Verse-by-Verse Bible Commentary
1 Chronicles 16:17

Bridgeway Bible Commentary

A psalm of thanksgiving (16:8-36)

The Chronicler records a psalm that was sung in celebration of the ark’s arrival in Jerusalem. It was typical of the psalms sung on such great national occasions. It began with a call to God’s covenant people to worship him in praise for his faithfulness to the covenant he made with Abraham (8-13). This covenant was the work of God alone. Out of all the nations of the earth he chose Abraham, promising to make his descendants into a nation and to give them Canaan for a national homeland (14-18). In the early days, when they were few in number, Abraham’s descendants could easily have been wiped out by hostile neighbours, but God miraculously preserved them (19-22).

In view of all he had done for them, God’s people were urged to praise him and to proclaim his mighty acts to others. People could never really know other gods, for those gods were lifeless, but they could know the only true God, both through the created universe and through the public worship of the sanctuary (23-27). Therefore, the peoples of the world were urged to bring God worship and sacrificial offerings (28-30), and the physical creation was urged to bring him praise (31-34). His unfailing mercy was the Israelites’ assurance that they could always depend on him to save them (35-36). (The above psalm is not in Samuel; the two psalms of 2 Samuel 22:1-7 are not in Chronicles.)

Coffman's Commentaries on the Bible

The Model Psalm Delivered by David to Asaph:

“O give thanks unto Jehovah, call upon his name; Make known his doings among the peoples. Sing unto him, sing praises unto him; Talk ye of all his marvelous works. Glory be in his holy name; Let the heart of them rejoice that seeketh Jehovah. Seek ye Jehovah and his strength; Seek his face evermore. Remember his marvelous works that he hath done, His wonders, and the judgments of his mouth, O ye seed of Israel his servant, Ye children of Jacob, his chosen ones. He is Jehovah our God; His judgments are in all the earth. Remember his covenant forever, The word which he commanded to a thousand generations, The covenant which he made with Abraham, And his oaths unto Isaac, And confirmed the same unto Jacob for a statute, To Israel for an everlasting covenant, Saying, Unto thee I give the land of Canaan, The lot of your inheritance; When ye were but a few men in number, Yea, very few, and sojourners in it: And they went about from nation to nation, And from one kingdom to another people. He suffered no man to do them wrong;
Yea, he reproved kings for their sakes, Saying, Touch not mine anointed ones, And do my prophets no harm. Sing unto Jehovah, all the earth; Show forth his salvation from day to day. Declare his glory among the nations, His marvelous works among all the peoples. For great is Jehovah, and greatly to be praised: He also is to be feared above all gods, For all the gods of the peoples are idols: But Jehovah made the heavens. Honor and majesty are before him: Strength and gladness are in his place. Ascribe unto Jehovah, ye kindred of the peoples, Ascribe unto Jehovah glory and strength; Ascribe unto Jehovah the glory due unto his name: Bring an offering, and come before him; Worship Jehovah in holy array. Tremble before him, all the earth: The world also is established that it cannot be moved. Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice; And let them say among the nations, Jehovah reigneth. Let the sea roar, and the fullness thereof; Let the fields exult, and all that is therein; Then let the trees of the wood sing for joy before Jehovah; For he cometh to judge the earth. O give thanks unto Jehovah; for he is good; For his lovingkindness endureth forever. And say ye, Save us, O God of our salvation, And gather us together and deliver us from the nations, To give thanks unto thy holy name, And to triumph in thy praise. Blessed be Jehovah, the God of Israel, from everlasting even to everlasting. And all the people said, Amen, and praised Jehovah.”

1 Chronicles 16:8-22 corresponds almost exactly with Psalms 105:1-15; and our comments are found on pages 255-259 of my commentary on Psalms 2.

1 Chronicles 16:23-33 correspond almost exactly with Psalms 96 in its entirety. Our full comments on that Psalm are in Psalms 2. See pp. 193-200.

The concluding verses of the Model Psalm are found in Psalms 106:1; Psalms 106:47-48. Our comments on Psalms 106 are found in my commentary on Psalms, Vol. 2, pp. 267-279.

Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible

This passage is interposed by the writer of Chronicles between two sentences of the parallel passage in Samuel. It contains a detailed account of the service which David instituted at this time, a service out of which grew the more elaborate service of the temple. The language of much of the passage is remarkably archaic, and there can be no reasonable doubt that it is in the main an extract from a record of the time of David.

