1 Chronicles 16

1 The men carrying the ark set it inside the tent David had put up for it. They presented burnt offerings and fellowship offerings in God's presence.

2 When David had finished sacrificing burnt offerings and fellowship offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the LORD.

3 He also distributed to every person in Israel--both men and women--a loaf of bread, a date cake, and a raisin cake.

4 David appointed some Levites to serve in front of the LORD's ark by offering prayers, thanks, and praise to the LORD God of Israel.

5 Asaph was the head; Zechariah was second, then Jeiel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Mattithiah, Eliab, Benaiah, Obed Edom, and Jeiel with harps and lyres. Asaph played the cymbals.

6 The priests Benaiah and Jahaziel played trumpets all the time in front of the ark of God's promise.

7 For the first time David entrusted Asaph and his relatives with the task of singing songs of thanks to the LORD:

8 "Give thanks to the LORD. Call on his name. Make known among the nations what he has done.

9 Sing to him. Make music to praise him. Meditate on all the miracles he has done.

10 Brag about his holy name. Let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice.

11 Search for the LORD and his strength. Always seek his presence.

12 Remember the miracles he performed, the amazing things he did and the judgments he pronounced,

13 you descendants of Israel, his servant, you descendants of Jacob, his chosen ones.

14 "He is the LORD our God. His judgments are pronounced throughout the earth.

15 Remember his promise forever, the word that he commanded for a thousand generations,

16 the promise that he made to Abraham, and his sworn promise to Isaac.

17 He confirmed it as a law for Jacob, as an everlasting promise to Israel,

18 by saying, 'I will give you Canaan. It is your share of the inheritance.'

19 "While they were few in number, a small group of foreigners living in that land,

20 they wandered from nation to nation and from one kingdom to another.

21 He didn't permit anyone to oppress them. He warned kings about them:

22 'Do not touch my anointed ones or harm my prophets.'

23 "Sing to the LORD, all the earth! Day after day announce that the LORD saves his people.

24 Tell people about his glory. Tell all the nations about his miracles.

25 "The LORD is great! He should be highly praised. He should be feared more than all [other] gods

26 because all the gods of the nations are idols. The LORD made the heavens.

27 Splendor and majesty are in his presence. Strength and joy are where he is.

28 "Give to the LORD, you families of the nations. Give to the LORD glory and power.

29 Give to the LORD the glory his name deserves. Bring an offering, and come to him. Worship the LORD in [his] holy splendor.

30 Tremble in his presence, all the earth! "The earth stands firm; it cannot be moved.

31 Let the heavens rejoice and the earth be glad. Say to the nations, 'The LORD rules as king!'

32 Let the sea and everything in it roar like thunder. Let the fields and everything in them rejoice.

33 Then the trees in the forest will sing with joy in the presence of the LORD when he comes to judge the earth.

34 "Give thanks to the LORD because he is good, because his mercy endures forever.

35 Say, 'Rescue us, O God our Savior. Gather us and save us from the nations so that we may give thanks to your holy name and make your praise our glory.'

36 Thanks be to the LORD God of Israel from everlasting to everlasting." Then all the people said amen and praised the LORD.

37 David left Asaph and his relatives to serve continually in front of the ark of the LORD's promise, as the daily work required.

38 David also left Obed Edom and 68 of his relatives [to serve there]. Obed Edom (Jeduthun's son) and Hosah were to be gatekeepers.

39 David left Zadok and his priestly relatives to serve in the LORD's tent at the place of worship in Gibeon.

40 They were ordered to sacrifice burnt offerings to the LORD. This happened on the altar of burnt offerings continually, morning and evening, as written in the LORD's Teachings that he gave Israel.

41 With Zadok and his relatives were Heman, Jeduthun, and the rest of the Levites who had been selected, chosen by name, to give thanks to the LORD [by singing,] "His mercy endures forever."

42 Also, Heman and Jeduthun played trumpets, cymbals, and the [other] musical instruments that accompany sacred songs. Jeduthun's sons were stationed at the gate.

43 Then all the people went home. David went back to bless his family.

1 Chronicles 16 Commentary

Chapter 16

The solemnity with which the ark was fixed. (1-6) David's psalm of praise. (7-36) Setting in order the worship of God. (37-43)

Verses 1-6 Though God's word and ordinances may be clouded and eclipsed for a time, they shall shine out of obscurity. This was but a tent, a humble dwelling, yet this was the tabernacle which David, in his psalms, often speaks of with so much affection. David showed himself generous to his subjects, as he had found God gracious to him. Those whose hearts are enlarged with holy joy, should show it by being open-handed.

Verses 7-36 Let God be glorified in our praises. Let others be edified and taught, that strangers to him may be led to adore him. Let us ourselves triumph and trust in God. Those that give glory to God's name are allowed to glory in it. Let the everlasting covenant be the great matter of our joy his people of old, be remembered by us with thankfulness to him. Show forth from day to day his salvation, his promised salvation by Christ. We have reason to celebrate that from day to day; for we daily receive the benefit, and it is a subject that can never be exhausted. In the midst of praises, we must not forget to pray for the servants of God in distress.

Verses 37-43 The worship of God ought to be the work of every day. David put it into order. At Jerusalem, where the ark was, Asaph and his brethren were to minister before the ark continually, with songs of praise. No sacrifices were offered there, nor incense burnt, because the altars were not there; but David's prayers were directed as incense, and the lifting up of his hands as the evening sacrifice. So early did spiritual worship take place of ceremonial. Yet the ceremonial worship, being of Divine institution, must by no means be omitted; therefore at Gibeon, at the altars, the priests attended; for their work was to sacrifice and burn incense; and that they did continually, morning and evening, according to the law of Moses. As the ceremonies were types of the mediation of Christ, the observance of them was of great consequence. The attendance of his appointed ministers is right in itself, and encourages the people.

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO 1 CHRONICLES 16

This chapter relates that David offered sacrifices when the ark was brought into his city, 1Ch 16:1-3 who were the singers he appointed to sing before it continually, 1Ch 16:4-6 and the song he that day composed and delivered to them to sing, 1Ch 16:7-36 and that he appointed not only proper persons to minister before the ark, but also before the tabernacle at Gibeon, 1Ch 16:37-43.

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