Psalm 30:11 says, “Thou hast turned for me my mourning into dancing: thou hast put off my sackcloth, and girded me with gladness”

Psalm 149:3 says, “Let them praise his name in the dance: let them sing praises unto him with the timbrel and harp.”

Psalm 150:4 says, “Praise him with the timbrel and dance: praise him with stringed instruments and organs.”

2 Samuel 6:12-23 says, “12And it was told king David, saying, The LORD hath blessed the house of Obededom, and all that pertaineth unto him, because of the ark of God. So David went and brought up the ark of God from the house of Obededom into the city of David with gladness. 13And it was so, that when they that bare the ark of the LORD had gone six paces, he sacrificed oxen and fatlings. 14And David danced before the LORD with all his might; and David was girded with a linen ephod. 15So David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the LORD with shouting, and with the sound of the trumpet. 16And as the ark of the LORD came into the city of David, Michal Saul’s daughter looked through a window, and saw king David leaping and dancing before the LORD; and she despised him in her heart. 17And they brought in the ark of the LORD, and set it in his place, in the midst of the tabernacle that David had pitched for it: and David offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the LORD. 18And as soon as David had made an end of offering burnt offerings and peace offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the LORD of hosts. 19And he dealt among all the people, even among the whole multitude of Israel, as well to the women as men, to every one a cake of bread, and a good piece of flesh, and a flagon of wine. So all the people departed every one to his house. 20Then David returned to bless his household. And Michal the daughter of Saul came out to meet David, and said, How glorious was the king of Israel to day, who uncovered himself to day in the eyes of the handmaids of his servants, as one of the vain fellows shamelessly uncovereth himself! 21And David said unto Michal, It was before the LORD, which chose me before thy father, and before all his house, to appoint me ruler over the people of the LORD, over Israel: therefore will I play before the LORD. 22And I will yet be more vile than thus, and will be base in mine own sight: and of the maidservants which thou hast spoken of, of them shall I be had in honour. 23Therefore Michal the daughter of Saul had no child unto the day of her death.

Luke 15:25-32 says, “25Now his elder son was in the field: and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard music and dancing. 26And he called one of the servants, and asked what these things meant. 27And he said unto him, Thy brother is come; and thy father hath killed the fatted calf, because he hath received him safe and sound. 28And he was angry, and would not go in: therefore came his father out, and entreated him. 29And he answering said to his father, Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment: and yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends: 30But as soon as this thy son was come, which hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf. 31And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine. 32It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found.”

There is an old-time song I use to hear a lot while growing up in church. It said, “I am not dancing for the devil any more; I am dancing for the LORD.” As the saying goes, “We did not stop dancing; we just changed partners.” I believe it is very clear from scripture that there is nothing wrong with praising the LORD in a dance. God would rather have His people celebrating in His glory than depressed and oppressed. However, we have a lot of religious folk who look down their noses at people who like to jump up and down and dance in church. My response to those judgmental attitudes is that maybe they would be able to dance like that too if they had half of the testimony that those people have. They can dance for the LORD because they are no longer dancing in a bar or club. They can dance for Jesus Christ because He pulled them out of drug addictions, gangs, and perversion. Why not celebrate the King of Kings for what He has done in our lives? Do not judge people because they are dancing for God. Start dancing with them!

One man in the Bible who knew about dancing for God was King David. In Psalm 30:11, David announced how that God turned his mourning into dancing. In Psalm 149:3 and 150:4, David explained how that we are to praise God through a dance. It is one of the many ways to praise the LORD! He lived out that message when the Ark of the Covenant was being moved from the house of Obededom to Jerusalem. After moving about 18 steps, David danced mightily before the LORD. He was not trying to entertain or please a crowd. He had an audience of one, who was God in heaven. Since the Ark represented the throne of God, he knew that his praises welcomed His presence so He could sit down on His throne here on earth. It was a bloody sight because there were much sacrificing, but it was all for God’s glory. David danced in a linen ephod, which was a priestly garment. In fact, it was all that the high priest wore on the Day of Atonement as he was making intercession for the nation of Israel. Since David foreshadowed Jesus Christ, he was a type of king and priest. After dancing and making offerings of sacrifice unto God, David returned home to bless his family, but his wife, Michal, who was the daughter of Saul, despised David in her heart. She actually made light of how David acted right to his face, telling him how foolish he looked. Nevertheless, David’s response was that her dad was not king any more, but there was a new king in town who has been appointed by God Himself, and since he was that king, he was going to dance only for the LORD! It does not matter what anyone else thinks. What matters is what God thinks and how He is able to receive praise for it!

Finally, in the parable of the prodigal son, after he returned home to his father, the elder and religious son heard music and dancing. There was a celebration going on, and he was made because he was working in the fields and had never received a celebration like this before. He was provoked to jealousy, and even after his father pleaded with him to come inside, he refused. Instead of rejoicing because the prodigal returned home, he was throwing a pity party, and his father explained to him how that while he was safe and secure, his brother was lost in sin, but now he had returned home, and it was time to rejoice! Luke 15:7 says, “I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.”

We can learn from this story because just as heaven rejoices over one sinner who repents, we should rejoice when someone accepts Jesus Christ as the LORD and Savior of their life here on earth. We should not get jealous because someone is getting all of the attention or is moving up higher in God. Instead, we should help, encourage, and pray for them! We should not judge people or be jealous of them because they are dancing for God. We should join in on the celebration!