Evening on the ridge of the City of David: a plain goat-hair tent with its door curtain shut inside a low stone enclosure, a clay lamp by the gate and two Levites in white linen sitting with lyres, under a calm deep evening sky with the first stars.

The Book of

1 Chronicles 16

The ark is home at last. David gives Asaph a song for all Israel to sing, and it is still being sung.

43 verses≈ 6 min5 peopleBSB

Images are artistic interpretations.

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In this chapter

Where we are

1–9GenealogiesAll Israel, from Adam
10Saul fallsThe kingdom turned to David
11–12David kingAll Israel gathers
13–16The arkBrought home with songsChapter 16
17The covenantA house forever
18–20David's warsThe LORD gave victory
21The siteOrnan's threshing floor
22–27Preparing the templePriests, Levites and singers
28–29David's farewellBe strong, and do the work

A Tent for the Ark

Evening on the ridge of the City of David: smoke rising from a rough stone altar beside the shut tent, and David in a long white linen robe handing a loaf, a date cake and a raisin cake to a line of men, women and children.

So they brought the ark of God and placed it inside the tent that David had pitched for it. And they presented burnt offerings and peace offerings before God. When David had finished sacrificing the burnt offerings and peace offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the LORD. Then he distributed to every man and woman of Israel a loaf of bread, a date cake, and a raisin cake.

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Narrated by Bob Souer · BSB audio, public domain

Early morning before a plain tent with its curtain shut: Levites in long white linen robes play lyres and upright harps in a half circle, a singer in front lifts bronze cymbals, and two priests stand ready with long silver trumpets.

David appointed some of the Levites to minister before the ark of the LORD, to celebrate, to give thanks, and to praise the LORD, the God of Israel.

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Asaph was the chief, Zechariah was second, then Jeiel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Mattithiah, Eliab, Benaiah, Obed-edom, and Jeiel. They were to play the harps and lyres, while Asaph sounded the cymbals and the priests Benaiah and Jahaziel blew the trumpets regularly before the ark of the covenant of God.

David’s Psalm of Thanksgiving

Late afternoon at the tent's gateway: David in a white linen robe, one hand on a Levite singer's shoulder, speaks the words of a song while the singer listens with cymbals at his side and other Levites with lyres lean in.

On that day David first committed to Asaph and his associates this song of thanksgiving to the LORD:

“Give thanks to the LORD; call upon His name;

make known His deeds among the nations.

Sing to Him, sing praises to Him;

tell of all His wonders.

Glory in His holy name;

let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice.

1 Chronicles 16:11

Remember the wonders He has done,

His marvels, and the judgments He has pronounced,

O offspring of His servant Israel,

O sons of Jacob, His chosen ones.

He is the LORD our God;

His judgments carry throughout the earth.

The land of Canaan seen from the central hill country: terraced slopes and green valleys running west toward a faint haze where the sea lies.

Remember His covenant forever,

the word He ordained for a thousand generations—

the covenant He made with Abraham,

and the oath He swore to Isaac.

He confirmed it to Jacob as a decree,

to Israel as an everlasting covenant:

‘I will give you the land of Canaan

as the portion of your inheritance.’

David

Reflect

Seek His face always

Saul failed to seek the LORD. David learned to, and now he hands Israel a song that says “seek His face always.” Where do you turn first for help, comfort or answers? Write down one way you will seek His face this week, and one of “the wonders He has done” that you want to remember.

Sing to the LORD, All the Earth

Dawn from a flat rooftop in the City of David: a single Levite in a white linen robe, seen from behind with a small lyre, looks east across the Kidron valley and the Mount of Olives to range after range of hills under a pale gold sky.

Sing to the LORD, all the earth.

Proclaim His salvation day after day.

Declare His glory among the nations,

His wonders among all peoples.

Sing to the LORD, all the earth.

1 Chronicles 16:23

For great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised;

He is to be feared above all gods.

For all the gods of the nations are idols,

but it is the LORD who made the heavens.

Splendor and majesty are before Him;

strength and joy fill His dwelling.

Ascribe to the LORD, O families of the nations,

ascribe to the LORD glory and strength.

Ascribe to the LORD the glory due His name;

bring an offering and come before Him.

Worship the LORD in the splendor of His holiness;

tremble before Him, all the earth.

Morning on a rocky coast below a forested ridge: long white breakers of the sea roll in, oaks and pines on the slopes bend in a strong wind, and a strip of golden grain lies between shore and hill.

The world is firmly established; it cannot be moved.

Let the heavens be glad,

and the earth rejoice.

Let them say among the nations,

‘The LORD reigns!’

Let the sea resound,

and all that fills it;

let the fields exult,

and all that is in them.

Then the trees of the forest will sing for joy before the LORD,

for He is coming to judge the earth.

1 Chronicles 16:34

Then cry out: ‘Save us, O God of our salvation;

gather and deliver us from the nations,

that we may give thanks to Your holy name,

that we may glory in Your praise.’

Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting.”

Then all the people said, “Amen!” and “Praise the LORD!”

Pray

Give thanks to the LORD

Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good, and name one way His loving devotion has held you. Praise Him as the God who made the heavens, and ask Him to make His salvation known among the nations “day after day.” Pray for His scattered people to be gathered and saved. Then answer with all the people: “Amen!” and “Praise the LORD!”

Worship before the Ark

First light at the gate of the low stone enclosure around the shut tent: two gatekeepers in linen swing open a heavy wooden gate while Levites in white linen file in with lyres and harps for the morning song.

So David left Asaph and his associates there before the ark of the covenant of the LORD, to minister there regularly according to the daily requirements, along with Obed-edom and his sixty-eight relatives. Obed-edom son of Jeduthun, and also Hosah, were to be gatekeepers.

Early morning on the high place at Gibeon: priests in white linen lay wood on a large bronze-covered altar sending up white smoke, before a long, low goat-hair tent inside a court of white linen hangings, while two Levite singers stand ready.

And David left Zadok the priest and his fellow priests before the tabernacle of the LORD at the high place in Gibeon to regularly present burnt offerings to the LORD on the altar of burnt offerings, morning and evening, according to all that was written in the Law of the LORD, which He had commanded Israel to keep.

With them were Heman, Jeduthun, and the rest of those chosen and designated by name to give thanks to the LORD, for “His loving devotion endures forever.”

Heman and Jeduthun had with them trumpets and cymbals for the music and instruments for the songs of God. And the sons of Jeduthun were stationed at the gate.

Then all the people departed for their homes, and David returned home to bless his household.

Question

Quick question

David set up worship in two places until the temple would bring them together.

Where did Zadok the priest serve at the tabernacle and the altar?

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1 Chronicles 16

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A verse to carry with you

Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; His loving devotion endures forever.

1 Chronicles 16:34

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