I was at an event not too long ago which was filled with boisterous singing and dancing as expressions of worship. It was a
beautiful and a joyous sight to behold and experience. Then, after a couple of songs, the worship leader admonished the
crowd to be reverent in the singing of the next song. “Let us sing this next song with reverence.” What that statement
implied, intentionally or otherwise, was that the exuberant expressions of worship which were previously present were not
reverent. Reverence, as defined in the Cambridge English Dictionary, is a feeling of respect or admiration for someone or
something. Now, of course, boisterous actions can be silly and attention-getting, which clearly are not reverent. But
somewhere along the way we have gone to the other extreme and have associated reverence with silence and solemnity.
But that is not how the Bible instructs us to come before God. We are to come before Him with reverence for He alone is
God, He is holy, and He alone is worthy of our worship. But in His word, we are instructed to sing, play instruments, lift
our hands, clap, shout, and dance.
Psalm 100:1, “Make a joyful noise to the Lord!”
Psalm 100:3, “Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise!”
Psalm 150 instructs us to praise the Lord with trumpet, lute, harp, tambourine and dance, strings and pipe, and loud
clashing cymbals.
Psalm 47:1, “Clap your hands, all peoples! Shout to God with loud songs of joy!”
Psalm 149:3, “Let them praise his name with dancing.
Sometimes I chuckle as I watch congregations sing lyrics such as “we dance in your freedom awake and alive” when
clearly, they wouldn’t be caught dead dancing in church and it’s—facetiously—questionable if they are awake and alive.
“I sing because I’m happy” though the look on my face could make you think my dog just died. “I’m so glad” sung with a
sour look. Or my favorite, “There are sweet expressions on each face. ” At what group of people are they looking?
Certainly not the same people I see. I’m mindful of the children’s song, “If You’re Happy and You Know It” which states
that one’s face will surely show it.
When we gather for worship, may our actions be louder than our words.