1 Chronicles 16 — GMV

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16 So they brought in the ark of God, and set it in the midst of the tabernacle which David pitched for it; and they offered whole burnt offerings and peace offerings before God. ^{Verse 2} And David finished offering up whole burnt offerings and peace offerings, and blessed the people in the name of the Lord. ^{Verse 3} And he divided to every man of Israel (both men and women), to every man one baker’s loaf, and a cake. ^{Verse 4} And he appointed before the ark of the covenant of the Lord, Levites to minister and lift up the voice, and to give thanks and praise the Lord God of Israel: ^{Verse 5} Asaph was the chief, and next to him Zechariah, Jeiel, Shemiramoth, and Jehiel, Mattithiah, Eliab, and Benaiah, and Obed-edom: and Jeiel sounding with musical instruments, lutes and harps, and Asaph with cymbals: ^{Verse 6} and Benaiah and Jahaziel the priests sounding continually with trumpets before the ark of the covenant of God in that day.

^{Verse 7} Then David first gave orders to praise the Lord by the hand of Asaph and his brethren. ^{Verse 8} Song. Give thanks to the Lord, call upon him by his name, ^{Verse 9} Sing songs to him, and sing hymns to him, ^{Verse 10} Praise his holy name, ^{Verse 11} Seek the Lord and be strong, ^{Verse 12} Remember his wonderful works which he has wrought, ^{Verse 13} Ye seed of Israel his servants, ^{Verse 14} He is the Lord our God; ^{Verse 15} Let us remember his covenant forever, ^{Verse 16} Which he covenanted with Abraham, ^{Verse 17} He confirmed it to Jacob for an ordinance, ^{Verse 18} Saying, To thee will I give the land of Canaan, ^{Verse 19} When they were few in number, ^{Verse 20} And went from nation to nation, ^{Verse 21} He suffered not a man to oppress them, ^{Verse 22} Saying, Touch not my anointed ones, ^{Verse 23} Sing ye to the Lord, all the earth; ^{Verse 24} Declare among the nations his glory, ^{Verse 25} For the Lord is great, and greatly to be praised: ^{Verse 26} For all the gods of the nations are idols; ^{Verse 27} Glory and praise are in his presence; ^{Verse 28} Give to the Lord, ye families of the nations, ^{Verse 29} Give to the Lord the glory belonging to his name: ^{Verse 30} Let the whole earth fear before him; ^{Verse 31} Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth exult; ^{Verse 32} The sea with its fullness shall resound ^{Verse 33} Then shall the trees of the wood rejoice before the Lord, ^{Verse 34} Give thanks to the Lord, for it is good, ^{Verse 35} And say ye, Save us, O God of our salvation, ^{Verse 36} Blessed be the Lord God of Israel

^{Verse 37} And they left there Asaph and his brethren before the ark of the covenant of the Lord, to minister before the ark continually, according to the service of each day: from day to day. ^{Verse 38} And Obed-edom and his brethren were sixty and eight; and Obed-edom the son of Jeduthun, and Hosah, were to be doorkeepers. ^{Verse 39} And they appointed Zadok the priest, and his brethren the priests, before the tabernacle of the Lord in the high place in Gibeon, ^{Verse 40} to offer up whole burnt offerings to the Lord on the altar of whole burnt offerings continually morning and evening, and according to all things written in the law of the Lord, which he commanded the children of Israel by Moses the servant of God. ^{Verse 41} And with him were Heman and Jeduthun, and the rest chosen out by name to praise the Lord, for his mercy endures forever. ^{Verse 42} And with them there were trumpets and cymbals to sound aloud, and musical instruments for the songs of God: and the sons of Jeduthun were at the gate.

^{Verse 43} And all the people went every one to his home: and David returned to bless his house.

Commentary

Introduction

David brings the ark into its tent; and offers sacrifices, peace-offerings, and burnt-offerings, Ch1 16:1, Ch1 16:2; and gives portions to the people of Israel, Ch1 16:3. He appoints proper ministers and officers for the ark, Ch1 16:4-6. He delivers a solemn thanksgiving on the occasion, vv. 7-36. How the different officers served at the ark, Ch1 16:37-42. The people return home, Ch1 16:43.

He blessed the people - "He blessed the people in the name of the Word of the Lord." - T.

