1 Chronicles16
New Living Translation
1They brought the Ark of God and placed it inside the special tent David had prepared for it. And they presented burnt offerings and peace offerings to God.
2When he had finished his sacrifices, David blessed the people in the name of the Lord.
3Then he gave to every man and woman in all Israel a loaf of bread, a cake of dates, and a cake of raisins.
4David appointed the following Levites to lead the people in worship before the Ark of the Lord—to invoke his blessings, to give thanks, and to praise the Lord, the God of Israel.
5Asaph, the leader of this group, sounded the cymbals. Second to him was Zechariah, followed by Jeiel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Mattithiah, Eliab, Benaiah, Obed-edom, and Jeiel. They played the harps and lyres.
6The priests, Benaiah and Jahaziel, played the trumpets regularly before the Ark of God’s Covenant.
7On that day David gave to Asaph and his fellow Levites this song of thanksgiving to the Lord:
8Give thanks to the Lord and proclaim his greatness. Let the whole world know what he has done.
9Sing to him; yes, sing his praises. Tell everyone about his wonderful deeds.
10Exult in his holy name; rejoice, you who worship the Lord.
11Search for the Lord and for his strength; continually seek him.
12Remember the wonders he has performed, his miracles, and the rulings he has given,
13you children of his servant Israel, you descendants of Jacob, his chosen ones.
14He is the Lord our God. His justice is seen throughout the land.
15Remember his covenant forever— the commitment he made to a thousand generations.
16This is the covenant he made with Abraham and the oath he swore to Isaac.
17He confirmed it to Jacob as a decree, and to the people of Israel as a never-ending covenant:
18“I will give you the land of Canaan as your special possession.”
19He said this when you were few in number, a tiny group of strangers in Canaan.
20They wandered from nation to nation, from one kingdom to another.
21Yet he did not let anyone oppress them. He warned kings on their behalf:
22“Do not touch my chosen people, and do not hurt my prophets.”
23Let the whole earth sing to the Lord! Each day proclaim the good news that he saves.
24Publish his glorious deeds among the nations. Tell everyone about the amazing things he does.
25Great is the Lord! He is most worthy of praise! He is to be feared above all gods.
26The gods of other nations are mere idols, but the Lord made the heavens!
27Honor and majesty surround him; strength and joy fill his dwelling.
28O nations of the world, recognize the Lord, recognize that the Lord is glorious and strong.
29Give to the Lord the glory he deserves! Bring your offering and come into his presence. Worship the Lord in all his holy splendor.
30Let all the earth tremble before him. The world stands firm and cannot be shaken.
31Let the heavens be glad, and the earth rejoice! Tell all the nations, “The Lord reigns!”
32Let the sea and everything in it shout his praise! Let the fields and their crops burst out with joy!
33Let the trees of the forest sing for joy before the Lord, for he is coming to judge the earth.
34Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever.
35Cry out, “Save us, O God of our salvation! Gather and rescue us from among the nations, so we can thank your holy name and rejoice and praise you.”
36Praise the Lord, the God of Israel, who lives from everlasting to everlasting! And all the people shouted “Amen!” and praised the Lord.
37David arranged for Asaph and his fellow Levites to serve regularly before the Ark of the Lord’s Covenant, doing whatever needed to be done each day.
38This group included Obed-edom (son of Jeduthun), Hosah, and sixty-eight other Levites as gatekeepers.
39Meanwhile, David stationed Zadok the priest and his fellow priests at the Tabernacle of the Lord at the place of worship in Gibeon, where they continued to minister before the Lord.
40They sacrificed the regular burnt offerings to the Lord each morning and evening on the altar set aside for that purpose, obeying everything written in the Law of the Lord, as he had commanded Israel.
41David also appointed Heman, Jeduthun, and the others chosen by name to give thanks to the Lord, for “his faithful love endures forever.”
42They used their trumpets, cymbals, and other instruments to accompany their songs of praise to God. And the sons of Jeduthun were appointed as gatekeepers.
43Then all the people returned to their homes, and David turned and went home to bless his own family.
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for 1 Chronicles 16.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: 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).
vv1-6
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.
vv7-36
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.
vv37-43
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.
Key Words
בּוֹא: to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)
אָרוֹן: a box
אֱלֹהִים: gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme God; occasionally applied by way of deference to magistrates; and sometimes as a superlative
יָצַג: to place permanently
תָּוֶךְ: a bisection, i.e. (by implication) the centre
אֹהֶל: a tent (as clearly conspicuous from a distance)
אֲשֶׁר: who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc.
דָּוִד: David, the youngest son of Jesse
נָטָה: to stretch or spread out; by implication, to bend away (including moral deflection); used in a great variety of application
קָרַב: to approach (causatively, bring near) for whatever purpose
Cross References
1 Chronicles 16The psalm David delivers here (v. 8-22) is verbatim the opening of Psalm 105.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
The next major movement of David's song (v. 23-33) corresponds directly to Psalm 96.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
The prayer 'Save us, O God... gather us together' is a direct quotation of Psalm 106:47.
Supported by JFB
The parallel historical account of setting up the ark in the tent and sacrificing.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
The concluding doxology and the people's 'Amen' directly mirrors Psalm 106:48.
Supported by JFB
Identical verbal warning: 'Touch not mine anointed, and do my prophets no harm.'
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Zadok's offerings at Gibeon were to fulfill the morning and evening sacrifice law of Moses.
Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB
Cross-references the specific appointments of Asaph, Zechariah, and Jeiel to their musical instruments.
Supported by JFB
Confirms the tabernacle of the Lord remained at Gibeon while the ark was in Jerusalem.
Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB
Links to the everlasting covenant with Abraham mentioned in David's psalm.
Supported by Matthew Henry
God's historical warning to Abimelech regarding Abraham, illustrating 'do my prophets no harm.'
Supported by Matthew Poole
The parallel account where David returns to bless his own household after blessing Israel.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Illustrates God reproving Pharaoh for Sarah's sake when the patriarchs were strangers.
Supported by Matthew Poole
God's warning to Laban in a dream, showing how He suffered no man to do them wrong.
Supported by Matthew Poole