What if God’s oneness is a solitude so vast it thunders with life, a unity so singular it hums with three? The Old Testament roars of a God alone, unique beyond measure, yet within its echoes resounds a plurality no doubter can mute. This is no mere theology—it’s a cosmic unveiling, a prism of light splitting one into three without breaking, a note of eternity that sings in trio. From Sinai’s fire to the Spirit’s breath, behold the One Who Dances Alone—a unity beyond all, yet alive with love.
The Solitary Sovereign
In the beginning, there is One. “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one” (Deuteronomy 6:4). This is Yachid—unique, solitary, indecipherable—an inexplicable unity not two or more, but one alone. Hashem stands apart, not one as a cord braids strands, nor one as a body binds limbs. He is no category of many, no sum of parts, but a oneness that surpasses any unity in the world—a seamless, eternal whole no mind can fracture. “I AM” (Exodus 3:14), He thunders, a solitary Sovereign whose voice shakes the void, unrivaled, incomprehensible, alone in majesty.
The Echoes of Echad
Yet echad is no silent note—it roars with depth, a mystery whispered in the old tongue and known before the cross. “Let us make man in our image” (Genesis 1:26), Elohim cries—a plural name, a plural voice—yet “His image” (1:27) binds it to one, a riddle etched in Hebrew dust. Three men stand before Abraham, named Yahweh (Genesis 18:1-2), yet one Lord speaks—a trio the text dares not unravel. The Angel of the Lord blazes, bearing God’s name (Exodus 23:20), forgiving sins (Zechariah 3:4), and Jacob blesses as one with Him (Genesis 48:16)—a divine face within the One, feared as God Himself (Judges 13:22). The Spirit hovers (Genesis 1:2), grieved as holy (Isaiah 63:10), a breath alive with will. “The Lord says to my Lord” (Psalm 110:1), David sings—two, yet one, a duet the ancients pondered as “Two Powers” in heaven’s court. Echad is a prism, refracting one light into three without shattering—a unity so fierce it demands plurality, a solitude that pulses with presence. Deny it, and the text, older than our creeds, rises to judge.
The Dance of Perichoresis
Then the curtain tears: the One is Three—the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost—yet still One. Perichoresis (περιχώρησις) unveils the dance, each beam of the prism in motion, interpenetrating without end. The “I AM” walks as flesh (John 1:14), the Spirit breathes (John 20:22), the Father speaks—and they are one essence, distinct yet indivisible. This is no new God, no fracture of Yachid, but the OT Sovereign stepping into view. The child is “Mighty God” (Isaiah 9:6), the Word from the start, the Breath over the deep—three voices in one song, a dance echad always held. Doubt falters; this is the One of old, His solitude alive with love.
The Unified Mystery
Behold the masterpiece: the One Who Dances Alone. He is Yachid—an inexplicable unity beyond all, surpassing the world’s frail unities—yet His echad thunders with three, a prism unbroken. Sinai’s solitary fire blazes as the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost, a oneness so vast it cradles a communion – 1 John 5:7, a solitude that sings in eternal refrain. From “Let us” to “I in you” (John 17:21), He is the same God—indecipherable, unique, now seen in motion. This is no riddle solved, but a mystery proclaimed: the One beyond our grasp, dancing alone, yet calling us into the chorus.
Hi Bob,
Thank you for the article. It carries a refreshing message encouraging “your reading audience” to consider the glorious wonders of the Triune God. Without a doubt, it touches the hem of God’s glory, a theme pondered by many though never truly explained by any. Writing about the “glory of God” calls forward at least two truths among many. First, the glory of God is a holy theme asking its authors to bow before the glory of the Father, Son, and Spirit. And second, the task defining God’s glory has no beginning and no end. Why?
Eternity is a construct beyond the grasp of the human mind, hard to imagine, difficult to explain. King Solomon was the third and last king in ancient Israel. He was renowned worldwide for his wisdom, a gift from God. Solomon was inspired to write Ecclesiastes, a literary book of wisdom in the Bible. One notable verse in Chapter 3 says:
“God has made everything beautiful in its time. He has put eternity into the heart of man, yet man cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end” (Ecclesiastes 3:11).
