1st Chronicles 16 WHAT SHOULD WE SAY? 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. Likely they had never brought their own 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 believers sing in full voice of true praise to the Lord. Their captors wanted then to sing for their entertainment but the reply of the Jews was, "How shall we sing the Lord's song in a strange land?" It is meaningful when we are able to participate in praise, worship and thanksgiving to God. 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 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 together brought the ark to Jerusalem instead of taking it to Gibeon where the tabernacle and the altar were. It was there sacrifices were made but God, in His own 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 structure David had provided. It was there and to the Lord Himself that "the gathering of the people be." The tabernacle was still an acceptable place to bring sacrifices and offerings, but the days of wilderness travel were over and the transition time 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 in that 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 both look at Him and we are each satisfied - and 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 on a perfect legal basis and fellowship is established forever. With the ark in place as the gathering center, burnt offerings and peace offerings were certainly called for. Praise and honor ascended to God and fellowship and peace extend 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.
In the reading of these Chronicles those who returned from exile would begin to understand the words of praise and worship that were never sung in a "strange land." The "Lord's song" just didn't fit in the raucous pagan worship of idols common to the Babylonians. The world's system and the house of God don't have anything in common. Religious entertainment and 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 that those designated to do this work would take it seriously. Those who appreciate and praise God privately will find it a delight to express our praise and thanksgiving publicly. That doesn't mean we all express vocally our praise in the same way as those who lead, but we all participate in a way suitable to our personality and ability. 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. The Holy Spirit has defined roles for all of us and in some there is a leadership responsibility and others assist them and others to fulfill unified responsibility and privilege.
When we praise the Lord we remember what God has done and give thanks to 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 that which 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, to harmoniously join our voices in testimony and to talk of all His works and wonders. When we speak of the wonders of His Person, we honor Him who is "hgher than the highest, greater than the great." To seek His face and remember His works and wisdom kind of go together because the more we desire to know, the more is revealed to us of His Person. To those ragged returnees, and to us in this worldly scene, the remembrance of 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 who read the Chronicles, to remember the covenant God made with Abraham before there was ever a nation, would have established firmly again in their minds 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 real when the character of God, the goodness of God, the nature of God and all His attributes and benefits toward us are acknowledged. When our focus is on Him and not on ourselves, we are able to truly glorify Him. His power, grace, mercy and love, directs our thoughts, and hopefully our lives, on Him. He is due all glory, praise and honor and credit for every good and perfect work.
It is a privilege for us to be engaged in any activity or on-going ministry that is done for Him. Some preach, others teach. There are helps, administrations, and many, many varieties of service and opportunities ti minister to others in fellowship with the Lord's people. 42 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.
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 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 full unity around the Person of Christ that will include all of His people at 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 to not forsake the "assembling" of ourselves together as the day of His coming draws nearer. We also need to remember our families - our children, our homes - that they might be truly sanctified places for those over whom we have influence. From there we wait, watch and worship for the day when our Lord will be "Crowned Lord of all" and the whole world will rejoice.