The First Book of the Chronicles
1 Chronicles 16
Chapter XVI · Vol. II, pp. 828–829
1 David's festival sacrifice. 4 He appointeth a band of singers and music to praise the Lord. 7 The psalm of thanksgiving. 37 He appointeth ministers, porters, priests, and musicians, to attend continually on the ark.
1 So theya brought the ark of God, and set it in the midst of the tent that David had pitched for it:1 and they offered burnt-sacrifices and peace-offerings before God.
a 2 Sa.6.19. ch.29.20. 1 Ki.8.64. Ro.12.1. 2 Co.8.5.
1 This tent or tabernacle was pitched in the city of David, on Mount Zion. It appears to have been a new structure, and not the old tabernacle which was made in the wilderness, and remained so long at Shiloh. The ark remained in the 'tent' on Zion until the temple was completed, when it was conveyed with great state and ceremony to its final resting-place in the holy of holies on Moriah. See 2 Ch. v.—P.
2 And when David had made an end of offering the burnt-offerings and the peace-offerings, bhe blessed the people in the name of the LORD.
b De.33.1. 1 Ki.8.55,56. Lu.24.50.
3 And he cdealt to every one of Israel, both man and woman, to every one a loaf of bread, and a good piece of flesh, and a flagon of wine.
4 And he appointed certain of the Levites to minister dbefore the ark of the LORD, and to record, and to thank and praise the eLORD God of Israel:
5 Asaphf the chief, and next to him Zechariah, Jeiel, and Shemiramoth, and Jehiel, and Mattithiah, and Eliab, and Benaiah, and Obed-edom; and Jeiel with psalteries gand with harps; but Asaph made a sound with cymbals:
f ch.15.17,18.
g Heb. with instruments of psalteries and harps, ch.15.16,19-21,28; 25.1,6. ver.42. Ne.12.27.
6 Benaiah also and Jahaziel the priests hwith trumpets continually before the ark of the covenant of God.
7 Then on that day David idelivered first2 this psalm, to thank the LORD, into the hand of Asaph and his brethren.3
i 2 Sa.23.1. 2 Ch.29.25. Ne.12.24,46.
2 The first psalm prescribed after Asaph's appointment to office.—C.
3 'On that day David committed first to Asaph and his brethren to thank Jehovah.' It would seem that the order of service established by David, and placed by him under the charge of Asaph, was now for the first time observed. The psalm was now first composed, but seems afterwards to have been slightly modified, no doubt to adapt it to a somewhat different ritual.—P.
8 Givek thanks unto the LORD, call upon his name, make known his deeds among the people.4
k Ps.105.1-15; 145.1-21. ver.9,12.
A.M. 2959. B.C. 1045.
4 From the beginning to ver. 23 this psalm nearly accords with Ps.105.1-15, from ver. 23-33 with Ps. xcvi., and to the end with Ps. cvi., with the addition of ver. 34,36.—C.
12 Remember phis marvellous works that he hath done, his wonders, and the judgments of his mouth;5
p Ps.111.2,3; 105.5; 119.11,93. Re.15.4.
5 His revelations and decisions by the mouth of Messiah.—C.
14 He is rthe LORD our God: his sjudgments are in all the earth.6
r Ps.105.7; 118.28. Ex.15.1,2.
s Ps.48.10,11; 97.8,9.
6 God has never 'left himself without a witness,' Ac. 14. 17, but to every land has declared 'his eternal power and godhead,' Ro.1.20.—C.
17 And hath confirmed the same to Jacob for a law, and to Israel for an everlasting covenant,
20 And when they zwent from nation to nation, and from one kingdom to another people;
z Ge.12.1,14; 13.1; 20.1; 46.4.
21 He asuffered no man to do them wrong; yea, he reproved kings9 for their sakes,1
a Ge.12.17; 20.3. Ex.7.15. Ps.105.14,15.
9 So he protected Abraham, and reproved Pharaoh and Abimelech, Ge.12.17; 20.3.—C.
1 This noble ode is a striking confirmation of the authenticity of the history recorded in the Pentateuch. It mentions and attests the truth of the leading events from Abraham to the exodus. Here as elsewhere the thoughtful reader will observe a consistency and unity in the Bible which form strong evidences of its divine origin.—P.
22 Saying, Touch not mine anointed,2 and do my prophets no harm.
2 Prophets, priests, and kings were inaugurated by anointing with oil, the emblem of the outpouring of the Spirit. Here it applies to every believer, who is spiritually anointed to similar spiritual offices and duties. See Re. 1. 5,6. 1 Jn.2.20,27.—C.
23 Singb unto the LORD, all the earth; show forth from day to day his salvation.
b Ps.96.1-13; 47.1.
24 Declarec his glory among the heathen; his marvellous works among all nations.
c ver.8,9. Is.12.4,5. Ps.96.3,4; 145.5-7,21; 71.8,15,17,18.
