4 And he appointed H5414 certain of the Levites H3881 to minister H8334 before H6440 the ark H727 of the LORD, H3068 and to record, H2142 and to thank H3034 and praise H1984 the LORD H3068 God H430 of Israel: H3478
5 Asaph H623 the chief, H7218 and next H4932 to him Zechariah, H2148 Jeiel, H3273 and Shemiramoth, H8070 and Jehiel, H3171 and Mattithiah, H4993 and Eliab, H446 and Benaiah, H1141 and Obededom: H5654 and Jeiel H3273 with psalteries H5035 H3627 and with harps; H3658 but Asaph H623 made a sound H8085 with cymbals; H4700
6 Benaiah H1141 also and Jahaziel H3166 the priests H3548 with trumpets H2689 continually H8548 before H6440 the ark H727 of the covenant H1285 of God. H430
7 Then on that day H3117 David H1732 delivered H5414 first H7218 this psalm to thank H3034 the LORD H3068 into the hand H3027 of Asaph H623 and his brethren. H251
8 Give thanks H3034 unto the LORD, H3068 call H7121 upon his name, H8034 make known H3045 his deeds H5949 among the people. H5971
9 Sing H7891 unto him, sing psalms H2167 unto him, talk H7878 ye of all his wondrous H6381 works.
10 Glory H1984 ye in his holy H6944 name: H8034 let the heart H3820 of them rejoice H8055 that seek H1245 the LORD. H3068
11 Seek H1875 the LORD H3068 and his strength, H5797 seek H1245 his face H6440 continually. H8548
12 Remember H2142 his marvellous H6381 works that he hath done, H6213 his wonders, H4159 and the judgments H4941 of his mouth; H6310
13 O ye seed H2233 of Israel H3478 his servant, H5650 ye children H1121 of Jacob, H3290 his chosen ones. H972
14 He is the LORD H3068 our God; H430 his judgments H4941 are in all the earth. H776
15 Be ye mindful H2142 always H5769 of his covenant; H1285 the word H1697 which he commanded H6680 to a thousand H505 generations; H1755
16 Even of the covenant which he made H3772 with Abraham, H85 and of his oath H7621 unto Isaac; H3327
17 And hath confirmed H5975 the same to Jacob H3290 for a law, H2706 and to Israel H3478 for an everlasting H5769 covenant, H1285
18 Saying, H559 Unto thee will I give H5414 the land H776 of Canaan, H3667 the lot H2256 of your inheritance; H5159
19 When ye were but few, H4557 H4962 even a few, H4592 and strangers H1481 in it.
20 And when they went H1980 from nation H1471 to nation, H1471 and from one kingdom H4467 to another H312 people; H5971
21 He suffered H3240 no man H376 to do them wrong: H6231 yea, he reproved H3198 kings H4428 for their sakes,
22 Saying, Touch H5060 not mine anointed, H4899 and do my prophets H5030 no harm. H7489
23 Sing H7891 unto the LORD, H3068 all the earth; H776 shew forth H1319 from day H3117 to day H3117 his salvation. H3444
24 Declare H5608 his glory H3519 among the heathen; H1471 his marvellous works H6381 among all nations. H5971
25 For great H1419 is the LORD, H3068 and greatly H3966 to be praised: H1984 he also is to be feared H3372 above all gods. H430
26 For all the gods H430 of the people H5971 are idols: H457 but the LORD H3068 made H6213 the heavens. H8064
27 Glory H1935 and honour H1926 are in his presence; H6440 strength H5797 and gladness H2304 are in his place. H4725
28 Give H3051 unto the LORD, H3068 ye kindreds H4940 of the people, H5971 give H3051 unto the LORD H3068 glory H3519 and strength. H5797
29 Give H3051 unto the LORD H3068 the glory H3519 due unto his name: H8034 bring H5375 an offering, H4503 and come H935 before H6440 him: worship H7812 the LORD H3068 in the beauty H1927 of holiness. H6944
30 Fear H2342 before H6440 him, all the earth: H776 the world H8398 also shall be stable, H3559 that it be not moved. H4131
31 Let the heavens H8064 be glad, H8055 and let the earth H776 rejoice: H1523 and let men say H559 among the nations, H1471 The LORD H3068 reigneth. H4427
32 Let the sea H3220 roar, H7481 and the fulness H4393 thereof: let the fields H7704 rejoice, H5970 and all that is therein.
33 Then shall the trees H6086 of the wood H3293 sing out H7442 at the presence H6440 of the LORD, H3068 because he cometh H935 to judge H8199 the earth. H776
34 O give thanks H3034 unto the LORD; H3068 for he is good; H2896 for his mercy H2617 endureth for ever. H5769
35 And say H559 ye, Save H3467 us, O God H430 of our salvation, H3468 and gather us together, H6908 and deliver H5337 us from the heathen, H1471 that we may give thanks H3034 to thy holy H6944 name, H8034 and glory H7623 in thy praise. H8416
36 Blessed H1288 be the LORD H3068 God H430 of Israel H3478 for ever H5769 and ever. H5769 And all the people H5971 said, H559 Amen, H543 and praised H1984 the LORD. H3068
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on 1 Chronicles 16
Commentary on 1 Chronicles 16 Matthew Henry Commentary
Chapter 16
This chapter concludes that great affair of the settlement of the ark in the royal city, and with it the settlement of the public worship of God during the reign of David. Here is,
1Ch 16:1-6
It was a glorious day when the ark of God was safely lodged in the tent David had pitched for it. That good man had his heart much upon it, could not sleep contentedly till it was done, Ps. 132:4, 5.
1Ch 16:7-36
We have here the thanksgiving psalm which David, by the Spirit, composed, and delivered to the chief musician, to be sung upon occasion of the public entry the ark made into the tent prepared for it. Some think he appointed this hymn to be daily used in the temple service, as duly as the day came; whatever other psalms they sung, they must not omit this. David had penned many psalms before this, some in the time of his trouble by Saul. This was composed before, but was now first delivered into the hand of Asaph, for the use of the church. It is gathered out of several psalms (from the beginning to v. 23 is taken from Ps. 105:1, etc.; and then v. 23 to v. 34 is the whole 96th psalm, with little variation; v. 34 is taken from Ps. 136:1 and divers others; and then the last two verses are taken from the close of Ps. 106), which some think warrants us to do likewise, and make up hymns out of David's psalms, a part of one and a part of another put together so as may be most proper to express and excite the devotion of Christians. These psalms will be best expounded in their proper places (if the Lord will); here we take them as they are put together, with a design to thank the Lord (v. 7), a great duty, to which we need to be excited and in which we need to be assisted.
1Ch 16:37-43
The worship of God is not only to be the work of a solemn day now and then, brought in to grace a triumph; but it ought to be the work of every day. David therefore settles it here for a constancy, puts it into a method, which he obliged those that officiated to observe in their respective posts. In the tabernacle of Moses, and afterwards in the temple of Solomon, the ark and the altar were together; but, ever since Eli's time, they had been separated, and still continued so till the temple was built. I cannot conceive what reason there was why David, who knew the law and was zealous for it, did not either bring the ark to Gibeon, where the tabernacle and the altar were, or bring them to Mount Zion, where the ark was. Perhaps the curtains and hangings of Moses's tabernacle were so worn with time and weather that they were not fit to be removed, nor fit to be a shelter for the ark; and yet he would not make all new, but only a tent for the ark, because the time was at hand when the temple should be built. Whatever was the reason, all David's time they were asunder, but he took care that neither of them should be neglected.