Rejoice in the Dance!

What does the Bible say about dancing?

A phenomenon has taken place in our homeschool circle recently.  We learned to dance the Virginia Reel.  And it has proved to be a joyous, old-fashioned, animating experience! (For some, that is. Others seem to have an abject terror of said dancing;)

However, when I was little, I always thought of dancing as something that was bad.  Something Christians shouldn't do.  

As Christians, we should strive to glorify the Lord in every aspect of our lives.  That includes searching the scriptures diligently to find out what His will is for us - His children.  

After I made this little study, I felt so joyful that I wanted to run and shout and dance and sing!  From these verses, it seems clear that the dance is used for praise, for rejoicing, for glad worship to the King of kings.  It is the opposite of mourning and lamentation.

Let us then be girt about with gladness, that our glory may sing praise to him, and not be silent!

 ''Thou hast turned for me my mourning into dancing:

thou hast put off my sackcloth, and girded me with gladness; 

 To the end that my glory may sing praise to thee, and not be silent.

 O LORD my God, I will give thanks unto thee for ever. - Ps. 30:11-12

Praise Him with the timbrel and dance: praise him with stringed instruments and organs. - Ps. 150:4

 To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven...  

 ...A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance. - Eccl. 3:1&4

 Praise ye the LORD. Sing unto the LORD a new song, and his praise in the congregation of saints. 

Let Israel rejoice in him that made him: let the children of Zion be joyful in their King.

Let them praise his name in the dance: let them sing praises unto him with the timbrel and harp. - Ps. 149:1-3

"Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God." - 1 Cor. 10:31

Rejoice in the dance!