A Call to Worship. (1 Chronicles Chapter 16)

To purchase my latest daily Devotion Book on Amazon, Audible, or Kindle visit: The Book of Genesis.: A Daily Devotional Bible Study through the Book of Genesis (The Daily Devotional Bible Study Series): Amazon.co.uk: McCandless, Mr Jeremy R: 9798243943468: Books

This Podcast is part of a 10-year project to complete an in-depth, daily study of the entire Bible, chapter by chapter, verse by verse. 

Episode Notes:

In our last episode, we watched David dance before the Lord, and we saw Michal, his wife, despise him for it. We also learned that devotion to God is not always applauded. Sometimes it is misunderstood. Sometimes it is mocked, and sometimes it is despised. But here’s the beautiful truth: Even when devotion is despised by others, worship must continue.

 And that brings us to 1 Chronicles 16, one of the most joyful, worship‑filled chapters in the entire Old Testament. If chapter 15 was about bringing the Ark to Jerusalem, chapter 16 is about what happens once it arrives.

 This chapter is a call to worship, not just for David, not just for Israel, but for us.

 Because worship is not a reaction to circumstances, and worship is not dependent on approval. Worship is not shaped by the opinions of others.  Worship is the natural overflow of a heart that knows who God is and what God has done

 This chapter shows us what worship looks like when God is at the center. It shows us how worship can shape a community. It shows us how worship strengthens a believer, and it shows us how worship becomes a witness to the world.

Transcript

A Call to Worship. (1 Chronicles Chapter 16).

 Transcript: 

In our last episode, we watched David dance before the Lord, and we saw Michal, his wife, despise him for it. We also learned that devotion to God is not always applauded. Sometimes it is misunderstood. Sometimes it is mocked, and sometimes it is despised.

But here’s the beautiful truth: Even when devotion is despised by others, worship must continue.

And that brings us to 1 Chronicles 16, one of the most joyful, worship‑filled chapters in the entire Old Testament. If chapter 15 was about bringing the Ark to Jerusalem, chapter 16 is about what happens once it arrives.

This chapter is a call to worship, not just for David, not just for Israel, but for us.

Because worship is not a reaction to circumstances, and worship is not dependent on approval. Worship is not shaped by the opinions of others.

Worship is the natural overflow of a heart that knows who God is and what God has done.

In 1 Chronicles 16:

David appoints singers and musicians.

He establishes ongoing worship in Jerusalem.

He offers sacrifices of thanksgiving.

He delivers a psalm, a rich, beautiful, sweeping call to praise that blends together themes from the Psalms and becomes a model for worship across generations.

This chapter shows us what worship looks like when God is at the center.

It shows us how worship can shape a community. It shows us how worship strengthens a believer, and it shows us how worship becomes a witness to the world.

If you’ve ever wondered how I should worship when life is difficult? Or how do I worship when others don’t understand my devotion? 

How do I cultivate a heart of praise in a world that pulls me in every direction?

Then 1 Chronicles 16 has something powerful to teach you….

So, a call has gone out to praise the Lord…... But.

Who made the call?

To whom was the call made?

Why is the Lord to be praised?

And when is He to be praised?

All of those questions are answered for us in 1 Chronicles 16.

So, turn with me to that passage as we look at a section of Scripture that could easily be titled “A Call to Praise.”

The Ark is installed in Jerusalem (vv. 1–3)

1 They brought the ark of God and set it inside the tent that David had pitched for it, and they presented burnt offerings and fellowship offerings before God. 2 After David had finished sacrificing the burnt offerings and fellowship offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the Lord. 3 Then he gave a loaf of bread, a cake of dates and a cake of raisins to each Israelite man and woman.

In the previous chapter, David brought the Ark of the Covenant back to Jerusalem. Now, in this opening verse, the Ark is finally installed in the tent David prepared for it.

As soon as the Ark is placed in the tent, sacrifices are offered, burnt offerings and peace offerings. Worship begins immediately. Then, after the sacrifices, David blesses the people. He prays for them. He commends them to the grace of God.

David personalizes God’s blessing by giving every participant bread, meat, and fruit, symbols of fruitfulness and God’s provision. This is a national celebration of God’s presence.

Daily Worship Established (vv. 4–7)

Verse 4:

4 He appointed some of the Levites to minister before the ark of the Lord, to extol, thank, and praise the Lord, the God of Israel: 5 Asaph was the chief, and next to him in rank were Zechariah, then Jaaziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Mattithiah, Eliab, Benaiah, Obed-Edom and Jeiel. They were to play the lyres and harps; Asaph was to sound the cymbals, 6 and Benaiah and Jahaziel the priests were to blow the trumpets regularly before the ark of the covenant of God.

7 That day David first appointed Asaph and his associates to give praise to the Lord in this manner:

David ensures that thanksgiving and rejoicing will not be occasional, but daily. He appoints Levites to commemorate and give thanks. To d praise the Lord with instruments and voices.

This marks the beginning of something remarkable. David composes a psalm, a psalm that becomes a picture drawn from several other psalms.