To every one a loaf of bread - A whole cake. A good piece of flesh; "the sixth part of an ox, and the sixth part of a hin of wine." - T. See Sa2 6:18-20; see Jarchi also.

Asaph - See the preceding chapter, Ch1 15:17 (note), etc.

David delivered first this psalm - I believe the meaning of this place to be this: David made the psalm on the occasion above specified; and delivered it to Asaph, who was the musician, and to his brethren, to be sung by them in honor of what God had done in behalf of his people.

That seek the Lord - "That seek the Word of the Lord." - T.

Remember his marvellous works - The whole of the psalm refers to God's wondrous actions among the nations in behalf of Israel.

Touch not mine anointed - By this title the patriarchs are generally understood: they had a regal and sacerdotal power in the order of God. In the behalf of the patriarchs God had often especially interfered: in behalf of Abraham, Gen 12:17; Gen 20:3; and of Jacob, Gen 31:24; Gen 34:26; Gen 35:5. But the title may be applied to all the Jewish people, who were the anointed, as they were the elect and peculiar people of God. See on Heb 11:26 (note).

Let the heavens be glad - "Let the supreme angels be glad, and the inhabitants of the earth rejoice." - T. In this place the Targumist uses the Greek word αγγελοι, angels, in Hebrew letters thus, אנגלי angeley.

Save us, O God of our salvation - As he is the saving God, so we may pray to him to save us. To pray to God under the attribute the influence of which we need, serves to inspire much confidence. I am weak; Almighty God, help me! I am ignorant; O thou Father of lights, teach me! I am lost; O merciful God, save me; etc. See the notes on Psa 96:1-13 (note) and Psalm 105 (note).

Zadok the priest - Both Zadok and Abiathar were high priests at this time: the former David established at Gibeah, or Gibeon, where the ark had been all the days of Saul; and the latter he established at Jerusalem, where the ark now was: so there were two high priests, and two distinct services; but there was only one ark. How long the service at Gibeon was continued we cannot tell; the principal functions were no doubt performed at Jerusalem.

Musical instruments of God - Ad canendum Deo, "to sing to God." - Vulgate. Των ωδων του Θεου, "of the sons of God." - Septuagint. The Syriac is remarkable: "These were upright men who did not sing unto God with instruments of music, nor with drums, nor with listra, nor with straight nor crooked pipes, nor with cymbals; but they sang before the Lord Almighty with a joyous mouth, and with a pure and holy prayer, and with innocence and integrity." The Arabic is nearly the same. None of the versions understand the words כלי שיר האלהים keley shir haelohim as implying instruments of music of God, but instruments employed in the song of God, or to praise God; as also the Targum. Query, Did God ever ordain instruments of music to be used in his worship? Can they be used in Christian assemblies according to the spirit of Christianity? Has Jesus Christ, or his apostles, ever commanded or sanctioned the use of them? Were they ever used any where in the apostolic Church? Does the use of them at present, in Christian congregations, ever increase the spirit of devotion? Does it ever appear that bands of musicians, either in their collective or individual capacity, are more spiritual, or as spiritual, as the other parts of the Church of Christ? Is there less pride, self-will, stubbornness, insubordination, lightness, and frivolity, among such persons, than among the other professors of Christianity found in the same religious society? Is it ever remarked or known that musicians in the house of God have attained to any depth of piety, or superior soundness of understanding, in the things of God? Is it ever found that those Churches and Christian societies which have and use instruments of music in Divine worship are more holy, or as holy, as those societies which do not use them? And is it always found that the ministers which affect and recommend them to be used in the worship of Almighty God, are the most spiritual men, and the most spiritual and useful preachers? Can mere sounds, no matter how melodious, where no word nor sentiment is or can be uttered, be considered as giving praise to God? Is it possible that pipes or strings of any kind can give God praise? Can God be pleased with sounds which are emitted by no sentient being, and have in themselves no meaning? If these questions cannot be answered in the affirmative: then, query, Is not the introduction of such instruments into the worship of God antichristian, and calculated to debase and ultimately ruin the spirit and influence of the Gospel of Jesus Christ? And should not all who wish well to the spread and establishment of pure and undefiled religion, lift up their hand, their influence, and their voice against them? The argument from their use in the Jewish service is futile in the extreme when applied to Christianity.

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