Praise Him in the Dance

PSALM 149

[Psa 149:1-9]" 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. For the Lord taketh pleasure in his people: he will beautify the meek with salvation. Let the saints be joyful in glory: let them sing aloud upon their beds. Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, and a two-edged sword in their hand; To execute vengeance upon the heathen, and punishments upon the people; To bind their kings with chains, and their nobles with fetters of iron;To execute upon them the judgment written: this honour have all his saints. Praise ye the Lord."

The Lord is calling unto His people to bring forth a new song. He desires us to praise Him with everything we are. He inhabits the praises of His people and wants to come forth to purify the Bride for His precious Son Jesus. It is time to worship Him in the beauty of His Holiness without human limitations. The only way the yearning in our hearts will be quenched is by a deeper and more intimate relationship with the Father. Deep is calling unto deep and we must obey the Spirit of the Lord without reservation. We are being called forward for sanctification to be consecrated unto the Lord as a Holy priesthood.

To enter into His presence we must move upward into a new realm. This can only come by surrendering to the Spirit of the Lord and His leading in righteousness. Part of the purification process is letting go of who we are and who we perceive ourselves to be. We are required by the Lord to worship Him with everything we are not caring what man thinks anymore. It is by this surrender that the next move will be ushered in.

Part of this transition includes the dance. There has been much fear and misunderstanding within the Body of Christ over the dance in the past few years. When an important move of God is pending satan is well aware of the change in the spirit. When there is a change satan sends out lying spirits and deception to produce doubt and fear. Generally there will be a false manifestations that will attempt to cloud the true manifestation. The Word alerts us that there will be heresies allowed within the church in order to manifest the truth. [1 Cor 11:19] "For there must be also heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you."

Over the past few years there has been a mixture of style in dance. Some of it manifested with lustful overtones and brought with it distaste for the dance. This false representation has attempted to damage the Lords true desire and will in the Body. What we must remember, where there is smoke there is fire. Underneath the smokescreen put forth by the enemy lays a tremendous "fire" which will bring forth a purging in the church. It carries with it an anointing of purification for the Bride.

Those who are perceptive in the Spirit will see there is a very different form of dance that is being allowed to come forward at this time. There is purity in this of worship. Those who have been called to step forward in this capacity do not want attention drawn to themselves. They know that they are strictly vessels to be used to usher in the presence of the Lord and are obeying the leading of the Spirit. Another aspect that is common among those in obedience is the sensitivity and surrender to the spiritual leadership of the church. They understand the Lord sets up a certain order and will be patient as the Lord brings things to pass. The Spirit is giving the Shepherds time to test the spirits and watch the leading of the Lord.

As we learn more of what the Spirit desires and begin to understand the spiritual significance of the dance it becomes more exciting. We begin to have a greater understanding of why satan does not want this form of worship to move forward. There is great power and spiritual warfare that takes place dance. Prophetic oversight and revelation comes forth in the ministry of dance. Each move is given by the Spirit of the Lord and is directly coordinated with what is occurring in the spirit realm.

The Kingdom of God is full of symbolism and when you watch prophetic dance it becomes very evident. One of the fascinating aspects of the dance is many who have been taught of the Spirit move and flow as if they had been trained together. The unity in the Spirit comes directly from the Spirit of God. This could only have come from the Lord. Dance is a gift from God and has been a form of worship for centuries. This gift is becoming more evident as it emerges from the hearts of believers.

In Psalm 149 verses 2-3 we see the Lord desires us to be joyful in our king." let the children of Zion be joyful in their King.

Let them praise his name in the dance:" Part of the manifested joy we are to release to Him is the abandonment of self as we dance before His throne. Generally we are able to sing, clap and shout our love and adoration but to step out by faith to dance is very different. The enemy attacks our minds and we become concerned over our own ability or talent to dance and who may be watching us. This is meant to inhibit us from showing love and joy to our King. David knew what it felt like to lose himself in the presence of God. When the ark was brought back into the city of David he was so filled with joy over the return of the Lords presence he no longer had a sense of self or cared who was watching. It was more important to obey the Spirit of the Lord and be free in worship. He knew the importance of ark residing in their midst and wanted to worship God for returning unto them.

[2 Sam 6:16] And as the ark of the Lord came into the city of David, Michal Saul's daughter looked through a window, and saw king David leaping and dancing before the Lord; and she despised him in her heart.