1 Chronicles 16:5

The occurrence of the name “Jeiel” twice in this list is considered suspicious. Hence, the first “Jeiel” is thought to be a corrupt reading for “Aziel” 1 Chronicles 15:20, or “Jaaziel” 1 Chronicles 15:18.

1 Chronicles 16:8

The Psalm here put before us by the Chronicler, as sung liturgically by Asaph and his brethren on the day of the ark’s entrance into Jerusalem, accords closely with the passages in the present Book of Psalms noted in the marg reff.

It is, apparently, a thanksgiving service composed for the occasion out of Psalms previously existing.

1 Chronicles 16:39

This is the first mention that we have of Gibeon as the place at which the tabernacle of the congregation now rested. Previously it had been at Nob 1 Samuel 21:1-6, from where it was removed probably at the time of the slaughter of the priests by Doeg 1 Samuel 22:18-19. It is uncertain whether Gibeon was regarded as a “high place” before the transfer to it of the tabernacle: hut thenceforth, until the completion of Solomon’s Temple, it was the “great high place” 1 Kings 3:4 - a second center of the national worship which for above 50 years was divided between Gibeon and Jerusalem.

1 Chronicles 16:40

Upon the altar of the burnt offering - The original altar of burnt-offering Exodus 27:1-8 continued at Gibeon with the tabernacle 2 Chronicles 1:3, 2 Chronicles 1:5. David must have erected a new altar for sacrifice at Jerusalem 1 Chronicles 16:1. The sacrifices commanded by the Law were, it appears, offered at the former place; at the latter were offered voluntary additional sacrifices.

1 Chronicles 16:41

The rest ... - Rather, “the rest of the chosen ones, who were mentioned by name.” The “chosen ones” were “mentioned by name” in 1 Chronicles 15:17-24. A portion of them, namely, those named in 1 Chronicles 16:5-6, conducted the service in Jerusalem; the remainder were employed in the worship at Gibeon.

Smith's Bible Commentary

Chapter 16

In chapter sixteen,

They brought the ark of the covenant, and they set it in the midst of the tent, the tabernacle that David had pitched for it: and they offered the burnt sacrifices and the peace offerings before God ( 1 Chronicles 16:1 ).

And then David ordered a choir.

And he appointed certain of the Levites to minister before the ark of the LORD, and to record ( 1 Chronicles 16:4 ),

Now that idea of recording was for remembrances. To record the things that God had done so that the people could remember the glorious works of God. And so part of the Psalms are psalms of remembrance. Psalms 38:1-22 and Psalms 70:1-5 , you'll read the titles above the psalms: the psalm of David for remembrance. These are the... what they call the recording psalms or the record psalms. To make a record of what God had done to bring the people into remembrance. And then some of the psalms were those of thanksgiving, giving thanks unto the Lord, and then other psalms of just praise to the Lord God of Israel.

Now Asaph was the chief musician appointed by David, and next to him, Zechariah and these other fellows.

And Asaph made a sound with cymbals ( 1 Chronicles 16:5 );

They played, of course, a psaltery; whatever type of instrument that was. And with harps; whatever a harp was in those days.

Now on that day David delivered first this psalm to thank the LORD into the hand of Asaph and his brethren ( 1 Chronicles 16:7 ).

So David gave him the lyrics, and these guys started singing and worshipping the Lord with this song or psalm.

