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Old 02-02-2008, 07:15 AM
jerry
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Biblestudent View Post
Ps 149:3
Let them praise his name in the dance: let them sing praises unto him with the timbrel and harp.
Ps 150:4
Praise him with the timbrel and dance: praise him with stringed instruments and organs.
Ec 3:4
A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
I have read that the word used in reference to David dancing before the Lord means basically leaping excitedly - not like what we would call dancing today. Plus, it was just him - not the whole congregation dancing at once.

There are several places in Israel's history where they celebrated their victories with dance - but I would not necessarily call those times of worship, but rather of public celebration - and again it was not the whole congregation of Israel dancing at one time or together. In Exodus 15, we see Miriam and some of the women dancing.

Exodus 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.

I do not believe Ecclesiastes is referring to any kind of dance used in worship - but like what happened above, some kind of vistory/celebration dance. From what I recall of Israel's history, the men and women worshipped separately, and would have also danced separately - not like some public dance where the men and women are together and have their hands on one another, moving suggestively. If a husband and wife want to do that privately in their home or bedroom, that is up to them - but it has no place in the public life of the church or of a Christian.