WHAT SHOULD WE SAY? 1st Chronicles 16 A whole group of people had come to Jerusalem, many and maybe most, who had been born in captivity in Babylon. They had never seen the holy convocations of the Lord's people when they gathered for the feasts. They had never viewed the priests as they offered sacrifices for the people before the Lord. They likely had never brought their sin offering or trespass offering—had never seen the burnt offering or tasted the blessing of the peace offering.
It is one thing to hear about the glory of holy worship, and listen to a mother or father singing quietly psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs in the privacy of a slave's room, and quite different to hear a lot of believers sing in full voice of genuine praise to the Lord. Their captors wanted them to sing for their entertainment, but the reply of the Jews was, "How shall we sing the Lord's song in a strange land?" Participating in praise, worship, and thanksgiving to God is meaningful. But what should I say? What should I sing? How should I act?
The returned exiles standing in the ashes of what had been the center of national worship would hardly know what to say or do. The chronicler wisely went back far enough in relating history to help them understand their present. The ark had been absent from its place for years because of the sin of unbelief. Then David and the people brought the ark to Jerusalem instead of Gibeon, where the tabernacle and the altar were. It was there that sacrifices were made, but God, in His ow--n way, moved David, a man after God's own heart, to start the transition to the capital city by having the ark taken there.
The ark was "in the midst" of the tent David had provided. It was there and to the Lord Himself that "the gathering of the people (should) be." Abiathar was the priest in charge of the tent in Jerusalem. Zadok was in charge at Gibeon, where the tabernacle was still an acceptable place to bring sacrifices and offerings. The days of wilderness travel were over, and the transition had begun. Slaves from Egypt were now the people of the covenant. Those who had been slaves in Babylon were still people of the covenant, and it was time for them to rebuild the house of the Lord.
To know that the Lord is in the midst of His people puts the fear of God into us. Our gathering unto Him is not just a casual stroll into a building to meet with other Christians, sing a few hymns, read some scripture, listen to a speech, and then go home. A covenant has been formed between us and God made on the highest possible terms of a covenant - the death of each party to themselves. Then, new life is lived for the other person in the covenant.
Our part in the new covenant took place when we gratefully accepted the substitution of our Lord Jesus Christ for us personally. On God's part, He sent His Son to be the Savior of the world, who would reconcile us to Him. God laid on Him the iniquity of us all in a singular demonstration of boundless love. God did not spare Him because He "delivered Him up for us all." Now God looks at the sacrificial Lamb He provided - I look at the Man who died in my place. We look at Him and are each satisfied, so we are legally reconciled.
No wonder "With Jesus in our midst we gather 'round the board. Though many, we are one in Christ, one body in the Lord." Perfect unity is provided perfectly legally, and fellowship is established forever.
David had “pitched” the tent for the ark in Jerusalem. He had blessed the people in the name of the Lord. David distrusted food, which was the practice when peace offerings were made. The one who offered, his family, friends, and the priests shared a common meal. They all participated in this meal before the Lord. With the ark in place as the gathering center, burnt and peace offerings were indeed called for. Praise and honor ascended to God, and fellowship and peace extended to the people of God. As their leader, the king "blessed the people in the name of the Lord," even though he was not the priest. To a certain extent, his position made that possible and acceptable. David's blessing included tangible blessings of bread, meat, and raisins for everyone. Only the king could have done that.
David appointed Levites to minister, record, give thanks, and praise the Lord. These were established roles to fill on behalf of all the people. David delivered the psalm to thank the Lord, which included parts of Psalm 105, 96, and 106. They were to give public thanks, make know the deeds of the Lord, sing and talk of His wondrous works, glory in His name, rejoice in the Lord, seek the Lord, His strength, and His face, remember His marvelous works and words, and recall their redemption, reconciliation, and responsibility. Those men were God’s anointed, set apart for service to Him and His prophets to speak for Him to the people.
In reading these Chronicles, those who returned from exile would begin to understand why the words of praise and worship were never sung in a "strange land." The "Lord's song" didn't fit in the raucous pagan worship of idols common to the Babylonians. The world's system and the house of God have nothing in common. Religious entertainment, loud noise, and unrestrained, uncontrolled exuberance have nothing in common with the thoughtful words and harmonious sounds of thanksgiving and praise from those who have experienced and appreciated the grace of God. "Holiness becometh Thy house, O God."
Asaph was given the words of David's song of thanksgiving and would likely have put them to music. His would have been the first of many he received, and some he was moved to write himself. Ministry "before the ark of the Lord" was no insignificant matter, so those designated to do this work would take it seriously. Asaph knew the role he was to fill. Obed-Edom and others knew where they were to lead and where they were to assist others who led.
Those who appreciate and praise God privately will find it a delight to express their praise and thanksgiving publicly. That doesn't mean we all express our praise vocally in the same way as those who lead, but we all participate in a way suitable to our personality and ability. The Holy Spirit has defined roles for all of us, and in some there is a leadership responsibility, others assist them, and others fulfill unified responsibility and privilege.
