TRV
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Commentary on 1 Chronicles 16 verses 7–36
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 beginning to Ch1 16:23 is taken from Psa 105:1, etc.; and then Ch1 16:23 is the whole 96th psalm, with little variation; Ch1 16:34 is taken from Psa 136:1 and divers others; and then the last two verses are taken from the close of Ps. 106), 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 (Ch1 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, Ch1 16:8), by our songs (Sing psalms unto him), by our discourse - Talk of all his wondrous works, Ch1 16:9. Let us glorify him as a great God, and greatly to be praised (Ch1 16:25), as supreme God (above all gods), as sole God, for all others are idols, Ch1 16:26. Let us glorify him as most bright and blessed in himself (Glory and honour are in his presence, Ch1 16:27), as creator (The Lord made the heavens), as the ruler of the whole creation (His judgments are in all the earth, Ch1 16:14), and as ours - He is the Lord our God. Thus must we give unto the Lord the glory due to his name (Ch1 16:28, Ch1 16:29), and own it, and much more, his due. 2. Let other be edified and instructed: Make known his deeds among the people (Ch1 16:8), declare his glory among the heathen (Ch1 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, Ch1 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 (Ch1 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 (Ch1 16:15): Be mindful of his covenant. In the parallel place it is, He will be ever mindful of it, Psa 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 (Ch1 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, Kg1 19:16; Isa 61:1); therefore, if any touch them, they touch the apple of God's eye; if any harm them, it is at their peril, Ch1 16:19-22. 6. Let the great salvation of the Lord be especially the subject of our praises (Ch1 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 (Heb 13:15), and worship him in the beauty of holiness, in the holy places and in a holy manner, Ch1 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, Ch1 16:30, Ch1 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, Ch1 16:32, Ch1 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 (Ch1 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 (Ch1 16:8), Give thanks to the Lord; he concludes (Ch1 16:36), Blessed be the Lord. And whereas in the place whence this doxology is taken (Psa 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, Sa1 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, Psa 69:31, Psa 69:32.
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SUMMARY
1 Chronicles 16:20 is a poignant verse embedded within King David's great psalm of thanksgiving, recited when the Ark of the Covenant was brought to Jerusalem. This verse, also found in Psalm 105:13, encapsulates God's unwavering and miraculous protection over His chosen people, the patriarchs and their immediate descendants, during their vulnerable, nomadic existence before their settlement in the Promised Land. It highlights the extensive and often perilous journeys through diverse foreign territories, emphasizing God's sovereign hand in preserving His covenant people against all odds.
CONTEXT
EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
Key Word Analysis
Verse Breakdown
Literary Devices
The primary literary device employed in 1 Chronicles 16:20 is Parallelism, specifically Synonymous Parallelism. The phrases "from nation to nation" and "from one kingdom to another people" convey essentially the same idea of extensive, wide-ranging travel through foreign lands, but they do so using different, yet related, terms ("nation" and "kingdom," "nation" and "people"). This repetition serves to create Emphasis, underscoring the vastness of the patriarchs' journeys and the sheer number of distinct entities they encountered. The cumulative effect is to magnify the remarkable nature of God's protection, which extended across such diverse and potentially dangerous territories. It also highlights the Vulnerability of the patriarchs, who, as a small, unestablished group, were constantly moving through the domains of others, making God's consistent preservation all the more miraculous.
THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
1 Chronicles 16:20 serves as a powerful theological anchor, reminding God's people, both ancient and modern, of His unwavering commitment to His covenant and His providential care. It affirms that God's faithfulness is not contingent upon human strength, stability, or political standing, but is rooted in His own character and sovereign power. The historical recounting of the patriarchs' journey illustrates that even in their most vulnerable and transient states, God was actively involved, protecting and guiding them. This foundational truth assures believers that God remains intimately concerned with the well-being of His people, overseeing their journeys through life's diverse "nations and kingdoms," ensuring His ultimate purposes for them are fulfilled. It underscores the theme of divine election and the security found in being "His anointed ones," whom no one can touch without divine consequence.
REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
1 Chronicles 16:20 offers profound encouragement for believers navigating the complexities of modern life. Our lives, much like the patriarchs', are often a journey, marked by transitions, uncertainties, and encounters with environments that may feel foreign, challenging, or even hostile. This verse reminds us that just as God meticulously protected Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob during their vulnerable wanderings through diverse nations and kingdoms, He promises His unfailing presence and protection to His people today. It calls us to cultivate a deep trust in God's active providence, knowing that He is sovereign over every circumstance—whether we are moving through professional changes, relational shifts, or spiritual battles. Our security is not found in our own stability or control, but in the steadfastness of the One who "touches not His anointed ones." This should inspire us to live with courage and faith, confident that God is with us in every "nation" and "kingdom" of our lives, guiding us toward His ultimate purposes.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
Who are "they" referring to in this verse?
Answer: "They" refers to the patriarchs of Israel—Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob—and their immediate families and descendants, as they journeyed through various lands before the nation of Israel was established in Canaan. This period is extensively documented in the book of Genesis, which recounts their nomadic lifestyle, their encounters with different peoples and rulers, and God's consistent protection over them. For example, Genesis 12 describes Abraham's initial call to leave his homeland and sojourn in Canaan, while later chapters detail Jacob's travels and the descent of his family into Egypt (Genesis 46).
Why is this verse repeated in both 1 Chronicles and Psalms?
Answer: This verse, along with a larger section of 1 Chronicles 16:8-22, is almost identical to Psalm 105:1-15. This repetition highlights the significance of the message. The Chronicler, writing after the Babylonian exile, emphasized God's faithfulness to His covenant people through history, encouraging a discouraged post-exilic community. By incorporating this psalm into the narrative of the Ark's return to Jerusalem, David's act of worship becomes a timeless declaration of God's enduring care. The repetition in Psalm 105 reinforces its role as a historical psalm, recounting God's mighty deeds and covenant faithfulness to Israel, intended for worship and remembrance across generations. Both books use this text to underscore God's unwavering commitment to His people despite their vulnerabilities.
CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The divine protection afforded to the patriarchs as they journeyed "from nation to nation, and from one kingdom to another people" finds its ultimate and most profound fulfillment in Jesus Christ. The Old Testament narrative of God safeguarding a vulnerable, wandering people foreshadows Christ as the ultimate Protector and Shepherd of His new covenant community. Just as God preserved the physical lineage through which the Messiah would come, Christ now preserves His spiritual lineage, the Church, against all the powers of this world. He is the one who declares, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me" (Matthew 28:18), asserting His sovereignty over all "nations" and "kingdoms." The precarious journey of the patriarchs, seeking a promised land, culminates in Christ, who is our true rest and eternal inheritance (Hebrews 4:9-10). He is the Good Shepherd who lays down His life for His sheep and ensures that "no one will snatch them out of my hand" (John 10:28). The divine protection promised to "My anointed ones" in 1 Chronicles 16:22 finds its fullest expression in Christ, the Anointed One (Messiah), and in those who are "in Christ," who are now co-heirs with Him (Romans 8:17) and part of His indestructible kingdom (Colossians 1:13). Thus, the historical account of God's faithfulness becomes a vibrant testament to the enduring, protective love of God revealed supremely in His Son.