FRAMEWORKS:
1 Chronicles 16: Celebrating
before the ark in Jerusalem
[Introductory
Notes: In stark contrast to the almost casual way they
had sought to bring the ark to Jerusalem previously, and the ark
having now been brought to Jerusalem in a right manner, David
now does everything he can to ensure that honour is given to the
Lord, both before the ark in the tent in Jerusalem, and in the
Tabernacle still in Gibeon. Everything in this chapter speaks
of order and correctness.]
v.1-6
David's celebrations at bringing the ark to Jerusalem
v.1
Establishing the ark in Jerusalem they worship the Lord with offerings
v.1
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.
v.2
David then blesses the people
v.2
After
David had finished sacrificing the burnt offerings and fellowship
offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the Lord
.
v.3
He makes a food gift for every person
v.3
Then
he gave a loaf of bread, a cake of dates and a cake of raisins
to each Israelite man and woman.
v.4-6
He establishes musicians to play before the ark [the Presence
of God]
v.4
He
appointed some of the Levites to minister before the ark of the
Lord ,
to extol, thank, and praise the Lord
, the God of
Israel:
v.5
Asaph
was the chief, and next to him in rank were Zechariah, then Jaaziel,
Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Mattithiah, Eliab, Benaiah, Obed-Edom and
Jeiel. They were to play the lyres and harps, Asaph was to sound
the cymbals,
v.6
and
Benaiah and Jahaziel the priests were to blow the trumpets regularly
before the ark of the covenant of God.
v.7-37
David gives them a psalm to use to praise the Lord
v.7
That
day David first appointed Asaph and his associates to give praise
to the Lord
in this manner:
v.8
Give
praise to the Lord
, proclaim
his name;
make known among the nations what he
has done.
v.9
Sing
to him, sing praise to him;
tell of all his wonderful acts.
v.10
Glory
in his holy name;
let the hearts of those who seek the
Lord rejoice.
v.11
Look
to the Lord
and his strength;
seek his face always.
v.12
Remember
the wonders he has done,
his miracles, and the judgments he pronounced,
v.13
you
his servants, the descendants of Israel,
his chosen ones, the children of Jacob.
v.14
He
is the Lord
our God;
his judgments are in all the earth.
v.15
He
remembers his covenant for ever,
the promise he made, for a thousand generations,
v.16
the
covenant he made with Abraham,
the oath he swore to Isaac.
v.17
He
confirmed it to Jacob as a decree,
to Israel as an everlasting covenant:
v.18
‘To
you I will give the land of Canaan
as the portion you will inherit.'
v.19
When
they were but few in number,
few indeed, and strangers in it,
v.20
they
wandered from nation to nation,
from one kingdom to another.
v.21
He
allowed no one to oppress them;
for their sake he rebuked kings:
v.22
‘Do
not touch my anointed ones;
do my prophets no harm.'
v.23
Sing
to the Lord
, all the earth;
proclaim his salvation day after day.
v.24
Declare
his glory among the nations,
his marvellous deeds among all peoples.
v.25
For
great is the Lord
and most worthy
of praise;
he is to be feared above all gods.
v.26
For
all the gods of the nations are idols,
but the Lord made the heavens.
v.27
Splendour
and majesty are before him;
strength and joy are in his dwelling-place.
v.28
Ascribe
to the Lord
, all you families
of nations,
ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.
v.29
Ascribe
to the Lord
the glory
due to his name;
bring an offering and come before him.
Worship the Lord in the splendour of his holiness.
v.30
Tremble
before him, all the earth!
The world is firmly established; it cannot
be moved.
v.31
Let
the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad;
let them say among the nations, ‘The
Lord reigns!'
v.32
Let
the sea resound, and all that is in it;
let the fields be jubilant, and everything
in them!
v.33
Let
the trees of the forest sing,
let them sing for joy before the Lord
,
for he comes to judge the earth.
v.34
Give
thanks to the Lord
, for he is
good;
his love endures for ever.
v.35
Cry
out, ‘Save us, God our Saviour;
gather us and deliver us from the nations,
that we may give thanks to your holy name,
and glory in your praise.'
v.36
Praise
be to the Lord
, the God of
Israel,
from everlasting to everlasting.
Then
all the people said ‘Amen' and ‘Praise the Lord
.'
v.37-43
David establishes an ongoing presence to serve before the ark
in Jerusalem AND at the Tabernacle in Gibeon
v.37
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.
v.38
He
also left Obed-Edom and his sixty-eight associates to minister
with them. Obed-Edom son of Jeduthun, and also Hosah, were gatekeepers.
v.39
David
left Zadok the priest and his fellow priests before the
tabernacle of the Lord
at the high
place in Gibeon
v.40
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.
v.41
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 for ever.'
v.42
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.
v.43
Then
all the people left, each for their own home, and David returned
home to bless his family.
Continue
to Ch.17