In fact, 1 Chronicles 16:8–36 is a mosaic of Psalm 105:1–15 (vv. 8–22), Psalm 96:1–13 (vv. 23–33) and Psalm 106:1, 47–48 (vv. 34–36)

One author calls this section “a melody of psalms.”

The psalm has two movements:

Verses 8–22 — addressed to Israel

Verses 23–34 — addressed to all nations

Followed by Verses 35–36 — a closing doxology

It expresses the hopes and thoughts of the Israelites, especially the returned exiles, and stresses that Israel’s worship was meant to lead the nations to salvation so that they too could worship the Lord.

A Call for Israel to Praise the Lord (vv. 8–13)

Beginning in verse 8, the psalm opens with a call for Israel to praise the Lord:

Verse 8: “Oh, give thanks to the Lord! Call upon His name; make known His deeds among the peoples.”

Verse 9: “Sing to Him, sing psalms to Him; talk of all His wondrous works.”

Verse 10: “Glory in His holy name; let the hearts of those rejoice who seek the Lord.”

Verse 11: “Seek the Lord and His strength; seek His face evermore.”

Verse 12: “Remember His marvelous works which He has done, His wonders, and the judgments of His mouth.”

This is a sweeping invitation to give thanks and make known His deeds

Sing to Him.

Speak of His works.

Glory in His name.

Rejoice in Him.

Seek Him.

Remember Him.

Verse 13 makes the audience clear: “O seed of Israel His servant, you children of Jacob, His chosen ones!”

So, this section, verses 8 through 13 and is a call for Israel to praise the Lord.

The Greatness of Israel’s God (vv. 14–19)

Verse 14: “He is the Lord our God; His judgments are in all the earth.”

After calling Israel to worship, the psalm turns to extolling God’s greatness. He is Israel’s God, but His judgments reach the whole earth.

Verse 15: “Remember His covenant forever, the word which He commanded for a thousand generations.”

Israel is urged to remember God’s covenant — the everlasting covenant He made with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

Verses 16–17: “The covenant which He made with Abraham, and His oath to Isaac, and confirmed it to Jacob… saying, ‘To you I will give the land of Canaan as the allotment of your inheritance.’”

This is still part of the call to praise. Israel is to worship the Lord because He is faithful to His covenant — faithful to His promises — faithful to His people.

Verse 18-19: “To you I will give the land of Canaan as the portion you will inherit.” When they were but few in number, few indeed, and strangers in it.

The psalm reminds Israel of their humble beginnings, few in number, wandering from nation to nation, sustained only by God’s faithfulness.

The Israelites are to remember this everlasting covenant, the covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, especially during the days when they were few in number and strangers in the land. That’s verse 19.

This takes us back to patriarchal times, when Jacob went down to Egypt, and his entire extended family numbered only about seventy people. They were small, vulnerable, and often living among foreign peoples — Egyptians, Philistines, Hittites, and others.

Verse 20: “When they went from one nation to another, and from one kingdom to another people…”

This describes the wandering days of the patriarchs, moving through Canaan, dwelling temporarily among other nations, and yet always under God’s watchful care.

Praise God for His Greatness. (vv. 14–20)

These verses, addressed to Israel, call the nation to praise God for His greatness:

He is their God and His judgments reach all the earth (v. 14).

His covenant is everlasting (v. 15).

His promises to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob are unchanging (vv. 16–18).

His care for His people is constant, even when they were few and wandering (vv. 19–20).

But beginning in verse 21, the psalm turns from God’s greatness to God’s grace.

He allowed no one to oppress them; for their sake he rebuked kings: “Do not touch my anointed ones; do my prophets no harm.”

God protected the patriarchs. He rebuked kings on their behalf, and He shielded His chosen ones from harm.

This is God’s unmerited favour, His grace toward Israel’s forefathers.

Now the psalm turns a corner.

Verse 23: “Sing to the Lord, all the earth.”

Not just Israel — all the earth. This is unmistakable. The call to worship now expands from Israel to the nations.

Verse 23 continues: “Proclaim the good news of His salvation from day to day.” “Declare His glory among the nations.” “His wonders among all peoples.”

Why?

Verse 25: “For the Lord is great and greatly to be praised; He is to be feared above all gods.”

All the gods of the nations are idols, man‑made, powerless, empty.

But the Lord made the heavens.

This section emphasizes God’s superiority over idols as well as God’s creative power and universal worthiness of worship

Verse 27: “Honor and majesty are before Him; strength and gladness are in His place.”

Where God is, there is majesty.

Where God is, there is strength.

Where God is, there is gladness.

Verse 28: “Give to the Lord, O families of the peoples, give to the Lord glory and strength.”

Verse 29: “Give to the Lord the glory due His name; bring an offering, and come before Him. Oh, worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness.”

All the families of the earth, every nation, every people are invited to worship the Lord in holiness.

Verse 30: “Tremble before Him, all the earth.”

But, why tremble?

Because He has firmly established the world. It will not be moved.

He reigns.

Verse 31: “Let the heavens rejoice and let the earth be glad; and let them say among the nations, ‘The Lord reigns.’”

