"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] Ac