Praise the Lord

Scotty Smith:  A Prayer for the Joy and Freedom of Dancing

     You turned my wailing into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy, that my heart may sing your praises and not be silent. LORD my God, I will praise you forever. Ps. 30:11-12 

     Praise him (God) with timbrel and dancing, praise him with the strings and pipe, praise him with the clash of cymbals, praise him with resounding cymbals. Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord! Psalm 150:4-6

     Dear Lord Jesus, has there ever have been a king more into dancing than King David? His victory over Goliath was the inspiration for singing and dancing by many in Israel (1 Sam. 21:11). When the ark was returned to Jerusalem, he danced before the Lord with all his might, and very little modesty (2 Sam. 6:14). It’s obvious he wrote this psalm as a dancer, for other dancers—whose joy at the dedication of the temple was uncontainable.

     But King Jesus, you’re the real Lord of the Dance. Though David didn’t realize it, his work and joy simply prefigured yours. Only you can turn the wails of our sin and brokenness into the dance of hope and joy. By your cross, you’ve removed the filthy garments of unrighteousness that we might be clothed us with the white robe of your own righteousness. Astounding, astonishing, and so very true.

     How can we not sing and make music to you in our hearts? How can we possibly remain silent and still in response to who you are and everything you’ve done for us? O, that we may hear the Father speaking these words to us right now: “Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours” (Luke 15:31)—beckoning us onto the dance floor of his grace (Luke 15:25).

     Lord Jesus, surely, you indeed greater joy in our hearts than we settle for; in fact, you pray that we would know the full measure of your joy (John 15:11). Forgive us for confusing reverence with reserve—even rigor mortis. Forgive us for equating holiness with lifelessness. Forgive us living like we’re en route to a funeral instead of a wedding—the wedding feast of the Lamb! Forgive us for living more by our temperament tests, Myers-Briggs profiles, and personality types than by the lyric, music, and dance of the gospel.

     One day, King Jesus, we will give thanks to you with all our might. All personal inhibitions, cultural limitations, and sinful prohibitions will be gone. May that coming Day have much greater impact on this day. So very Amen we pray, in your gladsome and grace-filled name.