25 For dgreat is the LORD, and greatly to be praised: he also is to be feared above all gods.
d Ps.89.6-8; 86.8-10. Re.4.11. Is.40.12-28.
26 For eall the gods of the people are idols; but the LORD made the heavens.
e 1 Co.8.4,5. Je.10.3. Ps.cxv. cxxxv. Is.44.9-19; 45.20-22; 42.5.
29 Give unto the LORD ithe glory due unto his name: bring an offering, and come before him: worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness.3
30 Fear before him, kall the earth: the world also shall be lstable, that it be not moved.
k Ps.96.9,10; 97.1; 99.1. Ge.49.10. Re.11.15.
l Mat.16.18. 1 Pe.1.5. Ps.125.1,2.
31 Let mthe heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice: and let men say among the nations, The LORD reigneth.
32 Letn the sea roar, and the fulness thereof: let the fields rejoice, and all that is therein.
n Ps.96.11-13; 98.7-9; cxlviii. Is.44.23; 42.10-12; 55.12,13. Re.11.15-18; 15.3,4; 18.20; 19.1-9.
33 Then shall the trees of the wood sing out at the presence of the LORD, because he cometh to judge the earth.4
4 This glorious concert reminds the church of the future coming of Christ to judgment, 2 Co. 5. 10, while it testifies to his Godhead, for it is JEHOVAH that cometh.—C.
35 And psay ye, Save us,5 O God of our salvation, and gather us together, and deliver us from the heathen, that we may give thanks to thy holy name, and glory in thy praise.
p Ho.14.2,3. Is.1.18; 45.17. Ps.68.18,19; 106.47.
5 As he is the saving God, so we pray to him to save us. To pray to God under the attribute, the influence of which we need, serves to inspire much confidence. 'I am weak; almighty God, help me! I am ignorant; O thou Father of lights, teach me! I am lost; O merciful God, save me!'
36 Blessedq be the LORD God of Israel for ever and ever. And rall the people said, Amen, and praised the LORD.
q 1 Ki.8.15,56. Ps.72.18,19; 106.48.
r De.27.15. Ne.8.6. 2 Ch.20.21,26. ch.29.20.
37 So he left there, before the ark of the covenant of the LORD, sAsaph and his brethren, to minister before the ark continually, as every day's work required:
s ver.4-6; ch.15.17,22.
38 And tObed-edom with their brethren, threescore and eight; Obed-edom also the son of Jeduthun and Hosah to be porters:
t ch.13.14; 26.4-8,15.
39 And uZadok the priest, and his brethren the priests, before the tabernacle of the LORD in the high place xthat was at Gibeon,6
u ch.15.11,12; xxiv.
x ch.21.29. 2 Ch.1.3, with 1 Sa.22.19. Jos.9.17; 21.17; 18.25.
6 He did not leave Zadok at Gibeon, where he and his brethren had ministered, but removed them to Jerusalem, thereby restoring the religious services to that unity which God had enjoined as a preservative against idolatry, De. 12. 5, 11, 13,14. C.——It would appear that previous to the building of the temple there were several authorized sanctuaries in the country. There was one at Kirjath-jearim while the ark remained there; there was another at Gibeon, another at Bethel, another at Shiloh, and apparently another at Gilgal. The erection of the temple by Solomon restored unity of worship.—P.
40 To offer yburnt-offerings unto the LORD upon the altar of the burnt-offering continually morning and evening, and to do according to all that is written in the law of the LORD, which he commanded Israel;
y Heb. in the morning and in the evening, Ex.29.38-42. Nu.28.3-7. Le.6.20.
41 And with them zHeman and Jeduthun, and the rest that were chosen, who were expressed by name, to give thanks to the LORD, becausea his mercy endureth for ever;
42 And with them Heman and Jeduthun, with trumpets and cymbals for those that should make a sound, and with musical instruments of God. And the sons of Jeduthun were porters.7
7 Heb. for the gate.
Notes
Reflections.—God's ordinances and truths may remain long in obscurity; but their glory will shine forth at last. And the hungry who wait on him will at length be filled with good things. Grateful praises is a most acceptable sacrifice to God. All our rejoicings ought to express thankfulness to him from whom we receive all our comforts: and all our praises to centre in ascribing glory to him. We ought to show ourselves generous to others, as God is gracious to us. And such as know God should endeavour by their triumph in him, and all other fruits of grace, to bring their neighbours into acquaintance with him. The sovereign choice which God has made of his people, the covenant he has established with them; the wonderful works he has done for them; and the statutes he has given them; as well as his almighty power, goodness, and glory; and his being the Creator and governor of all things, should be matter of our praise. And while we enjoy his favours, we ought to intercede for salvation and every other promised blessing to them that want them. But however solemn our occasional worship of God may be, it must never supersede our daily and ordinary service of him.