When God Begins to Dance
Exodus 15:20-21
20 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 with dances.
21 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.
Aaron’s sister, the prophetess, danced and sang after God had delivered his people from the hand of Pharaoh. Miriam danced because God had miraculously delivered the children of Israel from a world power Egyptian army. Miriam danced because God had delivered her and her people from the sting of the lash. Miriam danced because God had delivered them from the shame of slavery. Miriam danced because God had given her and her people freedom.
The Angel of the LORD that led them in their exodus had gone around and stood between Pharaoh’s army and God’s children as if to say “Go ahead, make my day!” God had brought incredible darkness upon the enemy and a fiery cloud to light the sky for His people. God had caused a strong east wind to blow all night. In the morning, to the delight of God’s children, there was a path through the Red Sea. God’s children marched to safety.
The Wind is blowing again! We have been delivered from the armies of Satan, whom the Bible calls the prince of the power of the air. We have been delivered from the sting of the lash of sorrow and shame. Some of us still remember the pain of addictions. Jesus set us free! It’s just as Jesus promised in John 8:36, “If the Son therefore shall make you free, you shall be free indeed.”
God has done mighty things for us, we ought to get up and dance and sing Miriam’s song:
Sing ye to the LORD
For He hath triumphed gloriously
The horse and his rider
Hath He thrown into the Sea.
The Psalmist said in Psalm 149
149:1 Praise (Halal) ye the LORD. Sing unto the LORD a new song, and his praise in the congregation of saints.
2 Let Israel rejoice in him that made him: let the children of Zion be joyful in their King.
3 Let them praise (Halal) his name in the dance : let them sing praises unto him with the timbrel and harp.
4 For the LORD taketh pleasure in his people: he will beautify the meek with salvation.
5 Let the saints be joyful in glory: let them sing aloud upon their beds.
6 Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, and a twoedged sword in their hand;
7 To execute vengeance upon the heathen, and punishments upon the people;
8 To bind their kings with chains, and their nobles with fetters of iron;
9 To execute upon them the judgment written: this honor have all his saints. Praise ye the LORD.
The Ark of the Covenant was the most sacred piece of furniture of the Old Testament. In it were deposited the Ten Commandments, Aaron’s rod that budded, and a golden pot of manna. It was the Old Testament symbol of God’s presence. It was borne by the priests in advance of the hosts of Israel. At its presence the waters of the Jordan separated; only when it was carried to the farther shore did the waters resume their usual course. The Ark was carried about Jericho and the walls came a tumbling down. The Bible tells how King David brought the Ark to Jerusalem
2 Sam 6:13-15
13 And it was so, that when they that bare the ark of the LORD had gone six paces, he sacrificed oxen and fatlings.
14 And David danced before the LORD with all his might; and David was girded with a linen ephod.
15 So David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the LORD with shouting, and with the sound of the trumpet.
The ark was only a type and symbol of what God gave me at age nine. Have you received the Holy Ghost since you believed?
David, the man after God’s heart, danced before the Ark of the Covenant with all his might. We need to get excited about the Gift of the Holy Ghost again!
We’ve read about Miriam dancing. We’ve read about the Saints dancing. We’ve read about King David dancing with all his might before the LORD. The Bible records an instance where Jesus, God come in flesh, danced for joy.
Luke 10:17-21.
17 And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name.
18 And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven.
19 Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.
20 Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.
21 In that hour Jesus rejoiced in spirit, and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes: even so, Father; for so it seemed good in thy sight.
Jesus rejoiced in spirit. Rejoiced… Greek, “AGALLIAO” Translated literally this word means to “jump for joy”. In that hour Jesus jumped for joy, was exceeding glad with exceeding joy, and rejoiced greatly.
He rejoiced or jumped for joy because:
1) The 70, representing all Holy Ghost believers, had successfully gone into the streets taking the Good News of Jesus and allowing His power to work through them.
2) God’s people returned rejoicing and Jesus loves His people to rejoice.
3) God’s people were claiming victory over the devil, shouting that even the devils were subject unto them through His Name.
Jesus “rejoiced”, jumped for joy, or danced and declared Satan fallen as a lightning bolt. Jesus declared, “Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.”
The seventy caused Jesus to dance. The same three things that made Him dance then will cause Him to dance now. I want you to understand that God is ready to start the dance of victory over your city, situation, and church right now. Listen, you may hear the voice of the Spirit asking, “May I have this dance?”