The glory of God’s “Oneness in three Persons” goes beyond human comprehension, an unfathomable truth. And if a book could be written to help us understand, the introduction would require an eternity to write. And if eternity somehow had an end, chapter 1 would be in wait. God’s glory is that unimaginable, which would further suggest such a book would have an infinite number of chapters with each having an infinite number of pages.
Herein, then, your article is calling for the gift of faith to “see the invisible, believe the unbelievable, receive the impossible.” (Corrie Ten Boom)
Seeing the Invisible
As you explained, Echad means “one in unity,” a word veiling its members as one until a prism bends invisible light into its three visible forms, without shattering the unity of the one. It is a remarkable thought, a new thought adding another layer of understanding about the glory of our invisible God.
You wrote, “From Sinai’s fire to the Spirit’s breath, behold the One Who Dances Alone—a unity beyond all, yet alive with love.” This image is fresh and alive. This kind of analogical depiction of God is biblical. We read about the Good Shepherd, about the Lamb of God, and even about David’s gift to write metaphorical script. David wrote:
“It is God who makes the clouds His chariot and who walks upon the wings of the wind” (Psalm 104:3).
Centuries later this verse would be proven true when a cloud became Jesus’ chariot during the Ascension in Acts 1:9.
Believing the Unbelievable
Gravity is an invisible force having played and continuing to play a leading role in forming galaxies, stars, and planets. Faith is also an invisible force having played and continuing to play a role in the creation of new heavenly creatures, the children of God, the sons of God (John 1:12; 2 Corinthians 5:17). Whereas gravity is an “invisible force,” so too is faith. Whereas gravity draws objects together, faith does too, drawing men to God through the power of the Spirit when Christ is lifted up before all men (John 6:41–44, 12:32). Faith is a gift, a power to believe the unbelievable.
“And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him” (Hebrews 11:6 NIV).
Receiving the Impossible
All of what you wrote calls for great faith, though at times hard to imagine what that would look like. In concert with God’s glory and the Trinitarian theme of your article, what would it be like to receive the impossible? Imagine a dog sitting on a rock near a seashore. His purpose? To drink. His mission? To drink the sea. Impossible? Yes, in time as we know it. But is it impossible? No. When eternity becomes the dog’s time, the volume of water to drink is no longer impossible.
So then, “our purpose” is to believe the impossible, and “our mission” is to walk worthy of the High calling.
Closing
In closing, your article is interesting, challenging with depth and impact; and as mentioned earlier, it carries a fresh message encouraging readers to consider the glory, awesomeness, and wonder of the holy Triune God.
Again, thank you for the opportunity to lightly unpack and explore the importance of your article. And for this, we give God all the glory! For without Him we are nothing and can do nothing.
In Christ
Jim
*Note – Though the word “dances” is visually descriptive of the One who dances alone, some readers may feel uncomfortable simply because there is no mention of God dancing in Scripture, not with himself nor with the Son nor Spirit. Of course, this is not to suggest Jesus did not dance, for sure at social gatherings (weddings and feasts) they celebrated with song and dance.
Dear Jim,
Your words on “The One Who Dances Alone: The Eternal Unity Unveiled” blaze with the eternal fire of Ecclesiastes 3:11, stirring my heart to worship our radiant God. Your note, gently urging me to clarify “dances,” is a cherished gift, and I’m eager to pour out the truth that burns within me.
