1 Chronicles 16

1 They took the Covenant Box to the tent which David had prepared for it and put it inside. Then they offered sacrifices and fellowship offerings to God.

2 After David had finished offering the sacrifices, he blessed the people in the name of the Lord

3 and distributed food to them all. He gave each man and woman in Israel a loaf of bread, a piece of roasted meat, and some raisins.

4 David appointed some of the Levites to lead the worship of the Lord, the God of Israel, in front of the Covenant Box, by singing and praising him.

5 Asaph was appointed leader, with Zechariah as his assistant. Jeiel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Mattithiah, Eliab, Benaiah, Obed Edom, and Jeiel were to play harps. Asaph was to sound the cymbals,

6 and two priests, Benaiah and Jahaziel, were to blow trumpets regularly in front of the Covenant Box.

7 It was then that David first gave Asaph and the other Levites the responsibility for singing praises to the Lord.

8 Give thanks to the Lord, proclaim his greatness; tell the nations what he has done.

9 Sing praise to the Lord; tell the wonderful things he has done.

10 Be glad that we belong to him; let all who worship him rejoice!

11 Go to the Lord for help, and worship him continually.

12 You descendants of Jacob, God's servant, descendants of Israel, whom God chose, remember the miracles that God performed and the judgments that he gave.

14 The Lord is our God; his commands are for all the world.

15 Never forget God's covenant, which he made to last forever,

16 the covenant he made with Abraham, ¹ the promise he made to Isaac.

17 The Lord made a covenant with Jacob, ² one that will last forever.

18 "I will give you the land of Canaan," he said. "It will be your own possession."

19 God's people were few in number, strangers in the land of Canaan.

20 They wandered from country to country, from one kingdom to another.

21 But God let no one oppress them; ³ to protect them, he warned the kings:

22 "Don't harm my chosen servants; do not touch my prophets."

23 Sing to the Lord, all the world! Proclaim every day the good news that he has saved us.

24 Proclaim his glory to the nations, his mighty deeds to all peoples.

25 The Lord is great and is to be highly praised; he is to be honored more than all the gods.

26 The gods of all other nations are only idols, but the Lord created the heavens.

27 Glory and majesty surround him, power and joy fill his Temple.

28 Praise the Lord, all people on earth, praise his glory and might.

29 Praise the Lord's glorious name; bring an offering and come into his Temple. Bow down before the Holy One when he appears;

30 tremble before him, all the earth! The earth is set firmly in place and cannot be moved.

31 Be glad, earth and sky! Tell the nations that the Lord is king.

32 Roar, sea, and every creature in you; be glad, fields, and everything in you!

33 The trees in the woods will shout for joy when the Lord comes to rule the earth.

34 Give thanks to the Lord, because he is good; ⁴ his love is eternal.

35 Say to him, "Save us, O God our Savior; gather us together; rescue us from the nations, so that we may be thankful and praise your holy name."

36 Praise the Lord, the God of Israel! Praise him now and forever! Then all the people said, "Amen," and praised the Lord.

37 King David put Asaph and the other Levites in permanent charge of the worship that was held at the place where the Covenant Box was kept. They were to perform their duties there day by day.

38 Obed Edom son of Jeduthun and sixty-eight men of his clan were to assist them. Hosah and Obed Edom were in charge of guarding the gates.

39 Zadok the priest and his fellow priests, however, were in charge of the worship of the Lord at the place of worship in Gibeon.

40 Every morning and evening they were to burn sacrifices whole on the altar in accordance with what was written in the Law which the Lord gave to Israel.

41 There with them were Heman and Jeduthun and the others who were specifically chosen to sing praises to the Lord for his eternal love.

42 Heman and Jeduthun also had charge of the trumpets and cymbals and the other instruments which were played when the songs of praise were sung. The members of Jeduthun's clan were in charge of guarding the gates.

43 Then everyone went home, and David went home to spend some time with his family. ⁵

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.

Cross References

• 1. 16.16 aGenesis 12.7; bGenesis 26.3.
• 2. 16.17, 18Genesis 28.13.
• 3. 16.21, 22Genesis 20.3-7.
• 4. 16.342 Chronicles 5.13; 7.3;Ezra 3.11;Psalms 100.5; 106.1; 107.1; 118.1; 136.1;Jeremiah 33.11.
• 5. 16.43 2 Samuel 6.19, 20.

Footnotes

• [a]. a piece of roasted meat; [or] a cake of dates.
• [b]. when he appears; [or] in garments of worship.

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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