clapped their hands and shouted, "Long live the king!"

This passage cannot be used to support the clapping of hands in worship because the Israelites clapped their hands for Joash whom Jehoiada proclaimed as king. They did not clap their hands to worship Yahweh.

Job 21:5
“Look at me and be astonished; clap your hand over your mouth.”

Now, we know what a torment Satan put on Job. Job was being tested and he lost and suffered so much. He was talking to his friend, Zophar the Naamathite, about his experience. This passage does not denote worship of God but about the sufferings of Job. Therefore, this passage cannot be used to support clapping of hands in worship.

Job 27:23
“It claps its hands in derision and hisses him out of his place.”

This passage surely cannot be used to support the clapping of hands in worship because Job talks about wicked people being judged by God and “east wind” claps its hand as it delivers the sad fate of the wicked. Definitely, this is a negative connotation for clapping of hands.

Job 34:37
“To his sin he adds rebellion; scornfully he claps his hands among us and multiplies his words against God."

Another classic of example of a negative connotation of clapping of hands in the Bible. This passage speaks clearly of it.

Proverbs 30:32
“If you have played the fool and exalted yourself, or if you have planned evil, clap your hand over your mouth!”

King Solomon tells us that those people who planned evil and are fools can clap their hands over their mouth. Surely, this cannot be used to support clapping of hands in worship.

Lamentations 2:15
“All who pass your way clap their hands at you; they scoff and shake their heads at the Daughter of Jerusalem: ‘Is this the city that was called the perfection of beauty, the joy of the whole earth?’”

Let us study the circumstances behind this passage. Lamentations was written when Israel was rebelling against God. And so, God judged Israel severely by proclaiming that Israel will suffer defeat against her enemies. Others will clap their hands for the fallen and defeated Israel. Can this passage be used to support worship of God then?

Ezekiel 25:6-7
For this is what the Sovereign LORD says: Because you have clapped your hands and stamped your feet, rejoicing with all the malice of your heart against the land of Israel,
therefore I will stretch out my hand against you and give you as plunder to the nations. I will cut you off from the nations and exterminate you from the countries. I will destroy you, and you will know that I am the LORD.' "

This passage tells us about God’s judgment against Ammonites because they clapped their hands and rejoice malice against Israel. A classic example of a passage where clapping of hands has a negative connotation!

Nahum 3:19
“Nothing can heal your wound; your injury is fatal. Everyone who hears the news about you claps his hands at your fall, for who has not felt your endless cruelty?”

This is part of the prophesy against Assyria. Nahum prophesied against Assyria that they will be slaughtered. And people will clap their hands when they hear it. What a negative connotation about clapping! This definitely cannot be used to support clapping of hands in worship.

Though, there are three passages in the Bible that can be seen as not “negative”. These passages are:

Psalm 47:1
“Clap your hands, all you nations; shout to God with cries of joy.”

I do admit that this passage speaks positively about clapping of hands. But what I learned in correctly interpreting the Scriptures is that we cannot base our theology in just one passage. The Bible is so well-organized that all doctrines are systematically supported not only by one passage but by the whole Bible.

Psalm 98:8
“Let the rivers clap their hands, Let the mountains sing together for joy;”

This passage doesn’t talk about people clapping their hands to God. It’s the rivers!

Isaiah 55:12
“You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands.”

This passage also doesn’t talk about people clapping their hands to God. It is the trees in the field!

Let me tell you another thing.

I really get jittery every time worshippers clap their hands after I preach. I always wonder if they clap their hands to God or to me. They may say that they are clapping their hands to God when they clap their hands after I preach. But I still couldn’t be sure. I feel creepy about the idea that probably some of them are clapping their hands to me as they agree with me. And I don’t want to rob God of what is due to Him!

This is also the same when some clap their hands after a “solo in song” in worship services. I wonder if they clap their hands to God or they clap their hands because the singer had a superb rendition of a song.

Therefore, for us not to fall in such a trap it is better not to clap during worship services.

Lastly, let us study “clapping of hands” in light of what a worship is.

Worship Service is like a heavenly drama.

We, the worshippers, are the performers, the worship leader is the prompter and the audience should be God.

It should be God who can clap His hands to us as He says, “Well done, my children!” as we worship Him in Spirit and in truth.