You wisely note that some may hesitate, as Scripture doesn’t depict God dancing with Himself, Son, or Spirit. Yet, your insight that Jesus danced at feasts, like Cana’s joyful wedding (John 2:1-2), kindles a truth that sets my soul ablaze. In Christ dwells all the fullness of the Godhead (Colossians 2:9); He is the express image of the Father (Hebrews 1:3), proclaiming, “He who has seen me has seen the Father” (John 14:9), the true God and eternal life (1 John 5:20). His every step, His dance, is the Father’s own, eternal and unchanging (Hebrews 13:8), flowing from the throne’s crystal rivers (Revelation 22:1). This is no stoic “Old Papa” but a God whose joy pulses through eternity, beckoning us to join His heart’s rhythm. Shouldn’t we, as part of Jesus, the Son of Man, strive to emulate Him, following the steps He taught us to walk?
Jesus promised His disciples they would do greater things (John 14:12), a promise fulfilled when the Spirit descended, birthing wonders too vast to fully capture. As John 21:25 declares, “There are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written. Amen.” The Spirit gave us the canonical Word, essential for salvation and growth, but His work doesn’t end there. We mustn’t confine God’s movement, saying, “Scripture doesn’t mention it,” as long as we avoid crafting doctrines from experiences—a pitfall where some stumble. The dance I describe is no doctrine but a glimpse of God’s vibrant joy, rooted in His Word and Spirit.
As I wrote, sensing Christ’s mind (1 Corinthians 2:16), my spirit danced, as it does when I weave songs for the Lord, swept into ecstasy, swaying in adoration’s melody. I’ve tasted God’s delight in such elation, His Spirit birthing virtues like dance—spiritual in worship’s flame (John 4:23-24), physical in exultant leaps (Psalm 149:3)—from the Father of lights (James 1:17, Philippians 4:8). As His body, we share His very joy, for Jesus dances in the Spirit, and so must we, claiming festivity as our right, no matter the storm. “Rejoice… rejoice!” (Philippians 4:4). Each believer’s dance, unique in its rhythm, flows from His Spirit’s rivers (Ezekiel 47:1-12).
Once, I was a parched land, but the Spirit’s life flooded me, turning my soul into a blooming Eden. I claim no credit for this life, for He is the author, the reservoir from which we drink and flourish. What I feel in my spirit—those waves of euphoria, devotion, and joy crashing over me, even amidst sorrows—is not my own. As I am in Christ, He is the originator, not me. This deep joy, as you’ve pointed, Jim, is a fraction of God’s boundless essence, seen in Jesus’ dance at Cana (John 2:1-2). We get to experience what He is; that’s my heart’s conviction. Yet, sadly, many Christians miss this, walking with heavy hearts as if the joy of the Lord, a fruit of the Spirit, hasn’t flooded their souls. The kingdom of God is righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost, isn’t it? (Romans 14:17)
My journey from “blunder Christianity” to mature faith (1 Corinthians 13:11) unveiled this vibrant God, whose worship, like Jesus’ dance, needs no explicit verse to soar. Our Spirit-filled lives weave varied experiences, never dimming the Word’s truth. This title is my heart’s song, a cry of God’s boundless joy, inviting all to join His eternal dance.
In Christ’s radiant love,
Bob
Dear Bob,
Thank you for the well-worded response, a gentle musing adding credence to the word “dances” in the title. Your clarification is precise, shining a light on the tendency for some to restrict “God’s infinite expressions of love, joy, and peace” to be less than intended. I am encouraged by your willingness to pour out the truth burning within you, a precious gift to be sure. Your response is informative, treasured, biblical.
Yes, in Christ dwells all the fullness of the Godhead, the express image of the Father. And those who have seen Jesus have seen the Father, the true God and eternal life. Jesus’ every step was the Father’s step, holy, eternal, unchanging. And yes, the God of all creation is no stoic, “Old Papa.” He is the God whose joy pulses through everyone having come to possess a saving faith in Him. His holy presence, sensing the rhythm of His heart of love emanating joy and peace, is a touch of glory begun. Truly, the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus is a glorious place to abide today, but then one day in eternity forever and always.
