Quote:
Originally Posted by Leslie  If aspects of worship commended in the scripture are obligatory at some time in the life of the church, doesn't that include dance--as the psalms commend (at least, perhaps command) praising God with dance? |
The two psalms that immediately come to mind are
Psalm 149:3, "Let them praise his name in the dance: let them sing praises unto him with the timbrel and harp" and
Psalm 150:4, "Praise him with the timbrel and dance: praise him with stringed instruments and organs."
I. CONTEXT
These psalms form a part of the conclusion of the Psalter (Pss. 146-150).
II. INTRODUCTION IIa. Psalm 149
This psalm may have been written for the sake of the Jews that returned from the Babylonish captivity and the Syriac version entitles it, "concerning the new temple''. John Gill argues that it was written by David in the beginning of his reign, when he obtained victories over the Philistines, Edomites, Moabites, Ammonites, and Syrians. Gill therefore agrees with the Jewish commentator Kimchi that it is eschatological and refers to the times of the Messiah.
IIb. Psalm 150
Gill writes (correctly) that, "This psalm is of the same kind and upon the same subject with the two preceding ones; and very probably was written by the same hand, and about the same time...R. Obadiah Gaon observes, this psalm belongs to the times of the Messiah; to the Gospel dispensation, to the latter part of it, especially when Jews and Gentiles shall be converted; and when all will praise the Lord, as they will have reason for it."
III. EXEGESIS IIIa. Psalm 149
First of all there is the matter of interpretation. The phrase "Let them praise his name in the dance" could equally be rendered "with the pipe" which was a musical instrument used in former times in the worship of God. Hence it is not certain that "dance" is the best transalation. But be that as it may, the verse is in an eschatological psalm that is looking forward to the messianic age when all nations would praise YHWH and, I would suggest, it also looks to the eternal state where all saints will render a glorious hallelujah. The term "dance" is then being used as an illustration of joy. The Jews often danced and sang to celebrate great deliverances. The psalm then makes use of this picture to urge saints to be joyful.
IIIb. Psalm 150
Again, the phrase "Praise him with the timbrel and dance" could equally be rendered "Praise him with the timbrel and pipe". Once again let us assume that the rendering we have is correct. The argument is very much the same as before.
The
sitz im lieben of these psalms are to celebrate those times that king David obtained victories over his enemies. The exegesis is then helped by the context. A possible context would have been similar to that described in 1 Samuel 18:6, "And it came to pass as they came, when David was returned from the slaughter of the Philistine, that the women came out of all cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet king Saul, with tabrets, with joy, and with instruments of musick."
The wording reflects this context but contains spiritual truths. Note that even when these psalms were sung in the temple the Jews understood that these imperatives did not warrant their dancing in the temple nor their introducing instruments such as timbrels into worship.
