1Ch 16:7-22 | KingComments | STEP | 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 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. are, with a single modification, Psalm 105:1-15, 2. the are, except for a few initial words, whole Psalm 96 and 3. 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, , which consists of the first part of Psalm 105 ( ), shows the faithfulness of God in keeping His covenant. The second part, , which consists of Psalm 96 ( ), is a song of thanksgiving . The third part, , which consists of the opening verses and the closing verses of Psalm 106 ( ), 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 ( ) 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.

‏ 1 Chronicles 16:7-22

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.

First Part (Psalm 105:1-15)

These verses are about the unchanging and unconditional promises God in grace has made to the fathers. Psalm 105 consists of two parts. In the first part (Psa 105:1-15) it is about the great deeds of God toward the fathers. The second part (Psa 105:16-45) is about God’s ways with Israel and His care for them to give them the promised blessing.

In this section the activities of God’s people are first sung (1Chr 16:8-13) and then the promises of God (1Chr 16:14-22). In 1Chr 16:8-12, the people are called to various activities. The call is made to a people who have a special relationship with God. This relationship is given in two names, each with another addition. They are “seed of Israel”, to which is added “His servant” (1Chr 16:13a). “Israel”, which means “prince of God”, is the name that points to their special position before God. The word “servant” is associated with this. Whoever knows His special position will be pleased to serve the Lord.

They are also “sons of Jacob”, to which is added “His chosen ones” (1Chr 16:13b). With “sons of Jacob” the emphasis is on the weakness of their dedication to God and the wrong ways the people have gone. That’s why it is so beautiful that it is precisely behind this name that there is the addition “His chosen ones”, which speaks of God having chosen them despite their weakness and wrong ways.

When we read 1Chr 16:8-12, we see the activities to which the people are called as descendants of Israel and Jacob. The activities, which fit in a book like 1 Chronicles, consist of praise, call upon, make known (1Chr 16:8), singing, singing praises, speaking (1Chr 16:9), glory, be glad, seek (1Chr 16:10-11), remember (1Chr 16:12).

In all these activities the marvels of the LORD are made the object of the song and the deeds are displayed in which He reveals Himself, also in the sight of the nations (1Chr 16:8b). We should remember that for us all this is far surpassed by the marvels of the Lord Jesus at His coming in the flesh, His work on the cross, His resurrection and His glorification. What a reason to ‘display’ all this in adoration before God.

David points to the LORD as “our God” (1Chr 16:14), Whose judgments are in all the earth. Is it not more than justified to call for praise to Him? Additional reasons for this are given in the following verses (1Chr 16:15-18). In those verses it is about God’s covenant with and His promise to Abraham (Gen 17:7 ; 13 ; 19), about His oath to Isaac (Gen 26:2-5 ; 23-24), about the statute confirmed to Jacob and the everlasting covenant for Israel (Gen 28:13 ; 15 ; Gen 35:9-13). In short, it is about God’s electing grace and unrepentant promises (Rom 11:29), and all this in view of the land of Canaan as their inheritance. With so many blessings and security, the heart cannot remain unmoved, and the mouth cannot remain silent.

In the last verses we have the history, but not the responsibility (1Chr 16:19-22). In these verses the past of the people is described, how weak and vulnerable it was. It shows how we too can live in the world. But then the people will be reminded how God stood up for them in the circumstances in which they seemed to be prey to hostile forces. What is said in 1Chr 16:22 is found in an event in Abraham’s life in which he has departed from the way of faith (Gen 20:6b-7).