When we praise the Lord, we remember what God has done and thank Him from grateful hearts. Part of that remembrance is when we "call upon His name," who has met our every need and supplied us with "all spiritual blessings." In remembering for our own sake what we have received, we make it known to others. We review His "marvelous works" so that even in our thanksgiving, we are testifying to the impact of the Gospel. "No Gospel like this feast, spread for us Lord, by Thee; No prophets or evangelists Preach the glad news more free."
Another part of thanksgiving is to sing, harmoniously join our voices in testimony, and talk of all His works and wonders. When we speak of the wonders of His Person, we honor Him who is "higher than the highest, greater than the great." Seeking His face and remembering His works and wisdom go together because the more we desire to know, the more is revealed of His Person. To those ragged returnees, and us in this worldly scene, remembering His holiness and the covenant He has made with us enables us to move through the pressures to conform without surrendering to them.
For those returned exiles who read the Chronicles, remembering the covenant God made with Abraham before there was a nation would have again established their identity as a chosen nation of people. They were not an afterthought on God's part but a forethought through whom He would ultimately bring "peace on earth and goodwill to men" when David's "royal Son" would reign on earth.
Praise is genuine when we acknowledge God's character, goodness, nature, and all His attributes and benefits toward us. When our focus is on Him and not on ourselves, we can truly glorify Him. His power, grace, mercy, and love direct our thoughts, hopefully our lives, to Him. He is due all glory, praise, honor, and credit for every good and perfect gift and work.
It is a privilege for us to be engaged in any activity or ongoing ministry that is done for Him. Some preach; others teach. There are helps, administrations, and many varieties of service and opportunities to minister to others in fellowship with the Lord's people. Forty-two times in the Old Testament, beginning here, the wonderful phrase, "His mercy endureth forever," is stated. The returned remnant would know where to begin in their worship as they had experienced His mercy in their restoration to the land and the God of their fathers.
To “worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness” is one of the highest forms of service we can give our blessed Lord Jesus Christ. Worship refers to giving honor and praise in our thoughts and words to a person or things. God alone is worthy of worship [Ps. 29:2]. Worship involves Reverence. Respecting and honoring the Lord in thoughts and feelings is worship in spirit and truth. This is the personal nature of worship; from my person to God’s person with my intellect, emotion, and will. This enables us to understand the character of God better.
Worship also includes Public Expressions. Sacrifices we can give openly are the sacrifice of praise, contrition, gifts, consecrated body, temporal goods, thanksgiving, joy, obedience, self, and righteousness. Service can also be an act of worship. Joyful labor for the Lord, obedience to His word, and praise to God are closely linked with worship in truth.
The priests offering sacrifices at the altar in front of the tabernacle, and those in front of the ark in Jerusalem, would have understood the temporary arrangement of this practice. The day was approaching when the house of the Lord would be the temple yet to be built. But the temporary situation did not need to hinder their worship of God, nor that of the returnees, nor that of us today. The day of complete unity around the Person of Christ that will include all His people in one place is coming.
Now we need the "trumpeters" who will sound the right notes at the appropriate time to keep our attention focused on God, not on the sensual music of the world. We need the doorkeepers (porters) in place to guard the holy things of God from being desecrated by those who ignore God's word as irrelevant to their wishes and opinions. We need a worshipping priesthood of all believers to offer up spiritual sacrifices to our Lord. We need not forsake the "assembling" of ourselves together as the day of His coming draws nearer. We also need to remember that our families - our children, our homes - might be sanctified places for those we influence. From there, we wait, watch, and worship for the day our Lord will be "Crowned Lord of all" and the whole world will rejoice.
What can I give to the Lord God of heaven who created all things, maintains and controls them? He keeps order in the heavens and knows every man. What could I possibly give Him that would honor His name? I can give thanks for His mercy, His love, and His grace; I can make known the greatness of His works to people. I can sing hymns of praise for His Person and His work, which will glorify and exalt Him before the people of the earth.
I can talk of His works, strength, and power. I can tell of the blessings that He showers on me. I can speak of His holy name when I talk to others. I can give Him reverence when I walk in His light. I can seek His face in prayer and express my appreciation for Him looking on me with grace and giving me salvation. I can review His covenant mercies when I meet with others, and we worship together like those who fell at His feet when He was here.
Every day, I can show my gratitude for His great salvation and declare His glory as I express my sincere adoration. I can give my strength to further the work of His kingdom, and with holy fear, give Him delight and respect along with others who worship with me. In holiness and gladness, we will join our voices as we praise and declare the honors and worth of Him, who is the Ancient of Days. ``I can bring my offerings to Him from a grateful heart, so I can bless and praise Him whose grace was shown to me who did not deserve the least of His mercies. I feel very inadequate when giving the Lord even the best I can. I am unworthy of the least of His mercies. In reading this psalm, I can identify with those who praised Him when the ark was finally properly placed in that tent. I can praise Him for every person who gives praise and honor to the Lord Jesus Christ.