1 Chronicles 16

1 And they bring in the ark of God, and set it up in the midst of the tent that David hath stretched out for it, and they bring near burnt-offerings and peace-offerings before God;

2 and David ceaseth from offering the burnt-offering and the peace-offerings, and blesseth the people in the name of Jehovah,

3 and giveth a portion to every man of Israel, both man and woman: to each a cake of bread, and a measure of wine, and a grape-cake.

4 And he putteth before the ark of Jehovah, of the Levites, ministers, even to make mention of, and to thank, and to give praise to Jehovah, God of Israel,

5 Asaph the head, and his second Zechariah; Jeiel, and Shemiramoth, and Jehiel, and Mattithiah, and Eliab, and Benaiah, and Obed-Edom, and Jeiel, with instruments of psalteries, and with harps; and Asaph with cymbals is sounding;

6 and Benaiah and Jahaziel the priests [are] with trumpets continually before the ark of the covenant of God.

7 On that day then hath David given at the beginning to give thanks to Jehovah by the hand of Asaph and his brethren: --

8 Give thanks to Jehovah, call in His name, Make known among the peoples His doings.

9 Sing ye to Him, sing psalms to Him, Meditate on all His wonders.

10 Boast yourselves in His holy name, Rejoice doth the heart of those seeking Jehovah.

11 Seek ye Jehovah and His strength, Seek His face continually.

12 Remember His wonders that He did, His signs, and the judgments of His mouth,

13 O seed of Israel, His servant, O sons of Jacob, His chosen ones!

14 He [is] Jehovah our God, In all the earth [are] His judgments.

15 Remember ye to the age His covenant, The word He commanded -- To a thousand generations,

16 Which He hath made with Abraham, And His oath -- to Isaac,

17 And He establisheth it to Jacob for a statute, To Israel -- a covenant age-during.

18 Saying: To thee I give the land of Canaan, The portion of your inheritance,

19 When ye are few of number, As a little thing, and sojourners in it.

20 And they go up and down, From nation unto nation, And from a kingdom unto another people.

21 He hath not suffered any to oppress them, And reproveth on their account kings:

22 Come not against Mine anointed ones, And against My prophets do not evil.

23 Sing to Jehovah, all the earth, Proclaim from day unto day His salvation.

24 Rehearse among nations His glory, Among all the peoples His wonders.

25 For great [is] Jehovah, and praised greatly, And fearful He [is] above all gods.

26 For all gods of the peoples [are] nought, And Jehovah the heavens hath made.

27 Honour and majesty [are] before Him, Strength and joy [are] in His place.

28 Ascribe to Jehovah, ye families of peoples, Ascribe to Jehovah honour and strength.

29 Ascribe to Jehovah the honour of His name, Lift up a present, and come before Him. Bow yourselves to Jehovah, In the beauty of holiness.

30 Be pained before Him, all the earth:

31 Also, established is the world, It is not moved! The heavens rejoice, and the earth is glad, And they say among nations: Jehovah hath reigned.

32 Roar doth the sea, and its fulness, Exult doth the field, and all that [is] in it,

33 Then sing do trees of the forest, From the presence of Jehovah, For He hath come to judge the earth!

34 Give thanks to Jehovah, for good, For to the age, [is] His kindness,

35 And say, Save us, O God of our salvation, And gather us, and deliver us from the nations, To give thanks to Thy holy name, To triumph in Thy praise.

36 Blessed [is] Jehovah, God of Israel, From the age and unto the age;' And all the people say, `Amen,' and have given praise to Jehovah.

37 And he leaveth there before the ark of the covenant of Jehovah, for Asaph and for his brethren, to minister before the ark continually, according to the matter of a day in its day,

38 both Obed-Edom and their brethren, sixty and eight, and Obed-Edom son of Jeduthun, and Hosah for gatekeepers,

39 and Zadok the priest, and his brethren the priests, before the tabernacle of Jehovah, in a high place that [is] in Gibeon,

40 to cause to ascend burnt-offerings to Jehovah, on the altar of burnt-offering continually, morning and evening, and for all that is written in the law of Jehovah, that He charged on Israel.

41 And with them [are] Heman and Jeduthun, and the rest of those chosen, who were defined by name, to give thanks to Jehovah, for to the age [is] His kindness,

42 and with them -- Heman and Jeduthun -- [are] trumpets and cymbals for those sounding, and instruments of the song of God, and the sons of Jeduthun [are] at the gate.

43 And all the people go, each to his house, and David turneth round to bless his house.

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.

in these three verses is the same with 2Sa 6:17-19, see the notes there. \\See Gill on "2Sa 6:17"\\. \\See Gill on "2Sa 6:18"\\. \\See Gill on "2Sa 6:19"\\. 18780-950101-1710-1Ch16.2