This is worship that spreads — from Israel to the nations, to all creation.

Creation then joins in on the Chorus (vv. 32–33)

“Let the sea roar, and all its fullness; let the field rejoice, and all that is in it.” “Then the trees of the woods shall rejoice before the Lord, for He is coming to judge the earth.”

Now creation itself is invited to worship. The sea roars, the fields rejoice, and the trees sing

Why?

Because the Lord is coming, coming to judge, coming to save, coming to reign.

This psalm theme has moved outward like ripples:

Israel (vv. 8–22)

All nations (vv. 23–31)

All creation (vv. 32–33)

Everything God made is invited to worship Him.

The Psalm then concludes: (v 34) “Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever.” 

The psalm ends the way it began — with thanksgiving.

Verse 35: “Save us, O God of our salvation; gather us together and deliver us from the Gentiles, to give thanks to Your holy name, to triumph in Your praise.”

Israel asks for deliverance, not merely for safety, but so they may give thanks and praise His name.

Verse 36: “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel from everlasting to everlasting!”

And all the people said…. “Amen!”   and “Praise the Lord!”

“Amen” means true, firm, we agree, we believe. It is the people’s affirmation of everything the psalm declares.

Summary of the Chapter So Far.

So, we’ve seen two major movements:

1.     David installs the Ark in Jerusalem (vv. 1–7)

2.     David introduces a psalm — a melody of psalms — calling Israel, the nations, and creation to worship (vv. 8–36)

Now, in the final section of the chapter, David turns from worship to work, appointing the ministers who will lead Israel in ongoing praise.

Verse 37 tells us: “So he left Asaph and his brethren there before the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord to minister before the Ark regularly, as every day’s work required.”

The Ark is now in Jerusalem, and David ensures that the daily services prescribed in the Mosaic Law will continue every day, without interruption.

David allowed the sanctuary at Gibeon to remain active. He provided for worship and sacrifices to continue there as well. In other words, David made sure that worship was happening both in Jerusalem, where the Ark was located, and at Gibeon, where the altar of burnt offerings remained.

This final section of the chapter lists the various workers who served the Lord in both locations.

Verse 38 mentions Obed‑Edom and his sixty‑eight brethren — gatekeepers and ministers of the Ark. These were the men responsible for guarding the entrance, protecting the sacred space, and ensuring the Ark was treated with reverence.

Verse 39 speaks of the priests who served at the high place in Gibeon. Throughout Israel’s history, the Ark symbolized God’s grace, and the altar symbolized the human response to that grace. 

Normally, Ark and altar were together, but during Saul’s reign, they were separated. David now makes provision to be served faithfully.

Verse 40: “To offer burnt offerings to the Lord on the altar of burnt offering regularly, morning and evening, and to do according to all that is written in the Law of the Lord…”

David designates specific men to carry out these responsibilities, morning and evening sacrifices, as commanded in the Mosaic Law.

Verse 42 mentions the musicians — those who sounded the trumpets, cymbals, and other instruments of God. These were the men who ensured that worship was not only obedient, but joyful.

S, this final portion of the chapter simply tells us that David appointed

Ministers, gatekeepers, priests, musicians, and servants to maintain worship at both the Ark in Jerusalem and the tabernacle at Gibeon.

Verse 43 concludes: “Then all the people departed, every man to his house; and David returned to bless his house.”

After the ceremony, the people return home. David returns to his house — and blesses it.

It’s a long chapter, forty‑three verses, but its message is simple and beautiful:

David installed the Ark in Jerusalem.

David composed a psalm calling Israel, the nations, and creation to praise the Lord.

David appointed workers to ensure perpetual worship — daily, faithful, joyful worship.

Chapters 13 through 16 remind us that the presence of the Lord is what is essential. Ritual matters, but only as a means to an end. Worship must be God‑centered, not man‑centered. And worship must be offered as God prescribes.

This passage highlights that all should praise the Lord. Israel, all nations, and even creation itself…. And that includes me. That includes you.

We praise Him for His greatness.

We praise Him for His goodness.

We praise Him for His grace.

David made provision to do that according to the Mosaic Law. And we, under the freedom of the New Covenant, may do that all day, every day, wherever we are.

Praise the Lord for His greatness, His goodness, and His grace.

Outro:

Looking ahead tomorrow in 1 Chronicles 17, we will ask, “What Is Our Role as Believers?”

In 1 Chronicles 17, the focus shifts from worship to calling, from praising the Lord to understanding our role as His people.

It is one of the most important chapters in the entire book.

It contains the Davidic Covenant, God’s promise to David that shapes the entire story of Scripture. And it invites us to ask some deeply personal questions:

What is my role as a Christian believer?

What does God expect of me?

How do I live in light of His promises?

Next time, we’ll explore those questions together in an episode titled:

“What Is Our Role as Believers?”

1 Chronicles 17 — The Call of God’s People

I hope you’ll join me for that journey.

Until then, may your heart be filled with worship, your life be marked by praise, and your days be lived in the presence of the Lord.