David has, with much care, brought the ark to Jerusalem.
1 Chronicles 16: 1-6,
They brought the ark of God and set it inside the tent that David had pitched for it, and they presented burnt offerings and fellowship offerings before God. After David had finished sacrificing the burnt offerings and fellowship offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the LORD. Then he gave a loaf of bread, a cake of dates and a cake of raisins to each Israelite man and woman.He appointed some of the Levites to minister before the ark of the LORD, to make petition, to give thanks, and to praise the LORD, the God of Israel:
Asaph was the chief,
Zechariah second,
then Jeiel,
Shemiramoth,
Jehiel,
Mattithiah,
Eliab,
Benaiah,
Obed-Edom
and Jeiel.
They were to play the lyres and harps, Asaph was to sound the cymbals, and Benaiah and Jahaziel the priests were to blow the trumpets regularly before the ark of the covenant of God.
David sets up the ark inside the tent prepared for it. In celebration, David gives some basic tokens of food to all the worshipers. He then organizes regular worship before the ark, led by Levites. Our
Chronicler, of course, lists the ten men given this duty.
1 Chronicles 16: 7-22, Give thanks and remember His wonders!
That day David first committed to Asaph and his associates this psalm of thanks to the LORD:
Give thanks to the LORD, call on his name;
make known among the nations what he has done.
Sing to him, sing praise to him;
tell of all his wonderful acts.
Glory in his holy name;
let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice.
Look to the LORD and his strength;
seek his face always.
Remember the wonders he has done,
his miracles, and the judgments he pronounced,
O descendants of Israel his servant,
O sons of Jacob, his chosen ones.
He is the LORD our God;
his judgments are in all the earth.
He remembers his covenant forever,
the word he commanded, for a thousand generations,
the covenant he made with Abraham,
the oath he swore to Isaac.
He confirmed it to Jacob as a decree,
to Israel as an everlasting covenant:
"To you I will give the land of Canaan as the portion you will inherit."
When they were but few in number,
few indeed, and strangers in it,
they wandered from nation to nation,
from one kingdom to another.
He allowed no man to oppress them;
for their sake he rebuked kings:
"Do not touch my anointed ones;
do my prophets no harm."
These words of praise remind the audience that they are worshiping the God of the Covenant, the One who, "with a strong hand and mighty arm" brought the nation out of Egypt.
These verses appear in the Psalter in Psalm 105: 1-15. Psalm 105 has no stated author; it is not clear here is the Chronicler is describing David as the author of this praise or if "Asaph and his associates" had input into the psalm. Certainly Asaph is listed as an author of some of the psalms. That David "first committed" this song to Asaph suggests a collaboration between the words created and the music that accompanied the psalm, much as songwriters often collaborate with musicians today.
1 Chronicles 16: 23-33, Sing a new song!
Sing to the LORD, all the earth;
proclaim his salvation day after day.
Declare his glory among the nations,
his marvelous deeds among all peoples.
For great is the LORD and most worthy of praise;
he is to be feared above all gods.
For all the gods of the nations are idols,
but the LORD made the heavens.
Splendor and majesty are before him;
strength and joy in his dwelling place.
Ascribe to the LORD, O families of nations,
ascribe to the LORD glory and strength,
ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name.
Bring an offering and come before him;
worship the LORD in the splendor of his holiness.
Tremble before him, all the earth!
The world is firmly established;
it cannot be moved.
Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad;
let them say among the nations, "The LORD reigns!"
Let the sea resound, and all that is in it;
let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them!
Then the trees of the forest will sing,
they will sing for joy before the LORD,
for he comes to judge the earth.
Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good;
his love endures forever.
Cry out, "Save us, O God our Savior;
gather us and deliver us from the nations,
that we may give thanks to your holy name,
that we may glory in your praise."
Praise be to the LORD, the God of Israel,
from everlasting to everlasting.
Then all the people said "Amen" and "Praise the LORD."
These verses appear in the Psalter in Psalm 106: 1, 47-48. The appearance of three psalms in this account raise interesting questions about the development of the psalms. Were these psalms sung before the ark and then later written down by David, Asaph, and others? Or were there numerous songs sung before the ark and these portions chosen by the Chronicler as examples?
The Hebrew word "amen" is linked to "truth" and means something like "Yes, surely!"
1 Chronicles 16: 37-42, Regular worship "for His love endures forever"
David left Asaph and his associates before the ark of the covenant of the LORD to minister there regularly, according to each day's requirements. He also left Obed-Edom and his sixty-eight associates to minister with them. Obed-Edom son of Jeduthun, and also Hosah, were gatekeepers.David left Zadok the priest and his fellow priests before the tabernacle of the LORD at the high place in Gibeon to present burnt offerings to the LORD on the altar of burnt offering regularly, morning and evening, in accordance with everything written in the Law of the LORD, which he had given Israel.With them were Heman and Jeduthun and the rest of those chosen and designated by name to give thanks to the LORD, "for his love endures forever."
Heman and Jeduthun were responsible for the sounding of the trumpets and cymbals and for the playing of the other instruments for sacred song. The sons of Jeduthun were stationed at the gate.
David sets up a regular, daily ministry before the ark. The ark is set now in Jerusalem, awaiting a temple that Solomon will provide. Meanwhile there is apparently a tabernacle at a high place at Gibeon where worship continues, worship that includes sacrifices.
The word translated "love" in verse 31 is hesed.
1 Chronicles 16: 43, Blessed
Then all the people left, each for his own home, and David returned home to bless his family.
The chapter ends with a peaceful description of a satisfied David returning to his family (which by now may have many wives and children!)
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