Luke 15: 23 -25

When the Prodigal returned, Jesus informed us that when the elder son came and drew nigh to the house, he heard music and dancing (Luke 15:25). I am under the impression that the music was loud, and the dancing was joyful and there was indeed something to celebrate. The father had authorized it. He said after reinstating the lost son “And bring hither the fatted calf and kill it; and let us eat and be merry” (Luke 15:23). The merrymaking and celebration were inclusive of the Father. He commanded it and was involved in it and who are we to stop it.

The Church of God is a place where we have been authorized to dance. Dancing is legal here! Not only do we sing “Praise the Lord our shackles are gone” but there are times when we express it in our feet and demonstrate it in our hands and our entire bodies. We literally do what the Psalmist strikingly tells us to do in Psalm 150: 4: – “Praise Him with the timbrel and dance . . .”

Miriam was right! The inspired Word reminds us “And Miriam, the prophetess, the sister of Aaron took a timbrel in her hand; and all the women went out after her with timbrels and dances. And Miriam answered them, sing ye to the Lord, for he hath triumphed gloriously: the horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea” (Exodus 15; 20, 21). Triumphant people do not pout – they shout! Triumphant people do not keep quiet – they roar! They do not sit in silence – they erupt in total praise and excitement ! They sing and prance and dance about. There is an absolute difference between the losing side and the winning side. Obviously, there is something exhilarating about scoring a victory or winning a battle, triumphing over the enemy. David with extraordinary joy declared “For by thee I have run through a troop; and by my God have I leaped over a wall” (Psalm 18:29). Victories and momentous occasions are incomplete without the celebrations.

Especially in these last times, how we need not to miss any occasion to celebrate and praise our God in the highest. The Psalmist, as he brings the Psalms to a climax, declares “Bring out the trumpet – Bring out the psaltery and harp. Bring out the timbrel and dance – Bring out the stringed instruments and organs! He even calls for the loud cymbals and the high-sounding cymbals as we deliberately praise God for His mighty acts and exult Him for His excellent greatness.

Let the festivities begin! There is perpetual unceasing joy in heaven (Luke 15:7,10). There is a band there, a host of singers and worshippers, cherubim and seraphim, the saints in holy order giving perpetual praise and worship to the Almighty for every blessing extended to us. There are times for quiet, meditative silent worship but there are also times for the band, the parade, the parishioners expressing themselves, in lively spiritual, mental, emotional, physical worship – body mind, soul, the total being united in praise, blessing God! The Father said, “And bring hither the fattest calf and kill it; and let us eat be merry…” This is exactly what they did! It is divinely sanctioned for us to celebrate the goodness of the Father even in the dance!