Psalm 149

Praise his Name in the dance!

Read/pray the psalm. (Full text at bottom.)

• “Almost nobody dances sober, unless they happen to be insane.” — H.P. Lovecraft (telling us much about himself)

• Dancing is not quite rational.

  • It’s inefficient.

  • It’s turning in circles.

  • Or worse yet, taking many steps, with no forward progress at all.

  • The body makes these gyrating, unnecessary, and pointless movements.

  • It’s not the shortest distance between two points, nor even arriving at another point.

  • And that’s the point: There is no point, in a circle.

• Same for music.

  • It’s turning round and round, repeating.

  • Emotion, feeling, inarticulate expression—apart from the lyrics, which could be just… stated, and usually more clearly.

  • The timbrel is round, as is its meaning.

• But to enter into Sabbath, or worship, or singing, or praise, or joy, we must leave behind our strict control, careful counting, and accounting, measuring, exactitude.

  • We leave behind the (mathematically, humanly) perfect number six.

  • We embrace the (mystically, heavenly) perfect number seven.

So…

• Stand. Lift your heart joyfully to God.

• Praise his Name in the dance:

Thinking of the goodness of God, sway, or dance, or hop, or wave your hands to honor him—either to music, or silently. Feel his approval.

Psalm 149
Cantate Domino

1	Praise the Lord. O sing unto the Lord a new song; * 
		let the congregation of the faithful praise him.
2	Let Israel rejoice in the one who made him, *
		and let the children of Zion be joyful in their King. 
3	Let them praise his Name in the dance; *
		let them sing praises unto him with timbrel and harp. 
4	For the Lord has pleasure in his people *
		and gives victory to those who are oppressed.
5	Let the faithful be joyful with glory; *
		let them rejoice upon their beds.
6	Let the praises of God be in their mouth * 
		and a two-edged sword in their hands,
7	To inflict vengeance on the nations, * 
		and to rebuke the peoples,
8	To bind their kings in chains, *
		and their nobles with links of iron,
9	That they may execute judgment upon them, as it is written; * 
		this is the honor of all his servants. Praise the Lord.

New Coverdale Psalter