Praise the Lord. That is how many of the psalms start. For
God is in the praises of His people. God says, “Sing a new song to the Lord…Let
them praise His name with dancing and make music with tambourines and harp. For
the Lord takes delight in His people” (Psalm 149). Yes, dancing is a
good response to our praises for our Lord. Psalm 150 says “Praise Him with tambourine and
dancing.” I like that. Have you
ever been in a worship service where people sang and danced? I know preachers who say that is not
respectful. I respond with King David’s
response to winning back the Ark of the Covenant. “David, wearing a linen ephod,
danced before the Lord with all his might” (2 Samuel 6:14). The
response from the people was song and dance along with him, except for his wife
Michal. “And when she saw King David leaping and dancing before the Lord, she
despised him in her heart” (v.16).
She didn’t get the significance of the moment; she was all about
appearance and dignity. I wonder if this pharisaical response would come from
me. I pray that I too would rejoice with those who rejoice.
In Exodus 15 is the beautiful “Song of Moses and Miriam.”
She who was a prophetess and Aaron’s sister “took the tambourine in her hand, and all
the women followed her, with tambourines and dancing. Miriam sang to them” (Exodus
15:20). They rejoiced and sang and praised God for their delivery from slavery.
However, soon their dancing turned back to grumbling. By the way it was their
grumbling that brought the Lord’s wrath and death to this entire generation of
Israelites except Caleb and Joshua.
God is always good and in Ecclesiastes Solomon says “there
is a time for mourning and a time for dancing” (Ecclesiastes 3:4).
Psalm 30 says “You turned my wailing into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and
clothed me with joy, that my heart may sing to you and not be silent” (Psalm
30:11).
Dear friends, do you find joy in the Lord? Can you consider
your trials “pure joy” as James admonishes?
This is God’s desire that we be filled with the fruit of the Spirit that
includes joy. I may not have great dance
moves, but I love that King David, the father (predecessor) of our Savior and Lord danced in
the streets with joy and singing. Dance on!
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Thanks for sharing your thoughts.