Davening

Hello Everyone:

Never let it be said that when a question comes up in Bible Study that I am not on it. It is kind of my obsession, I mean hobby to root these things out. ;-)

Someone brought up today the practice of rocking back and forth that is often accompanied when Jewish people pray. This practice is known as davening. This rocking motion during prayer is a way of expressing that one's whole self, body and soul, is caught up with God. The movement of the body mimics the flickering flame of a candle, calling to mind the saying that "the candlestick of God is the soul of a man".

I got this information from a wonderful book called Sitting at the Feet of Rabbi Jesus by Ann Spangler and Lois Tverberg. An excellent resourse if you want to delve deeper into the Jewishness of Jesus.