Mourning into Dancing

Posted on by Japanese Congregational Church

Psalm 30:1-12

1 I will exalt you, O LORD, for you lifted me out of the depths and did not let my enemies gloat over me. 2 O LORD my God, I called to you for help and you healed me. 3 O LORD, you brought me up from the grave ; you spared me from going down into the pit. 4 Sing to the LORD, you saints of his; praise his holy name. 5 For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime; weeping may remain for a night, but rejoicing comes in the morning. 6 When I felt secure, I said, “I will never be shaken.” 7 O LORD, when you favored me, you made my mountain stand firm; but when you hid your face, I was dismayed. 8 To you, O LORD, I called; to the Lord I cried for mercy: 9 “What gain is there in my destruction, in my going down into the pit? Will the dust praise you? Will it proclaim your faithfulness? 10 Hear, O LORD, and be merciful to me; O LORD, be my help.” 11 You turned my wailing into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy, 12 that my heart may sing to you and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give you thanks forever.

Our psalm today is a song of joyful praise. It is a song of Easter resurrection and praise!

3 O LORD, you brought me up from the grave ; you spared me from going down into the pit. 4 Sing to the LORD, you saints of his; praise his holy name. 11 You turned my wailing into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy,

But here is my question: In light of the world’s immense suffering…is this kind of praise appropriate?

  • We look at the world at large: Gaza, Lebanon, Sudan, Afghanistan, Ukraine – places wracked with violence and war.
  • Aid organizations estimate that ½ of the world’s population – 3.5 billion people – live on the edge of subsistence. They are one flood, or one earthquake, or one disaster away from extinction.
  • In our own country, we are going through a crisis of leadership and polarity. Millions here, too, are just a paycheck away from being homeless….while thousands, even in our own city,  actually are.
  • When we look around us at all the tragedy, poverty, and injustice… it may seem almost obscene to talk about dancing with joy….how can any of us in good conscience feel happy while so many are struggling and miserable?

But the praise of this psalmist (and other Psalms) doesn’t come out of some sense of naivety. This song should NOT be mistaken for a kind of mood music. The psalmist sings out of a depth of suffering and pain himself. Here are a few of of those phrases…

  • you lifted me out of the depths
  • I called to you for help
  • you brought me up from the grave　
  • Hear, O LORD, and be merciful to me　
  • O LORD, be my help.　

This song of praise represents the joy of redemption, hope in redemption, confidence that God is always with us, no matter our circumstances. This joy reflects our assurance that God keeps his promises, that God is good and God’s goodness will somehow prevail, despite all the troubles around us.

In other words, this joy recognizes pain and suffering….but it sees them from a different perspective.　

So once again, is this kind of praise and joy, this kind of dancing appropriate in our world that is so full of cruelty, injustice, and oppression? Yes!

Do we need sensitivity? Yes, by all means. It is possible to express our joy and confidence in a way that is insensitive to the pain of those around us. We need to express our joy in deep humility and empathy for those who are not “feeling it” right now.

I believe it is appropriate, and even necessary….for the following reasons:

  • It is a confession of our faith. Stating these truths about God – even in the midst of struggles – keeps us focused on God’s strengths instead of our own weaknesses and limits. 
  • It remembers the past. We all, individually, and as a church, can point to times when God truly has stood with us “through it all” – where we know for certain, that we could not have “made it through” but for the miracles of God. Joy and dancing today is an appropriate way to remember those experiences.
    • You lifted me out of the depths….I called for help and you healed me
    • You turned my wailing into dancing
  • It points to hope in the future. Even if things are tough now….we have reason to believe in resurrection power – that God will come through for us. That even if he doesn’t…He is with us and surrounding us with His love.
    • that my heart may sing to you and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give you thanks forever.
  • Finally, it is a witness – Our joy and praise, when expressed sensitively, can be an encouragement to those who are suffering and struggling. Especially if we ourselves are suffering. (Paul and Silas singing and praising God in prison is a great biblical example.)

Where do you feel mourning today?

Where do you feel the deepest sadness?

May God turn that mourning into dancing and rejoicing – not because our circumstances have suddenly changed…. But because God is unchanging – always hearing us, always merciful, always loving us!

(The above is a summary of the message shared during our worship on May 4, 2025.)