Dance in the Bible

"Let them praise His name with dancing and make

music to Him with tambourine and harp." Psalms 149:3 -

"You turned my wailing into dancing; You removed

my sackcloth and clothed me with joy." Psalms 30:11 -

"Praise Him with tambourine and dancing, praise Him

with the strings and flute." Psalms 150:4

People always ask if dance is a Scriptural form of worship. In Exodus 15:20, Miriam and the other women respond to God's triumph over the Egyptians in an expression of dance. We can note harvest dances in the book of Judges (21:21), as well as the demonstration of the joy of Jephthah's daughter at his return (11:34). 2 Samuel 6:14 describes how David led the ark of the covenant into Jerusalem when he "danced before the LORD with all his might." 1 Samuel depicts the children of Israel praising David their king by dancing and singing songs of his exploits (21:11). Jeremiah 31:13 shows us that God's redemption causes His people to dance before Him. In verse four of this chapter, dance is seen as a response to God's love for His people. Historians have found that dance was an integral part of worship and celebration during the Second Temple period, in the time of Yeshua.

The use of the tambourine in the dance [Ex 15:20]

The tambourine has been seen for many years through our brothers from the Salvation Army. They used it as a evangelistic tool, that has been passed on to many generations in our present times. Of course the Bible has many references of the use of this powerful instrument for the glory of God. Two examples: Isaiah 30:32 showing us the great warfare application, and also Psalm 150:4 to praise the Lord with everything we have.

In the parable of the prodigal son (Luk 15:25), Jesus conveys to us that music and dancing was used to celebrate the return of the prodigal. As long as there is salvation happening in our churches we should be celebrating this transition from darkness into the Light.

All these illustrations of dance throughout Israel's history as recorded in Scripture, give us a very potent basis for dance as praise and worship in the faith-life of God's people.

What does this mean to you as a Christian?

Dance, in various forms, continue to be a part of the believers' expression of faith. There was the development of dance forms around the eucharist, baptism, ordination of priests, processional for entering and leaving the sanctuary, holiday dances, etc. Later in history, around the seventeenth century, the Church began to move away from dance as an expression of faith, preferring the more sedate expressions of worship. But, today, God is restoring the joy and celebration of faith to the Church! God desires that we get together in corporate worship, rejoicing as a redeemed people, manifesting our faith to the world.

How about the person who does not believe?

Even if you do not believe in the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and you do not believe that Yeshua is the Messiah, Who paid the redemption price for our sins, we invite you to enjoy the Spirit of praise and worship deep within your soul. Our prayer is that you will sense along with us that God is very real, and that He wants to take the burdens from your heart to fill you with His peace and love. If you feel that God has made this opportunity for you to search for Him, please talk with us about what you are feeling in your heart. When things such as worship and praise in the house of God are conducted according to His pattern and order, the sinner shall fall on his face before God and admit that of a surety the Lord is in this place:

... If all prophesy, and there come in one that believeth not, or one unlearned, he is convinced of all, he is judged of all: And thus are the secrets of his heart made manifest; and so falling down on his face he will worship God, and report that God is in you of a truth. (1Cor 14:24,25)

The dance, with hand signing, is certainly a form of prophecy, communicating the inspired Word of the Lord through a willing human vessel.

Praise and worship music invites the Spirit of Prophecy:

And Elisha said ... "Now bring me a minstrel." And it came to pass, when the minstrel played, that the hand of the Lord came upon him. And he said, "Thus saith the Lord ..." (2 Kgs 3:14,15,16a)

More Scriptures:

"And it came to pass as they came, when David was returned from the slaughter of the Philistine, that the women came out of all cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet king Saul, with tabrets, with joy, and with instruments of musick." (1 Samuel 18:6)

"And David danced before the Lord with all his might; and David was girded with a linen ephod." (2 Samuel 6:14)

[The Hebrew word for danced means "leaped and twirled."]

[Leaping and dancing is an expression of the joy of salvation, which includes physical healing:]

"In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk. And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ancle bones received strength. And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God."(Ac 3:6-8)

"Thus all Israel brought up the ark of the covenant of the Lord with shouting, and with sound of the cornet, and with trumpets, and with cymbals, making a noise with psalteries and harps." (1 Chron 15:28)

"And it came to pass, as the ark of the covenant of the Lord came to the city of David, that Michal, the daughter of Saul looking out at a window saw king David dancing and playing: and she despised him in her heart." (1 Chronicles 15:29)

"They send forth their little ones like a flock, and their children dance. They take the timbrel and harp, and rejoice at the sound of the organ." (Job 21:11,12)

"To everything there is a season ... A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance." (Ecclesiastes 3:1,4)

"Then shall the virgin rejoice in the dance, both young men and old together: for I will turn their mourning into joy, and will comfort them, and make them rejoice from their sorrow." (Jer 31:13)

"Thou shalt love the Lord with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength." (Mk 12:30)

[Strength refers to the body. Use the body to glorify the Lord.]

"... Present your bodies a living sacrifice ... which is your reasonable service." (Rom 12:1)

[Dance is a sacrifice of praise, especially when the body is weary and the mind doesn't want to praise the Lord.]

"Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might ..." (Ecc 9:10)

[Use the talents in your hands and feet with all of your strength. Your thighs are the strongest muscles in your body!!]

"... Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings Thou hast perfected praise." (Mat 21:16)

[It is a child's nature not only to sing along with songs, but to move with the music in dance.]

[The Lord is the Promoter of liberty in expression of service through worship.]

"Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty." (2 Cor 3:17)

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See also: http://sondance.org/ re: Dancing for Jesus

Dance in the Bible

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