A Prayer about the Gospel and 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 NIV)
Jesus, how could 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 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? Cause us to hear the Father speaking to us right now: “Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours” (Luke 15:31).
Forgive us when we, like the elder brother, remain smugly on the outside, off the dance floor. (Luke 15:25) Forgive us for confusing reverence with rigor mortis. 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. We pray in Jesus’ gladsome name.
Amen.