David’s joy was overwhelming as the ark (or presence of the Lord) came back into the city. They had just gone through a period of time where God had removed His presence from them. The returning of the ark was symbolic of the return of the favor of God upon the congregation. Upon reading the above passage further we notice that not everyone was equally glad in the manifestation of David’s joy. His wife Michal, Sauls daughter was filled with anger and jealousy. The word tells us she despised him in her heart. She had chosen not to be part of the festivities as the ark returned to the city of David. Instead she chose to be a bystander viewing the celebration from a nearby window. Because she chose judge and criticize David for his obedience in worship she was cursed with barrenness. David rebuked her and declared how it mattered not who saw him but he would play before the Lord his God. He had nothing to hide before man or God and chose to obey the Lord above everything.

[2 Sam 6:20] "Then David returned to bless his household. And Michal the daughter of Saul came out to meet David, and said, How glorious was the king of Israel to day, who uncovered himself to day in the eyes of the handmaids of his servants, as one of the vain fellows shamelessly uncovereth himself! And David said unto Michal, It was before the Lord, which chose me before thy father, and before all his house, to appoint me ruler over the people of the Lord, over Israel: therefore will I play before the Lord. And I will yet be more vile than thus, and will be base in mine own sight: and of the maidservants which thou hast spoken of, of them shall I be had in honour. Therefore Michal the daughter of Saul had no child unto the day of her death."

The importance of this scripture is to warn us not to look at others in judgment as they obey the Spirit of the Lord. We must listen to the Spirit and give due honor unto the Lord as He brings forth more of His manifested presence. If we allow the spirit which operated in Saul and latter his daughter Michal to control us we will not only lose out on the celebration but will become barren in the manifestation of His presence.

Next lets look at exactly what dance is and what spiritual authority comes forth as we obey. When we look at the Hebrew translation of the word dance you find it holds many different meanings. In Psalm 149 and 150 the word translated is machowl it literally means to dance. When we take it back to the root word-chuwl, the meaning becomes more profound. It is here we find what power is made manifest in the spiritual realm through dance.

DANCE

Hebrew: chuwl

or chiyl {kheel}; a primitive root; properly, to twist or whirl (in a circular or spiral manner), i.e. (specifically) to dance, to writhe in pain (especially of parturition) or fear; figuratively, to wait, to pervert: -bear, (make to) bring forth, (make to) calve, dance, drive away, fall grievously (with pain), fear, form, great, grieve, (be) grievous, hope, look, make, be in pain, be much (sore) pained, rest, shake, shapen, (be) sorrow(-ful), stay, tarry, travail (with pain), tremble, trust, wait carefully (patiently), be wounded.

The Spirit leads the dancer in specific moves that have spiritual symbolism. Every hand movement or turn has prophetic meaning and is manifest in the spirit as well as the natural. As the river flows the hands move with it, and wind of the Spirit blows the hands symbolize the movement. Just as Miriam danced unto the Lord, God has called others to operate in the same prophetic anointing. [Exo 15:20] "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." To understand more fully we need to look at some of the different forms of praise. One type of praise is called yadah, it means to use the hand and physically throw an object such as a stone or arrow. It also means to lift up hands in reverence worshiping with passion and intensity. We are told in Psalms 18:34, how," He teacheth my hands to war, so that a bow of steel is broken by mine arms. And again in [Psa 144:1] "Blessed be the Lord my strength which teacheth my hands to war, and my fingers to fight:" So we see there is power in our hands to bring down the enemy.

The warfare manifested in dance has the ability to destroy the enemy like nothing else. Heathen religions know the power of dance this is why in rituals it is used as they worship their gods and curse others. Lets look at the root word definition again. Since it is a diverse definition the Spirit of the Lord can produce whatever He desires. As we dance before the Lord it will manifest against the enemy tremendous power. It will bring to the demonic realm sorrow, trembling, grievous falls with pain, and cause the enemy to be wounded. We find this just by looking at the meaning of chuwl. Now lets look back at Psalm 149 and see how the Word promises victory in praise.

When we sing and dance before the Lord He,"…taketh pleasure in his people: he will beautify the meek with salvation." We are told to ,"be joyful in glory: let them sing aloud upon their beds. Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, and a two-edged sword in their hand; To execute vengeance upon the heathen, and punishments upon the people; To bind their kings with chains, and their nobles with fetters of iron; To execute upon them the judgment written: this honour have all his saints. Praise ye the Lord." We are given an honor through praise and dance. It gives us the ability to bind up all spiritual forces. As the high praises come out of our mouth and we use the two-edged sword we are guaranteed victory in all things. This is our heritage as we worship our King as He desires.