And it is true some readers may feel uncomfortable simply because they are unfamiliar with the concept of perichoresis, an unfamiliar term to many, me included. Matt Slick wrote, “In the context of the Trinity, perichoresis applies to the nature of God and is only about him. No other beings have perichoresis. Different people, for example, can share a common nature, but they are distinct individuals and distinct beings who do not interpenetrate each other. Though each of the members of the Godhead share the same nature (divinity), there is within the Godhead a unique quality of the mutual indwelling of each member of the Godhead… as the distinctiveness of the members are retained.” [1]
These guarded believers, our dear brethren, may be overreacting to the warning from Scripture to avoid adding or taking away from the word of God (Revelation 22:18-19). But like you said, the Apostle John wrote that “There are many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written, everyone, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written.”
Whether Jesus danced or not at any celebration is a moot point. Why?
Because the doctrines of Jesus Christ and His Gospel would have remained untouched by the celebratory practice of the Son of Man and his disciples. But if we flip the page, we also learn Jesus was not always joyful. He was, according to Isaiah, “…despised and rejected by men, a Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief…” (Isaiah 53:3). Jesus was holy, pure in thought, word, and deed. He was the “light of life” having come into the world to bear witness to the truth (John 1:9).
The Christian life is both joy abounding and agony within. The Apostle Paul wrote, “The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together” (Romans 8:16-17).
Yes, we share in Jesus’ joy but also in His suffering, a heart heavily burdened for the lost. Many of our brethren have family members unwilling to believe the Gospel. We strive to persuade them, but they are unwilling to listen or discuss their only hope of salvation, no matter what the plea. A family member refusing the Gospel is an unimaginable anguish. It is a bitter cup for any parent to drink when a child walks away. Jesus not only knew the anguish for himself, but so too did the Father and Spirit. They, the Trinity, knew the pain when so many walked away from their only hope (John 6:65–67).
But there is hope.
The witness from a loving, joyful heart is the beauty of the indwelling Savior, a powerful witness encouraging unbelievers to consider their ways. And it is true that our emphasis should be on the joy of the Lord and not our sorrow. This is not to suggest our Christian witness will save anyone, but rather to show that (though they can walk away), they cannot walk away from the love and prayers that follow them through life.
In closing, our “shared understanding and comments” should suffice to offload any concern by a reader about the word “dances.” Yes, indeed, we dance in the spirit but weep in the quiet chambers of the heart for those yet in the far country. And thank you for enlarging on my understanding of the Triune God.
In the Love, Joy and Peace of Christ,
Jim
[1] What is Perichoresis and is it Biblical? | carm.org – The article was authored by Matt Slick, a well-known Christian writer. Your readers will find the article to be a reliable resource to learn more about perichoresis affirming the title is biblical: “The One Who Dances Alone.”
Dear Jim,
Your second comment is a blazing ember in our shared pursuit of God’s glory, fanning the flames of joy and sorrow that burn within the One Who Dances Alone. Thank you for your heartfelt words, affirming the dance of faith that pulses through our Savior’s heart and ours. Your insight into the Christian life—where joy abounds amidst inward agony—strikes a deep chord, echoing the truth of our Lord’s own path, and I’m grateful for your encouragement that the title’s “dance” rings true as a Spirit-led cry of worship.
You’ve captured Jesus as “a Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief” (Isaiah 53:3), yet radiant with divine joy. In my heart’s reflection, I see His suffering as a furnace of redemption, bearing God’s wrath as our propitiation—an agony no words can hold, securing our eternal life. The apostles, too, poured out their blood to seal the New Covenant, standing as foundation stones with Christ, the chief cornerstone (Ephesians 2:20). As conduits of the Prince of Life, they carried the Holy Spirit’s word to build the church, proclaiming hope to every nation. Paul testifies, “Whether we be afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation… or whether we be comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation” (2 Corinthians 1:6). We, too, are called to “bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ” (Galatians 6:2), laying down our lives for the brethren as He laid down His for us (1 John 3:16). Yet, as Jesus promised, “My yoke is easy, and my burden is light” (Matthew 11:30), for the Spirit’s grace empowers us to carry this weight.
