Tired Church Members | Page 7

should shew forth the praises of him who hath
called you out of darkness into his marvellous light." [6]
The condition is absolute; and all doubts upon the dancing question are
at an end for you. But for those who like to inquire into possibilities, let
us search a little further. "Praise him in the dance."--Has it ever been
done? Never,--in such dances as you are accustomed to. But a great
while ago, on the shores of the Red Sea, while the men were chanting
the praises of that God who had brought them safe out of Egypt, the
women banded together "with timbrels and with dances" [7] (no mixed
dances, observe), and so, dancing for joy at the great deliverance,
answered the men, chorus like:
"Sing ye to the Lord, for he hath triumphed gloriously." [8]
So after Jephthah's victory,[9] came out his daughter to meet him "with
timbrels and with dances."
So after the rout of the Philistines,
"The women came out of all the cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to
meet king Saul." [10]
And though praise of the human agents mingled in, yet only Divine
power had won the day, and well they knew it. And again you

remember how when the ark was brought home to Jerusalem,
"David danced before the Lord with all his might." [11]
Does it seem very strange to you? So it did to David's wife on that
occasion; for as she had no praise in her heart, no sympathy with the
joy, of course the expression of it tried her patience. Dancing for
joy,--we often use the image, but these people did the thing. It is hard
enough to keep still sometimes, if one is very happy.
Not like our dancing!--you say. Indeed not much. No special steps, no
intricate figures, no elaborate positions, no dressing for effect. David
even laid his royal robes aside, instead of putting them on; they were in
his way. How could one dance for joy in a state dress? No need of
partners, where every one danced for glad thankfulness of heart. No
"envy, malice, and all uncharitableness" stirred up by another's dancing
or another's dress; no "wall-flowers," no monopoly. No late hours,
leaving mind and body jaded for the next day's work. I think "dancing
before the Lord" must have been very pure refreshment. And by the
way, speaking of dress, I feel, somehow, as if--would people but
choose their ornaments out of that treasure-chest of jewels "a meek and
quiet spirit," ball dresses would lose their charm, and the German its
great attraction. One never likes to go where one's dress is out of
keeping.
Christian dancing, for Christian joy. There was music and dancing, as
well as feasting, when the prodigal son came home; returned from his
sins, washed from his defilement, clothed at last in "the best robe" a
sinner can wear.[12] According to the word:
"Thou hast turned for me my mourning into dancing." [13]
Is such glad thankfulness so rare in our days that people have forgotten
how it acts? And would such dancing be possible now? I do not know.
But answer this question, and you settle at once the other perplexity
whether Christians may dance. For there is no other sort of dancing
permitted to them, than this which springs up out of the mercies of the
Lord, and is all consecrated to his praise.

it is not quite the only sort mentioned in the Bible; but the others do not
look attractive upon paper. One of them indeed comes more properly
under another head, and the rest are all idolatrous; in the service and
honour of that biggest idol, the world; whether any special graven
image was set up or not. Dances indulged in only by heathen, or by
nominal Christians who had swerved from their allegiance.
When Moses tarried long in the mount, receiving his orders, the people,
you remember, grew tired and restless,--in want of recreation, we
should call it now,--and then they "quickly corrupted themselves."
Weary of waiting, impatient of the monotony of their life, out of their
own possessions they made themselves an idol, and then--danced
before it! conducting themselves as well became those who had chosen
a god that could neither hear nor see.
"The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play." [14]
And you will find this is always just what people do after unhallowed
recreation: they never rise up to do good work. Test your amusements
by that. Recreation should be a re-creation to every noble end.
Neither joy, nor thankfulness, nor the unbending from labour, was there
among those poor Israelites--those people of the Lord in name; but only
lawless mirth and unhallowed indulgence.
"He saw the calf and the dancing, and Moses'