David’s desire was to assemble all Israel together in worship as God was coming to be with his people in Jerusalem. After a failed attempt to bring the ark of God to Jerusalem (1 Chronicles 13), David has inquired of the Lord and brought the ark successfully to Jerusalem because he followed the instructions given concerning the ark (1 Chronicles 15). Chapter 16 of 1 Chronicles begins by showing the ark was placed in the tabernacle and burnt offerings and peace offerings are being sacrificed (16:1). David has prepared for this moment, establishing various people for this worship that will now happen in Jerusalem. Verse 7 tells us that this is the record of how they gave praise to the Lord. This is what Asaph and his brothers sang to the Lord. What is recorded for us in 1 Chronicles 16 are three psalms that were used for worship now that the Lord had come to be with his people again. This chapter is going to show us why to worship and how to praise the Lord.
Proclaim God’s Activity (1 Chronicles 16:8-9)
The first aspect of worship is to give thanks to the Lord, making known his deeds to all peoples. What we should be struck by as we first begin is that thanksgiving is not an internal act. Sometimes when we think about being thankful to God, the only thing we might think about is praying words of thanksgiving. We even talk about doing this particularly around thanksgiving time in our country. But notice that David’s psalm is not merely that we should be thankful. Rather, David says that our thankfulness looks like telling others about why we are thankful. Tell his wondrous works. Reveal God’s actions to the world. Sing your praises. One of the aspects of worship that we cannot forget is that worship is also intended to cause others to join in knowing the Lord. The apostle Paul made this point to the Corinthian church.
If, therefore, the whole church comes together and all speak in tongues, and outsiders or unbelievers enter, will they not say that you are out of your minds? But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or outsider enters, he is convicted by all, he is called to account by all, the secrets of his heart are disclosed, and so, falling on his face, he will worship God and declare that God is really among you. (1 Corinthians 14:23-25 ESV)
Here Paul makes the point that one of the purposes of their worship was to cause unbelievers to enter, be convicted, and be moved to worship the Lord also. This would only happen if we are proclaiming the wondrous works of God and giving thanks for all he has done for us.
Seek the Lord (1 Chronicles 16:10-11)
The second aspect of this worship is a call for the people to seek the Lord. One of the things we are doing in worship is encouraging each other to seek the Lord. In verse 11 the song says to seek the Lord and his strength. Constantly seek his face and his presence. The ark of the covenant represented the very presence of God with his people. We noted in 1 Chronicles 13 that David acknowledges that the people did not seek the Lord during the reign of Saul. In fact, the ark of God had been neglected in Kiriath-jearim for 20 years (1 Samuel 7:2). We are supposed to be living our lives in God’s presence. We are seeking his favor. He is watching our lives. So we come together and sometimes we are broken and hurting. We are telling each other to keep seeking the Lord. Keep living before his face. Look for God’s strength and not your own. Put on the armor of God for the help you need. The writer of Hebrews made the same point as to one of the reasons why we gather together.
And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near. (Hebrews 10:24-25 ESV)
In worship, we are telling one another to seek the Lord and find our strength in him and not ourselves.
Remember (1 Chronicles 16:12-22)
Much of this thanksgiving song of worship is a call to remember what God has done. Worship is intended to be a time to remember what God has accomplished. In verses 12-14 we are told to remember the wondrous works God has done. Think about the amazing, miraculous works God has done. Don’t forget the shocking and stunning achievements God has done in the creation and for his people. For Israel, one of the key wondrous works they were to remember was the great exodus from Egypt. God had worked miracles through the plagues which set the people free. God had worked a great miracle by parting the Red Sea, giving passage for Israel’s escape and the tool to destroy the pursuing Egyptians. God had worked great miracles while Israel was in the wilderness, caring for his people and providing all their needs for the years they were there.
Second, remember God’s covenant that he made with us (16:15-18). David draws the people’s attention to the promise made to Abraham which was also sworn to Isaac and Jacob. This covenant continued to the people of Israel (16:17), remembering that God had promised a wonderful inheritance for them. God was going to give his people a land of rest.
