A Hymn of Thanksgiving
November 1, 2022
Commentary
This passage is a hymn of thanksgiving compiled from passages of several psalms. David must have taken parts from his earlier poetry and woven them together with this hymn. He says:
1. Let the world tremble but it cannot be shaken. (v. 30)
2. Let the heavens be glad and the earth rejoice because the Lord reigns. (v. 31)
3. Let the sea shout His praise and the crops burst with joy. (v. 32)
4. Let the trees sing for joy because He is coming to judge the earth. (v.33)
5. Give thanks to the Lord for His goodness and faithfulness endures forever. (v. 34)
6. Cry out to the Lord to save us and rescue us from the nations. (v. 35)
7. Praise the Lord God of Israel who lives forever and others will praise Him. (v. 36)
David arranged for Asaph and his fellow Levites to take care of the Ark of the Lord’s Covenant; doing whatever needed to be done (v. 37). This group included Obed-edom, Hosah, and 68 other Levites as gatekeepers. David stationed Zadok the priest at the Tabernacle of the Lord in Gibeon.
Application
May God be the Alpha and Omega of my praise for Him. David began by giving thanks to the Lord, he concluded with blessed be the Lord.
1 Chronicles 16:30– 43 (NET)
30 Tremble before him, all the earth! The world is established, it cannot be moved.
31 Let the heavens rejoice, and the earth be happy! Let the nations say, “The Lord reigns!”
32 Let the sea and everything in it shout! Let the fields and everything in them celebrate!
33 Then let the trees of the forest shout with joy before the Lord, for he comes to judge the earth!
34 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good and his loyal love endures.
35 Say this prayer: “Deliver us, O God who delivers us! Gather us! Rescue us from the nations! Then we will give thanks to your holy name, and boast about your praiseworthy deeds.”
36 May the Lord God of Israel be praised, in the future and forevermore. Then all the people said, “We agree! Praise the Lord.”
37 David left Asaph and his colleagues there before the ark of the Lord’s covenant to serve before the ark regularly and fulfill each day’s requirements, 38 including Obed-Edom and sixty-eight colleagues. Obed-Edom son of Jeduthun and Hosah were gatekeepers. 39 Zadok the priest and his fellow priests served before the Lord’s tabernacle at the worship center in Gibeon, 40 regularly offering burnt sacrifices to the Lord on the altar for burnt sacrifice, morning and evening, according to what is prescribed in the law of the Lord which he charged Israel to observe. 41 Joining them were Heman, Jeduthun, and the rest of those chosen and designated by name to give thanks to the Lord. (For his loyal love endures!) 42 Heman and Jeduthun were in charge of the music, including the trumpets, cymbals, and the other musical instruments used in praising God. The sons of Jeduthun guarded the entrance.
43 Then all the people returned to their homes, and David went to pronounce a blessing on his family.