Now when we look at the symbolism in the dance it takes on a whole need meaning. A portion of what occurs directly correlates to the Body of Christ and the preparation of the Bride. It symbolizes the bringing forth of the newness or re-creation of a perfected Bride. It carries the anointing necessary to transform us into the image of Christ, perfected in His Holiness. By surrendering our mortal bodies to the Spirit of the Lord we are being used by the Spirit to bring forth changes in the spirit realm that will be manifested in the natural as the prophetic events unfold.

One part of the definition of dance is symbolic of travail and birth. There is much spiritual opposition to bringing forth but the praise and dance have the ability to break through unto freedom. Just as in the days of Hezekiah there is much trouble and blasphemy. [2 Ki 19:3] "… Thus saith Hezekiah, This day is a day of trouble, and of rebuke, and blasphemy; for the children are come to the birth, and there is not strength to bring forth." This scripture is repeated again in Isaiah 37:3, it is a repeated pattern in the history of the church. Satan wants to devour the child before its birth. For the fullness of the manifested sons of God to come forth we must obey travailing before the throne of God. [Isa 66:8-15] "for as soon as Zion travailed, she brought forth her children. Shall I bring to the birth, and not cause to bring forth? saith the Lord: shall I cause to bring forth, and shut the womb? saith thy God. Rejoice ye with Jerusalem, and be glad with her, all ye that love her: rejoice for joy with her, all ye that mourn for her: That ye may suck, and be satisfied with the breasts of her consolations; that ye may milk out, and be delighted with the abundance of her glory. For thus saith the Lord, Behold, I will extend peace to her like a river, and the glory of the Gentiles like a flowing stream: then shall ye suck, ye shall be borne upon her sides, and be dandled upon her knees. As one whom his mother comforteth, so will I comfort you; and ye shall be comforted in Jerusalem. And when ye see this, your heart shall rejoice, and your bones shall flourish like an herb: and the hand of the Lord shall be known toward his servants, and his indignation toward his enemies. For, behold, the Lord will come with fire, and with his chariots like a whirlwind, to render his anger with fury, and his rebuke with flames of fire.

[Isa 66:16] For by fire and by his sword will the Lord plead with all flesh: and the slain of the Lord shall be many. "There are those in the body who are trying to give birth to the desires of the Spirit but because there is no soundness they are too weak to proceed alone. When we praise the Lord in the dance spiritual power is released to bring forth strength out of weakness.

So we see dance has the spiritual power to travail and birth the desires of God unto the natural. It cuts through the heavenlies and opens a conduit to the throne of God. As we lose ourselves in halal worship we break through barriers that in the past have been unbreakable. Halal worship by definition is: to shine; hence, to make a show, to boast; and thus to be (clamorously) foolish; to rave; causatively, to celebrate; also to stultify. Stultify literally means to appear insane or foolish. We then proceed through the other levels of praise such as barak which is to kneel; by implication to bless God (as an act of adoration).

When someone is dancing under the anointing of God you can watch them transition into different levels of symbolic worship. As the Psalmist follows the leading of the Lord the dancer moves in harmony with him. When a Psalmist is sensitive to the Spirits leading the combination of the music, voice and dance will destroy yokes of bondage that cannot be overcome in any other way. The dancer and Psalmist move together before the throne of God worshiping our Almighty Creator. It is not a competition for center stage but surrender to the leading of the Spirit of God. As they become one in heart and mind their spirits come in unity before God. This in turn ushers in the presence of the Lord in which signs, wonders and miracles occur.

As the praise continues it ultimately transition into a deeper and more intimate form of worship called shachah. Which literally means to fall before God in Holy reverence. (a primitive root; to depress, i.e. prostrate (especially reflexive, in homage to royalty or God): --bow (self) down, crouch, fall down (flat), humbly beseech, do (make) obeisance, do reverence, make to stoop, worship.) When you enter into this realm you come directly before the Throne of Grace. It can be difficult to enter into for some people, as the manifestation of the Lords presence is great here. This is where the spiritual transformations occur from dwelling in His presence. All hearts are made manifest as we stand before Him and if we desire change this is where you will receive it. Many times it is in this place where you will hear silence mixed with travail. This is where the Beauty of His Holiness is made manifest.

Dance has a direct impact on the progression of events listed above. Since satan knows the power available as we enter into the Throne of God he tries everything he can to deceive us. Praise in song and dance breaks through the barriers so we can enter in more easily. The spirit led movements of the dancers directly corresponds to what is happening in the spirit realm. Let us therefore enter into His gates with thanksgiving and into courts with praise. For in His presence there is fullness of joy where He will turn our sorrow into dancing!

Teresa Daly-Crews

29 April 00

Praise Him In The Dance