We can see that this is true for our worship today. Each Sunday we are remembering God’s miraculous works and the covenant he made with us through his Son. Not only to we have the miraculous arrival of God in the flesh through the virgin birth, and not only do we have the miraculous works of Jesus while he walked on the earth, but we also have the miraculous resurrection of Jesus from the dead, decisively establishing his covenant with us (Hebrews 9:15-22) and his kingship over all the world (cf. Daniel 7:13-14). This is part of what the blood of the covenant remembers when we partake in the Lord’s Supper.
Third, remember God’s protection and care (16:19-22). Then God ends this remembrance section by recalling how God took care of his people. Even though his people were few in number, God did not allow anyone to oppress them. God protected and provided for his people. Worship is about remembering everything God has done in the world for us. Worship is about remembering what God has done for us this last week regarding his care and protection. We are here today because God has helped us and cared for us yet again for another day. Do not forget all that God does for us each day to bless us, protect us, and care for us.
Ascribe to God (1 Chronicles 16:23-30)
So I had to look this one up because “ascribe” is not a word I typically use, yet most of the translations use this word. In verses 23-27 we are told to just notice that God is worthy of praise. He has done marvelous works. He is great and worthy of great praise. God is the creator of the world. Splendor, majesty, strength, and joy belong to him. Then the psalmist says to ascribe things to God. Ascribe to the Lord glory and strength (16:28). Ascribe to the Lord the glory that he is due. Give him the worship he is due. So I think another way to say this is to give God the credit that belongs to him. Give credit where credit is due. Give God what he deserves and what belongs to him. What we do in worship is we give God the glory and the credit that belongs to him. Worship the Lord in the splendor of holiness (16:29). Just think about all God deserves in our worship. Think about all the credit God needs to receive. Then what we attempt to do is give him that credit and give him that glory that rightly belongs to him. Think about how many times the New Testament letters make an effort to give God that glory in his writings. I like the one that Jude, the brother of Jesus gives.
Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen. (Jude 24-25 ESV)
Listen to how Paul ascribes glory to God at the end of the book of Romans.
Now to him who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery that was kept secret for long ages but has now been disclosed and through the prophetic writings has been made known to all nations, according to the command of the eternal God, to bring about the obedience of faith — to the only wise God be glory forevermore through Jesus Christ! Amen. (Romans 16:25-27 ESV)
Embrace the Steadfast Love of God (16:31-36)
The end of this thanksgiving worship period moves back to proclaiming the greatness and goodness of God. Let everyone say that the Lord reigns (16:31). God is on the throne. God rules. God is in charge. So everything and everyone needs to exult in the Lord, knowing that God will come and judge the earth (16:32-33). Give thanks to the Lord because he is good. Friends, God is good all the time. Give thanks to the Lord because he is good. His steadfast love endures forever. Notice how the songs frames this idea in verse 35. Cry out for God to save you so that you can give God thanks and give him glory.
Salvation is not supposed to the end on us but become the basis for our worship and praise. We want to worship because we love the salvation we have received from God. We have seen and experienced the steadfast love of the Lord and that is why we worship. If we do not want to offer praise and thanksgiving, then we simply do not appreciate what God has done for us and do not appreciate what the steadfast love of the Lord is. Peter made the point this way:
For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins. (2 Peter 1:8-9 ESV)
If we are full of praise and full of worship, then we must have forgotten God and are so nearsighted that we are blind.
Conclusion
What David is showing Israel as they come to worship is that worship is a time for renewal, a time for reminding, a time for rejoicing, and a time that is rooted in scripture. Worshiping God renews us as we proclaim his wonderful works and tell each other to seek the Lord. Look for his strength. Seek his face. Live in his presence. Worshiping God reminds us about his covenant, his miraculous salvation, and his protection and care for us. Worshiping God is a time of rejoicing as we ascribe to God the glory he deserves. We rejoice in knowing that our God reigns and that God will be just. Then we say amen and praise the Lord (16:36), knowing that the steadfast love of the Lord endures forever. His steadfast love drives our worship and restores us to being more devoted and faithful followers.