Today it is International Dance Day.
Scripture makes numerous mentions of dance. Exodus 15:20 records the first recorded instance of God's people dancing as a form of worship. “Miriam the prophetess, Aaron’s sister, took a tambourine in her hand, and all the women followed her, with tambourines and dancing.” Leading by Miriam, this joyous dance to the Lord commemorated Israel's newfound liberation from slavery and came after Israel's Red Sea passage.
But the Bible does not always paint dancing in a favourable light. Not long after Miriam performed her dance of praise, the Israelites were seen worshipping a golden calf while dancing. “When Moses approached the camp and saw the calf and the dancing, his anger burned and he threw the tablets out of his hands, breaking them to pieces at the foot of the mountain” (Exodus 32:19). This time, dancing was a component of an idolatrous, immoral carousal. Dancing is an expressive medium that may be utilised for both positive and bad purposes.
The Psalms present a distinctive perspective on dance as a kind of devotion. The psalmist states in Psalm 30:11, “You turned my wailing into dancing.” Psalm 149:3 encourages the use of dancing to worship God: “Let them praise his name with dancing!”
Scripture uses dance as an act of worship, and it is still possible to utilise dance in this way today. Churches must be careful not to promote dancing that tempts people to sin or temptation; instead, the major focus should be on worshipping God. Dancing is a lovely art form that has the power to instruct and glorify God via the communication of truth.
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