1Ch 16:1-6 | KingComments | STEP | This chapter concludes the description of the major event of placing the ark in the royal city. This establishes the public worship of God during the reign of David. That the ark was not brought to Gibeon, where the altar stands and what is left of the tabernacle, is of great significance. It means the judgment of the whole system connected to the tabernacle. When the ark is placed in the tent and has come to rest, as it were, from its wanderings, the consequence is that offerings are offered. The placing of the ark works worship, of which the burnt offering speaks, and fellowship, of which the peace offerings speaks. There is no sin offering here, it does not fit with this event. After offering the offerings mentioned above David distributes blessings to the whole people. David is the king-priest who as a true Melchizedek distributes food ( ). Every member, without distinction between man and woman, gets “a loaf of bread and a portion [of meat] and a raisin cake”. When it comes to the blessings that the believer has received in Christ, there is no difference between man and woman ( ). The ‘food package’ that David distributes represents, in picture, a rich blessing. The loaf of bread speaks of the Lord Jesus: He is the bread of life. The portion of dates [as the Dutch HSV translates] speaks of victory: dates come from the date palms, the palm tree is a symbol of victory. The raisin cake speaks of lasting joy: raisins are dried grapes and from grapes is made the wine that rejoices the heart of God and people ( ). We see this lasting joy with the apostle Paul in the letter to the Philippians. Even the tears he weeps ( ) are not able to dispel the presence of that joy which is so characteristic of that letter. This has to do with the fact that life for him is Christ, which we can connect with the ark being placed “inside the tent which David had pitched for it”. When Christ, of Whom the ark is a picture, is central to our life, lasting joy is our part, and we can also pass it on. David does this in the picture of the raisin cakes and Paul does this to the believers in Philippi in his letter to them. In the picture we can see here that the Lord Jesus is in the midst of the church when it comes together in His Name ( ). The church is a place of worship and fellowship, with the result that every member receives spiritual nourishment.

‏ 1 Chronicles 16:1-6

Introduction

This chapter concludes the description of the major event of placing the ark in the royal city. This establishes the public worship of God during the reign of David. That the ark was not brought to Gibeon, where the altar stands and what is left of the tabernacle, is of great significance. It means the judgment of the whole system connected to the tabernacle.

Offerings and Blessing

When the ark is placed in the tent and has come to rest, as it were, from its wanderings, the consequence is that offerings are offered. The placing of the ark works worship, of which the burnt offering speaks, and fellowship, of which the peace offerings speaks. There is no sin offering here, it does not fit with this event.

After offering the offerings mentioned above David distributes blessings to the whole people. David is the king-priest who as a true Melchizedek distributes food (Gen 14:18). Every member, without distinction between man and woman, gets “a loaf of bread and a portion [of meat] and a raisin cake”. When it comes to the blessings that the believer has received in Christ, there is no difference between man and woman (Gal 3:28).

The ‘food package’ that David distributes represents, in picture, a rich blessing. The loaf of bread speaks of the Lord Jesus: He is the bread of life. The portion of dates [as the Dutch HSV translates] speaks of victory: dates come from the date palms, the palm tree is a symbol of victory. The raisin cake speaks of lasting joy: raisins are dried grapes and from grapes is made the wine that rejoices the heart of God and people (Jdg 9:13).

We see this lasting joy with the apostle Paul in the letter to the Philippians. Even the tears he weeps (Phil 3:18) are not able to dispel the presence of that joy which is so characteristic of that letter. This has to do with the fact that life for him is Christ, which we can connect with the ark being placed “inside the tent which David had pitched for it”. When Christ, of Whom the ark is a picture, is central to our life, lasting joy is our part, and we can also pass it on. David does this in the picture of the raisin cakes and Paul does this to the believers in Philippi in his letter to them.

In the picture we can see here that the Lord Jesus is in the midst of the church when it comes together in His Name (Mt 18:20). The church is a place of worship and fellowship, with the result that every member receives spiritual nourishment.

Praising the LORD

After the ark is placed and the offerings are offered, it is arranged by David that the name of the LORD is celebrated in the presence of the ark and that He is thanked and praised. David introduces music and singing into the worship service. He establishes an order for this and commands to praise the LORD. The place of worship is now not only a place of sacrifice, but also of praise. David instructs Asaph to praise the LORD.

The words used in the following 1Chr 16:8-36 for this song of praise are quotations from three psalms. The person who made the psalms is not mentioned. Since David quotes from these three psalms, it is likely that he wrote them. We can divide the song into three parts, according to the quotations from the psalms:

1. 1Chr 16:8-22 are, with a single modification, Psalm 105:1-15,

2. the 1Chr 16:23-33 are, except for a few initial words, whole Psalm 96 and

3. 1Chr 16:34-36 are Psalm 106:1,47-48.

Psalms 105 and 106 are the last two psalms of the fourth psalm book. In the fourth psalm book the ways are sung along which God will reach His great end goal. This goal is to introduce His Son as the Son of Man into the world to establish His kingship.

Psalm 96 is also part of the fourth psalm book, which begins with Psalm 90, the prayer of Moses, the man who led the people through the wilderness. In an ascending series of psalms, the establishment of the kingship of the Messiah takes place. That fits in with what we have here, the establishment of the kingship of David, in connection with the ark and with Jerusalem. It is worth pointing out that in Psalm 102 we read about the basis of God’s end goal, which is the work of the Lord Jesus on the cross. In Psalms 105 and 106, we hear as a result of this, the great jubilation.

The first part, 1Chr 16:8-22, which consists of the first part of Psalm 105 (Psa 105:1-15), shows the faithfulness of God in keeping His covenant. The second part, 1Chr 16:23-33, which consists of Psalm 96 (Psa 96:1-13), is a song of thanksgiving. The third part, 1Chr 16:34-36, which consists of the opening verses and the closing verses of Psalm 106 (Psa 106:1 ; 47-48), contains the thought of gather together. In the subjects of these three parts – faithfulness, singing and gathering – we can recognize the meaning of the names of the three main singers. Heman means ‘faithfulness’, Jeduthun means ‘choir of praise’ and Asaph means ‘one who gathers together’.

The content of the praise to the LORD is indicated by David and put into practice by “Asaph and his relatives”. It is good to learn from the Lord Jesus how to praise God. He sings praises to the LORD – for us, the Father – in the midst of the church (Heb 2:12) and the church may agree with Him. David here is a picture of the Lord Jesus Who through the Spirit leads God’s people in worship.

We can make the application that it is good to learn from faithful brothers how to worship God. We do not do this by taking a course with them or just by repeating what they say, but by listening to their thanksgiving and going into it with our hearts.