Worship at Jerusalem And Gibeon
February 28, 2019
Commentary
Psalm 96 quotes verses 23-33 with a few minor omissions. This includes a threefold instruction to the Lord’s people about singing:
l. Where we should sing (v. 23). Wherever we happen to be.
2. What we should sing (v. 24). That the Lord is wonderful and does marvelous things.
3. Why we should sing (vv. 25-26). The Lord deserves our greatest praise.
He explains how all gifts belong to God and that we have basically three gifts that we can give:
l. Our wonder (v. 28).
2. Our wealth (v. 29).
3. Our worship (v. 29).
David brought the ark to Jerusalem although the tabernacle was still at Gibeon. The origin of Gibeon as the site of a tabernacle is not known. We just know that sometime after the ark was taken from Shiloh it ended up at Gibeon. However, we know that David’s plan was to reunite the tabernacle and the ark in a new temple at Jerusalem and this would become Israel’s only worship center. The temple however was not built until Solomon’s time. In the meantime, Israel had two worship centers and two high priests (5:11), one at Gibeon and one at Jerusalem.
Application
How many times do I complain when I should be praising the Lord? It is so easy to be negative when I should be positive. I want to be a person who is optimistic and not pessimistic.
1 Chronicles 16:23– 29 (NET)
23 Sing to the Lord, all the earth! Announce every day how he delivers.
24 Tell the nations about his splendor, tell all the nations about his miraculous deeds.
25 For the Lord is great and certainly worthy of praise, he is more awesome than all gods.
26 For all the gods of the nations are worthless, but the Lord made the heavens.
27 Majestic splendor emanates from him, he is the source of strength and joy.
28 Ascribe to the Lord, O families of the nations, ascribe to the Lord splendor and strength!
29 Ascribe to the Lord the splendor he deserves! Bring an offering and enter his presence! Worship the Lord in holy attire!