The physicality of worship

Like Moses in front of the burning bush, Joshua takes off his sandals and bows to the commander of the Lord’s Army at the end of Joshua chapter 5. Why does he do this? Why is it necessary to show physical expressions of worship? Why do people raise their hands, dance, kneel, cross themselves etc.? The most common word for worship in the New Testament is the Greek word, proskuneo, which means to prostrate, to kiss towards or bow down. Worship involves our whole being. Jesus summed up the law by saying, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.” We worship with the strength of our bodies, as well as our hearts and minds, out of reverence, awe, honor, and wonder at our glorious God. When our hearts and minds behold the glory of God, our mouths and bodies must respond in worship.