As you so powerfully note, we are not spared from suffering. In the body of Christ, “if one member suffers, all suffer together; if one is honored, all rejoice together” (1 Corinthians 12:26), and “if we suffer with Him, we shall also be glorified together” (Romans 8:16-17; 2 Timothy 2:12). Your words about the anguish for those who reject the Gospel pierce my soul, echoing the pain of seeing souls turn away (John 6:65–67). This anguish is my daily burden, for I live in the fire of affliction—each day shadowed by trials, weighed by sorrow for the lost, and tested in moments so bleak and hopeless that despair claws at my heart. These are not memories of a distant past but the furnace I walk through now, where my soul wrestles with the gloom and enmity of this fallen world.
Yet, in this crucible, the Spirit stirs a defiant fire within me—a “festive dance vibe” that sets my soul ablaze (Ephesians 5:19). This is no constant ecstasy, as you wisely affirm, but a divine joy that rises when all seems lost, where God trades beauty for ashes and the oil of joy for mourning (Isaiah 61:3). Maybe it is how the Lord comforts or brings solace to me for the kind of suffering I endure in life, and He consoles each of His children differently, I presume. When the Spirit of glory rests upon me (1 Peter 4:12-14), melodies ignite in my heart, lifting my anguished soul to dance in the Spirit, emulating the joy of my Father. This “dance” in the article is no doctrine or mere step, but a blazing testimony born in the furnace of despair, a cry of praise that stirs my vexed soul; to rise above the hopeless.
Your call for a joyful witness as a beacon for the lost burns brightly in my heart. Though we weep daily for those in the far country, the Savior’s love shines through us, a light that chases them with prayers. Our joy in the Lord—rooted in the kingdom’s righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost (Romans 14:17)—draws others to turn toward Him. Our daily sufferings, like Paul’s, are not our own but for the body’s consolation, fueling our collective witness (2 Corinthians 1:6). Thank you for affirming that the title’s “dance” carries no cause for concern, as it flows from the Spirit’s fire within us, beckoning all to join this blaze of worship.
I’m humbled by our shared journey to proclaim God’s glory, and I eagerly await more reflections as we dance in the Spirit, bear one another’s burdens, and cry out for the lost to find His light.
In the love, joy, and peace of Christ,
Bob
Thank you, Bob.
Thank you for capturing the essence of our shared commentary on the article entitled, “The One who Dances Alone.” Your comprehension about the concept of “perichoresis” is biblical, a theme I had not known, but now treasure as another layer of God’s glory unfolded before my eyes. The article is a superb rendering, remembrance of the beauty of the Gospel, a glimpse at our invisible God showing the wonder of this “new and living way” in Christ.
“Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. And let us consider one another… to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.” (Hebrews 10:23-25 NKJV).
With the above Hebrew passage in mind, the words of Thomas Watson (a 17th century minister and Bible commentator) exalt the high calling of God on ministers of the Gospel. Though the “intended audience” was the 17th century pastor, one may rightly presume all laborers in the Great Commission are included. An excerpt from Watson’s book entitled “The Beatitudes,” follows:
“You are engaged in a glorious service. God has put great renown upon you. He has entrusted you with two most precious jewels, his truths and the souls of his people. Never was this honor conferred upon any angel to convert souls! What princely dignity can parallel this? …whatever our persons are, the office is sacred. The ministry is the most honorable service in the world. Jesus Christ has graced this calling by entering into it, allowing you to embrace this holy work. Other men work in their trade; ministers work with God. We are laborers together with God (1 Corinthians 3:9). Oh, what a high honor! God and his ministers have one and the same work. They both negotiate about souls.”
In closing, ministry for every believer is the most honorable service in the world. All openly sharing their faith are humbled (on this journey) as they bow before the glory of the Father, Son, and Spirit to proclaim the glorious Gospel of Jesus Christ.
I am looking forward to your next article with hidden nuggets of Divine truth proclaiming the word of God.
Again, thank you for the opportunity to comment on your good work.
Christ in us, the Hope of Glory,
Jim