Leaping!
It’s a leap year, so a perfect time for a reflection on “leaping” in the Bible! Wherever this word occurs in Scripture, it is in the context of a joyful encounter with God. King David was so overcome with joy when the Ark was ceremoniously brought into the city, that he leapt and danced unselfconsciously (2 Sam 6:16). To see a King leaping is one thing, but in a poetic way the psalms even speak of mountains, hills and nations leaping:
Mountains leapt like rams, hills like lambs… Ps 114:4
And then there is a gentler description of an interior
movement: “my heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise him” Ps 28:7
Leaping for joy is the reaction of all creation when
the Almighty God comes close, and even God does some leaping too! The Beloved
in the Song of Songs is described as coming to find his lover (the human soul)
“leaping across the mountains, bounding over the hills” (Songs 2:8). What a
wonderful joyful image of the Lord who seeks us out so lovingly.
The most beautiful incident of leaping in Scripture is
undoubtedly the reaction of the unborn St John the Baptist in the womb of his
mother Elizabeth. The arrival to their home of pregnant Mary carrying Jesus the
Saviour in her womb prompted this unprecedented and wonderful response! Even
the unborn child could experience great joy at encounter with God.
“When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped
in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit” Luke 1:41.
Jesus went on to heal many people during his ministry,
and surely many of them fulfilled the earlier prophecy of Isaiah: “Then will
the lame leap like a deer…” (Is 35:6) This prophecy continued to be fulfilled
even after Jesus returned to heaven, through miracles carried out by his
Apostles. There is a wonderful story we hear during the days after Easter of a
cripple from birth who is cured by Peter and John, and “he went into the temple
with them, walking and leaping and praising God” (Acts 3:8).
Perhaps these examples of joyful leaping in Scripture
might inspire you to do some of your own this February 29th. Think
of it as an “extra day” this year, a space for something new or different. You
don’t have to physically leap, you can “leap” in your heart. But if you can
safely do some leaping or trampolining, then why not? King David wasn't
ashamed to leap! My 4-ye
ar-old niece does a lot of jumping when she is
happy. It is therapeutic just to watch her!
Let’s make this Leap Day a day of joyful thanks to God
for something in our life, a day to do something special for someone. Let’s
make it a memorable Leap Day. You won’t get a chance again for four more years!
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