god dances over you
“Your God is in your midst, a victorious Warrior. He will exult with joy over you, He will renew you by His love; He will dance with shouts of joy for you as on a day of festival.” —Zephaniah 3:17, JB
Zephaniah 3:17 can be translated as “God will dance over you with joy.” Another possible translation is “God rejoices over you with bodily movement.” Of course, “God is Spirit” (Jn 4:24) and not man. Yet Scripture at times describes God in human terms, which makes it easier for us to relate to Him. God loves His people like a human father or mother (see e.g. Hos 11:4; Is 49:15-16; Lk 15:20ff). God is described as leaping over the mountains like a lover to be with us (Sg 2:8).
As wondrous as it is to bask in the wonder of God dancing over us, it is even more wonderful to consider that we human beings have the capacity to give the Creator of the universe joy (Zep 3:17). We can make Him happy, as it were. We can console the heart of the Lord.
God has no need of our praise, but He delights in His people (Ps 149:4). Let us spend our lives bringing joy to the One Who loves us so deeply. Let us receive God’s very own joy (Jn 15:11) and then return that joy to Him (see Lk 15:10, 32; Rv 4:9-10). Bring God great joy by your repentant, loving, obedient, and faithful life.
Prayer: “Take joy, my King, in what You hear. Let it be a sweet, sweet sound in Your ear.”
Promise: “Blest is she who trusted that the Lord’s words to her would be fulfilled.” —Lk 1:45
Praise: “O Radiant Dawn, Splendor of eternal light, Sun of Justice: Come, shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death.”
Reference:
Rescript: In accord with the Code of Canon Law, I hereby grant the Nihil Obstat for the publication One Bread, One Body covering the time period from December 1, 2022, through January 31, 2023. Reverend Steve J. Angi, Chancellor, Vicar General, Archdiocese of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio April 12, 2022
The Nihil Obstat ("Permission to Publish") is a declaration that a book or pamphlet is considered to be free of doctrinal or moral error. It is not implied that those who have granted the Nihil Obstat agree with the contents, opinions, or statements expressed.