Dancing with Joy – My Tuesday Three
I was on vacation all last week and did not have any time to read blogs, not even my favorites. I managed to post every day only because most of those posts were written and scheduled before I left. So once again My Tuesday Three will not showcase three blog posts. I promise I will get back to that, but I am thankful for more flexibility in discerning My Tuesday Three.
Yesterday as I thought about what to write, I came across a post by my fellow blogger Pastor Bryan Lowe titled Just One More Dance to Go. It got me thinking about how much I love to dance, and how dancing for the Lord is the best dance of all. I know there are some Christian denominations that frown upon dancing, but the Bible clearly indicates that dancing with the right attitude towards God is a good thing.
King David is one of the great figures of the Old Testament, considered a man after God’s own heart. David loved the Lord and did what was right in His sight. Although David did sin, when confronted with his sin David repented and sought God’s forgiveness. Scripture has this to say about David and dancing:
David, wearing a linen ephod, danced before the LORD with all his might, while he and the entire house of Israel brought up the ark of the LORD with shouts and the sound of trumpets.
As the ark of the LORD was entering the City of David, Michal daughter of Saul watched from a window. And when she saw King David leaping and dancing before the LORD, she despised him in her heart. 2 Samuel 6:14-16 (NIV).
I have always found it interesting that the Scriptures record Michal’s reaction to David’s dancing. As I read this passage, I see that God was pleased with David but not with Michal. To me, Michal represents those who don’t truly know the joy of the Lord as David did, and so despise and are jealous of those who have that joy and can express it outwardly as in dancing. Although dancing is an outward activity, it is the attitude of the heart that is most important.
David’s son Solomon was another great figure of the Old Testament. He prayed for wisdom and was granted his prayer and more. He shared much of his wisdom in Proverbs and Ecclesiastes. One of the most well-known passages of Ecclesiastes also supports that dancing, at the appropriate time and with the right attitude, is a good thing.
A Time for Everything
There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under heaven:a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot,
a time to kill and a time to heal,
a time to tear down and a time to build,
a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance,
a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
a time to embrace and a time to refrain,
a time to search and a time to give up,
a time to keep and a time to throw away,
a time to tear and a time to mend,
a time to be silent and a time to speak,
a time to love and a time to hate,
a time for war and a time for peace.Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 (NIV).
Although I love to dance, I know that it is not always appropriate. One does not dance at a funeral or in a courtroom. One does not dance in history class or on the front lines of war. But when it is time to celebrate the blessings of the Lord such as a wedding or the birth of a child or the offer of a new job, then it is appropriate to dance. Even during a worship service in church I believe it can be appropriate to praise the Lord with dance. There is nothing cuter than to see a small child dancing in the aisle during an upbeat song at church.
Someday dancing before the Lord will be appropriate for all as we celebrate the blessings of the new heaven and new earth. The Old Testament prophet Jeremiah wrote of a time when the Lord would return all of His people to Him, a time that is still yet to come.
For the LORD will ransom Jacob
and redeem them from the hand of those stronger than they.
They will come and shout for joy on the heights of Zion;
they will rejoice in the bounty of the LORD—
the grain, the new wine and the oil,
the young of the flocks and herds.
They will be like a well-watered garden,
and they will sorrow no more.
Then maidens will dance and be glad,
young men and old as well.
I will turn their mourning into gladness;
I will give them comfort and joy instead of sorrow.
Jeremiah 31:11-13 (NIV).
The Lord Jesus has already come to ransom Jacob (Israel). The time will come when all the children of Abraham, including the Gentiles who have been grafted in, will be gathered to the Lord. All “will dance and be glad.” Oh, what a dance that will be, filled with the joy of the Lord, when sorrow will be no more. That is the dance Pastor Bryan looks forward to in his post. It is the dance I look forward to as well. In the meantime, I’ll keep dancing with joy to celebrate the blessings of our God.
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Whenever I’m writing (at my leisure) I think of you and the commitment you’ve made to contribute so much. I admire your discipline…
I wonder why we, as believers, need a reminder for joy. “Sorrow no more, dance and be glad.” I recall that Solomon danced, but he seems so unhappy to me. He could have used your reminder, just like me! : )
Linda, I’ve gotten to the point now where my blogging is beyond commitment and is now an obsession. (It actually didn’t take long to get to that point!) It really does help keep my mind clear and focused on God. It helps me to maintain my joy! Peace, Linda
Linda, I love that you dance, even if it isn’t something that most do at your church. 🙂 That’s not always easy to do even if you are from a dancing, jumping church. ha! There was a small window of time, when Aubrey was still in public school, older sis too, hubby working days, that I had part of a day at home to clean and work on things . . .and DANCE and praise Him too.
Loving the song, Ann! And the responses! And here’s Paulette’s post , Linda . . .
http://pbus1.wordpress.com
God bless you as you dance for Him!
Deb, When I was a little girl, I wanted to be a dance choreographer. I obviously didn’t follow that dream, but dancing is still important to me. Thanks for the link to Paulette’s post. I’m heading over the check it out now. 🙂 Peace, Linda
I heart that Lynda – that David’s dancing came from inside – and led to the outside action. And David – poor David – never had very good taste in women. I’m sure there was some nice Jewish girl around – but he never ended up with one 🙁
Thank you for this Linda – I’m not a dancer either – but I certainly don’t begrudge someone filled with the spirit – and dancing about. God bless and keep you and all of yours.
Craig, I attend a Lutheran Church and whenever I get the urge to dance a bit to an upbeat contemporary song, I feel a little out of place, but I do it anyway. 🙂 There are some songs that just make me want to dance and praise the Lord! Peace, Linda
The culmination of our faith is to be united with God in Heaven. Surely celebration of that is a time for dancing? I have seen dancing at a funeral for those who truly loved the Lord and had been called home – it takes getting used to!
If my family and loved ones dance at my funeral in celebration of the fact that I’ve gone home to be with the Lord, that would be fine with me. 🙂 But I would have a hard time dancing at someone else’s funeral for fear of upsetting someone. Peace, Linda
Thanks Linda!
“In the meantime, I’ll keep dancing with joy to celebrate the blessings of our God.”
Thank you so much for the reminder to dance! I am a dancer indeed!! I sing and dance like there’s no tomorrow! I dance now, but I look forward to that dance … that final day when Jesus comes to get us. What rejoicing (dancing) that will be!
Here’s one of my favourite ‘dancing’ songs 😉
Dancing my way over to Pastor Bryan’s 🙂
Blessings,
ann
P.S. Paulette wrote a comment today about David’s dancing and Michal’s response! Cool!!
Ann, Thanks for adding such a cool dancing song! Where is Paulette’s comment? I’d like to read that. Peace, Linda