1 Chronicles 16

The Ark of the Covenant Placed in Its Tent

1 And they brought the ark of God and set it inside the tent that David had pitched for it. And they offered burnt offerings and fellowship offerings before God.

2 And when David had finished offering the burnt offerings and fellowship offerings, he blessed the people in the name of Yahweh.

3 And he distributed to every man of Israel, both men and women, to each [person] a loaf of bread, a cake of dates, and a cake of raisins.

4 Then he appointed some of the Levites as ministers before the ark of Yahweh, to invoke, thank, and praise Yahweh the God of Israel.

5 Asaph [was] chief, and his second [was] Zechariah; Jeiel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Mattithiah, Eliab, Benaiah, Obed-Edom, and Jeiel [were] on harps and lyres. And Asaph played on the cymbals.

6 And Benaiah and Jahaziel the priests [blew] on the trumpets continually before the ark of the covenant of God.

7 Then on that day David first appointed to give thanks to Yahweh by the hand of Asaph and his brothers.

David’s Song of Thanks

8 Give thanks to Yahweh; call upon his name; make known his deeds among the nations!

9 Sing to him; sing praises to him; tell of his wondrous works!

10 Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those seeking Yahweh rejoice!

11 Seek Yahweh and his strength; seek his face continually!

12 Remember his wonderful works that he has done, his wonders and the judgments of his mouth,

13 O offspring of Israel, his servant, O sons of Jacob, his chosen ones!

14 He [is] Yahweh our God; his judgments [are] in all the earth.

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

16 that he {made} with Abraham, his sworn oath to Isaac.

17 And he confirmed it to Jacob as a statute, an everlasting covenant to Israel,

18 saying, "To you I will give the land of Canaan, the portion of your inheritance."

19 When you were few in number, little, and sojourners [were] in it,

20 when they wandered from nation to nation, and from one kingdom to another people,

21 he did not allow anyone to oppress them, and he rebuked kings on their account,

22 [saying,] "You must not touch my anointed nor do harm to my prophets!"

23 Sing to Yahweh, all the earth! Proclaim his salvation from day to day!

24 Proclaim his glory among the nations, his wondrous works among the peoples!

25 For Yahweh [is] great and greatly praised, and he is feared among all gods.

26 For all the gods of the nations [are] idols, but Yahweh made the heavens.

27 Splendor and majesty [are] before him; strength and joy [are] in his place.

28 Ascribe to Yahweh, O clans of the nations, ascribe to Yahweh glory and strength!

29 Ascribe to Yahweh the glory of his name! Lift up an offering and come before him! Bow down to Yahweh in the splendor of holiness!

30 Tremble before him, all the earth; surely the world shall not be shaken.

31 Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad, and let them tell the peoples, "Yahweh reigns!"

32 Let the sea roar and its fullness; let the field rejoice and all that [is] in it.

33 Then the trees of the forest shall sing for joy before Yahweh, for he comes to judge the earth.

34 Oh give thanks to Yahweh, for he [is] good; his loyal love [is] everlasting.

35 Then say, "Save us, O God of our salvation; gather us and rescue us from the nations that [we may] give thanks to your holy name [and] glory in your praise.

36 Blessed be Yahweh the God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting!" Then all the people said, "Amen!" and praised Yahweh.

Worship and the Ark

37 So he left Asaph and his brothers there before the ark of the covenant of Yahweh to minister before the ark regularly {as each day required},

38 and [he left] Obed-Edom with his sixty-eight brothers. And Obed-Edom, the son of Jeduthun, and Hosah [were] gatekeepers.

39 And [he left] Zadok the priest and his brothers the priests before the tabernacle of Yahweh at the high place which [was] at Gibeon

40 to offer burnt offerings regularly to Yahweh on the altar of burnt offering, morning and evening, according to all that was written in the law of Yahweh that he commanded concerning Israel.

41 And with them [were] Heman and Jeduthun and the remainder of those chosen, who were designated by name to give thanks to Yahweh, for his loyal love [is] everlasting.

42 And Heman and Jeduthun with them [had] trumpets and cymbals for making music, along with instruments for the song of God. And the sons of Jeduthun [were] at the gate.

43 Then all the people went each to his house, and David turned to bless his household.

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.

Footnotes

• [a]. Literally "cut"
• [b]. That is, David
• [c]. Literally "according to the word of a day with respect to its day"

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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