For all the range of emotion that permeates the Psalms, the collection ends in a crescendo of praise. In this next to last song, there is unbridled exuberance, ranging from raucous music and dancing, to shouting from the couches, to calling for justice to the nations. We are to take joy in living to the glory of God.

God too takes pleasure in God’s people, the psalmist asserts. We are in a relationship of celebration and joy, even when we do the difficult task of seeking justice.

“Tomorrow Shall Be My Dancing Day” is a traditional English carol that says that Jesus invites us all to join in the dance. In his own voice and with his life, Jesus calls all to dance with joy for this gift of life eternal.

All Saints’ Day might be a stumbling block for some. While we all have those we might consider saintly, most of us would never consider ourselves to be so. Saint sounds like perfect, a word we know better than to apply to ourselves. But if Psalm 149 can be believed, then the saints of God are those who accept the invitation to dance. A saint is one who knows something of the joy of living, even in the hardest moments of life. A saint is someone who knows something of the exuberance of praise, even when tears fall like rain and sweat falls like great drops of blood.

On All Saints’ Day, we remember those whose dancing with their Lord has given us all hope. And we aspire to follow them in the music and dance Jesus is leading.