Give thanks unto the LORD, call upon his name, make known his deeds among the people. Sing unto him, sing psalms unto him, talk ye of all his wondrous works. Glory ye in his holy name: let the heart of them rejoice that seek the LORD. Seek the LORD and his strength, seek his face continually. Remember his marvellous works that he hath done, his wonders, and the judgments of his mouth; O ye seed of Israel his servant, ye children of Jacob, his chosen ones. He is the LORD our God; his judgments are in all the earth. Be ye mindful always of his covenant; the word which he commanded to a thousand generations; even of the covenant which he made with Abraham, and of his oath unto Isaac; and hath confirmed the same to Jacob for a law, and to Israel for an everlasting covenant, saying, Unto thee will I give the land of Canaan, the lot of your inheritance; and when ye were but few, even a few, and strangers in it. And when you were from went from nation to nation, and from one kingdom to another people; he did not allow any man to do you wrong: yea, he reproved the kings for their sakes, saying, Touch not mine anointed, and do my prophets no harm. Sing unto the LORD, all the earth; shew forth from day to day his salvation. Declare his glory among the heathen; his marvellous works among all nations. For great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised: he also is to be reverenced above all gods. For all the gods of the people are idols: but the LORD hath made the heavens. Glory and honor are in his presence; strength and gladness are in his place. Give unto the LORD, ye kindreds of the people, give unto the LORD glory and strength. Give unto the LORD the glory that is due his name: bring an offering, and come before him: worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness. Fear before him, all the earth: and the world also shall be stable, that it be not moved. Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice: and let the men say among the nations, The LORD reigneth. Let the sea roar, and the fulness thereof: and let the fields rejoice, and all that is therein. And then shall the trees of the wood sing out in the presence of the LORD, because he cometh to judge the earth. O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever. And say ye, Hosanna, O God of our salvation, and gather us together, and deliver us from the heathen, that we may give thanks to thy holy name, and glory in thy praise. Blessed be the LORD God of Israel for ever and ever. And all of the people said, Amen, and they praised the LORD ( 1 Chronicles 16:8-36 ).

So glorious psalm of thanksgiving and praise that David gave. The first that was sung in the establishing of the worship for the children of Israel as once again they built the tabernacle, brought the ark of the covenant, and began to establish the worship of God once more as the heart of the nation. And so David then appointed Asaph and his brethren to minister before the ark continually, as every day's work required.

And the people departed to every man: and David returned to bless his house ( 1 Chronicles 16:43 ).

You know, after this glorious time of praise and worship and all. And then David in chapter seventeen expresses his desire to build a house of God. "

Dr. Constable's Expository Notes

5. David’s concern for the universal worship of Yahweh 16:7-43

This hymn (1 Chronicles 16:8-36) was probably one of many that the people sang on this occasion. It expressed the hopes and thoughts of the Israelites assembled that the returned exiles needed to emulate. This thanksgiving song is a medley of several psalms (Psalms 96:1-13; Psalms 105:1-15; Psalms 106:1; Psalms 106:47-48). It stresses that the intended result of Israel’s worship was the salvation of the nations so that they, too, might come and worship Yahweh (cf. Exodus 19:5-6; Isaiah 42:6; Zechariah 2:10-11).

The hymn began with a call to worship that embraced the nations (1 Chronicles 16:8-13; cf. Isaiah 12:4). Then the people extolled God’s greatness and glory (1 Chronicles 16:14-22). They stressed God’s unmerited favor toward Israel’s patriarchs in this section. Another call to worship (1 Chronicles 16:23-24) led to another section of praise that emphasizes Yahweh’s superiority over the nations’ gods (1 Chronicles 16:25-26) and His creative power (1 Chronicles 16:27-30). The final part of the hymn called on all people to turn to Yahweh in trust and obedience in view of His coming to judge and save (1 Chronicles 16:31-36). Throughout this hymn the emphasis rests on God’s deeds, God’s words, God’s greatness, and God’s worth.

David let the sanctuary remain at Gibeon and provided for worship and sacrifice to continue there (1 Chronicles 16:39-40). He appointed Zadok as the priest in charge of that tabernacle. Throughout Israel’s history, the ark was a symbol of God’s grace and the altar was a symbol of human response to that grace. Normally they were together, but in Saul’s day they were separate. [Note: See Wilcock, p. 73.] The ark was in Philistia, Bethshemesh, or Kiriath-jearim, and the tabernacle was at Shiloh or Gibeon.

Chapters 13-16 help the reader focus on the presence of God as what is essential, rather than on ritual that, though important, is only a means to an end. Worship is appropriate in view of who God is, but for worship to be acceptable, God’s people must worship Him as He has prescribed. Furthermore, worship must be God-centered rather than man-centered.

Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

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Henry's Complete Commentary on the Bible

      7 Then on that day David delivered first this psalm to thank the LORD into the hand of Asaph and his brethren.   8 Give thanks unto the LORD, call upon his name, make known his deeds among the people.   9 Sing unto him, sing psalms unto him, talk ye of all his wondrous works.   10 Glory ye in his holy name: let the heart of them rejoice that seek the LORD.   11 Seek the LORD and his strength, seek his face continually.   12 Remember his marvellous works that he hath done, his wonders, and the judgments of his mouth;   13 O ye seed of Israel his servant, ye children of Jacob, his chosen ones.   14 He is the LORD our God; his judgments are in all the earth.   15 Be ye mindful always of his covenant; the word which he commanded to a thousand generations;   16 Even of the covenant which he made with Abraham, and of his oath unto Isaac;   17 And hath confirmed the same to Jacob for a law, and to Israel for an everlasting covenant,   18 Saying, Unto thee will I give the land of Canaan, the lot of your inheritance;   19 When ye were but few, even a few, and strangers in it.   20 And when they went from nation to nation, and from one kingdom to another people;   21 He suffered no man to do them wrong: yea, he reproved kings for their sakes,   22 Saying, Touch not mine anointed, and do my prophets no harm.   23 Sing unto the LORD, all the earth; shew forth from day to day his salvation.   24 Declare his glory among the heathen; his marvellous works among all nations.   25 For great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised: he also is to be feared above all gods.   26 For all the gods of the people are idols: but the LORD made the heavens.   27 Glory and honour are in his presence; strength and gladness are in his place.   28 Give unto the LORD, ye kindreds of the people, give unto the LORD glory and strength.   29 Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name: bring an offering, and come before him: worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness.   30 Fear before him, all the earth: the world also shall be stable, that it be not moved.   31 Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice: and let men say among the nations, The LORD reigneth.   32 Let the sea roar, and the fulness thereof: let the fields rejoice, and all that is therein.   33 Then shall the trees of the wood sing out at the presence of the LORD, because he cometh to judge the earth.   34 O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever.   35 And say ye, Save us, O God of our salvation, and gather us together, and deliver us from the heathen, that we may give thanks to thy holy name, and glory in thy praise.   36 Blessed be the LORD God of Israel for ever and ever. And all the people said, Amen, and praised the LORD.

      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 1 Chronicles 16:7-23; 1 Chronicles 16:7-231 Chronicles 16:7-23 is taken from Psalms 105:1-15, c. and then 1 Chronicles 16:23-34; 1 Chronicles 16:23-341 Chronicles 16:23-34; 1 Chronicles 16:23-34 is the whole Psalms 96:1-13, with little variation; 1 Chronicles 16:34; 1 Chronicles 16:34 is taken from Psalms 136:1 and divers others; and then the 1 Chronicles 16:35; 1 Chronicles 16:36 are taken from the close of Psalms 106:47; Psalms 106:48), 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 (1 Chronicles 16:7; 1 Chronicles 16:7), a great duty, to which we need to be excited and in which we need to be assisted. 1. Let God be glorified in our praises; let his honour be the centre in which all the lines meet. Let us glorify him by our thanksgivings (Give thanks to the Lord), by our prayers (Call on his name,1 Chronicles 16:8; 1 Chronicles 16:8), by our songs (Sing psalms unto him), by our discourse--Talk of all his wondrous works,1 Chronicles 16:9; 1 Chronicles 16:9. Let us glorify him as a great God, and greatly to be praised (1 Chronicles 16:25; 1 Chronicles 16:25), as supreme God (above all gods), as sole God, for all others are idols, 1 Chronicles 16:26; 1 Chronicles 16:26. Let us glorify him as most bright and blessed in himself (Glory and honour are in his presence,1 Chronicles 16:27; 1 Chronicles 16:27), as creator (The Lord made the heavens), as the ruler of the whole creation (His judgments are in all the earth,1 Chronicles 16:14; 1 Chronicles 16:14), and as ours--He is the Lord our God. Thus must we give unto the Lord the glory due to his name (1 Chronicles 16:28; 1 Chronicles 16:29), and own it, and much more, his due. 2. Let other be edified and instructed: Make known his deeds among the people (1 Chronicles 16:8; 1 Chronicles 16:8), declare his glory among the heathen (1 Chronicles 16:24; 1 Chronicles 16:24), that those who are strangers to him may be led into acquaintance with him, allegiance to him, and the adoration of him. Thus must we serve the interests of his kingdom among men, that all the earth may fear before him,1 Chronicles 16:30; 1 Chronicles 16:30. 3. Let us be ourselves encouraged to triumph and trust in God. Those that give glory to God's name are allowed to glory in it (1 Chronicles 16:10; 1 Chronicles 16:10), to value themselves upon their relation to God and venture themselves upon his promise to them. Let the heart of those rejoice that seek the Lord, much more of those that have found him. Seek him, and his strength, and his face: that is, seek him by the ark of his strength, in which he manifests himself. 4. Let the everlasting covenant be the great matter of our joy and praise (1 Chronicles 16:15; 1 Chronicles 16:15): Be mindful of his covenant. In the parallel place it is, He will be ever mindful of it,Psalms 105:8. Seeing God never will forget it, we never must. The covenant is said to be commanded, because God has obliged us to obey the conditions of it, and because he has both authority to make the promise and ability to make it good. This covenant was ancient, yet never to be forgotten. It was made with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, who were long since dead (1 Chronicles 16:16-18; 1 Chronicles 16:16-18), yet still sure to the spiritual seed, and the promises of it pleadable. 5. Let God's former mercies to his people of old, to our ancestors and our predecessors in profession, be commemorated by us now with thankfulness to his praise. Let it be remembered how God protected the patriarchs in their unsettled condition. When they came strangers to Canaan and were sojourners in it, when they were few and might easily have been swallowed up, when they were continually upon the remove and so exposed, when there were many that bore them ill-will and sought to do them mischief, yet no man was suffered to do them wrong--not the Canaanites, Philistines, Egyptians. Kings were reproved and plagued for their sakes. Pharaoh was so, and Abimelech. They were the anointed of the Lord, sanctified by his grace, sanctified by his glory, and had received the unction of the Spirit. They were his prophets, instructed in the things of God themselves and commissioned to instruct others (and prophets are said to be anointed,1 Kings 19:16; Isaiah 61:1); therefore, if any touch them, they touch the apple of God's eye; if any harm them, it is at their peril, 1 Chronicles 16:19-22; 1 Chronicles 16:19-22. 6. Let the great salvation of the Lord be especially the subject of our praises (1 Chronicles 16:23; 1 Chronicles 16:23): Show forth from day to day his salvation, that is (says bishop Patrick), his promised salvation by Christ. We have reason to celebrate that from day to day; for we daily receive the benefits of it, and it is a subject that can never be exhausted. 7. Let God be praised by a due and constant attendance upon him in the ordinances he has appointed: Bring an offering, then the fruit of the ground, now the fruit of the lips, of the heart (Hebrews 13:15), and worship him in the beauty of holiness, in the holy places and in a holy manner, 1 Chronicles 16:29; 1 Chronicles 16:29. Holiness is the beauty of the Lord, the beauty of all sanctified souls and all religious performances. 8. Let God's universal monarchy be the fear and joy of all people. Let us reverence it: Fear before him, all the earth. And let us rejoice in it: Let the heavens be glad and rejoice, because the Lord reigns, and by his providence establishes the world, so that, though it be moved, it cannot be removed, nor the measures broken which Infinite Wisdom has taken in the government of it, 1 Chronicles 16:30; 1 Chronicles 16:31. 9. Let the prospect of the judgment to come inspire us with an awful pleasure, Let earth and sea, fields and woods, though in the great day of the Lord they will all be consumed, yet rejoice that he will come, doth come, to judge the earth,1 Chronicles 16:32; 1 Chronicles 16:33. 10. In the midst of our praises we must not forget to pray for the succour and relief of those saints and servants of God that are in distress (1 Chronicles 16:35; 1 Chronicles 16:35): Save us, gather us, deliver us from the heathen, those of us that are scattered and oppressed. When we are rejoicing in God's favours to us we must remember our afflicted brethren, and pray for their salvation and deliverance as our own. We are members one of another; and therefore when we mean, "Lord, save them," it is not improper to say, "Lord, save us." Lastly, Let us make God the Alpha and Omega of our praises. David begins with (1 Chronicles 16:8; 1 Chronicles 16:8), Give thanks to the Lord; he concludes (1 Chronicles 16:36; 1 Chronicles 16:36), Blessed be the Lord. And whereas in the place whence this doxology is taken (Psalms 106:48) it is added, Let all the people say, Amen, Hallelujah, here we find they did according to that directory: All the people said, Amen, and praised the Lord. When the Levites had finished this psalm or prayer and praise, then, and not till then, the people that attended signified their consent and concurrence by saying, Amen, And so they praised the Lord, much affected no doubt with this newly instituted way of devotion, which had been hitherto used in the schools of the prophets only, 1 Samuel 10:5. And, if this way of praising God please the Lord better than an ox or a bullock that has horns and hoofs, the humble shall see it and be glad,Psalms 69:31; Psalms 69:32.