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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.
And again, in another prophecy, the Spirit of prophecy, through the same David, intimated that Christ, after He had been crucified, should reign, and spoke as follows: "Sing to the Lord, all the earth, and day by day declare His salvation. For great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised, to be feared above all the gods. For all the gods of the nations are idols of devils; but God made the heavens. Glory and praise are before His face, strength and glorying are in the habitation of His holiness. Give Glory to the Lord, the Father everlasting. Receive grace, and enter His presence, and worship in His holy courts. Let all the earth fear before His face; let it be established, and not shaken. Let them rejoice among the nations. The Lord hath reigned from the tree."
But when the Spirit of prophecy speaks of things that are about to come to pass as if they had already taken place,-as may be observed even in the passages already cited by me,-that this circumstance may afford no excuse to readers [for misinterpreting them], we will make even this also quite plain. The things which He absolutely knows will take place, He predicts as if already they had taken place. And that the utterances must be thus received, you will perceive, if you give your attention to them. The words cited above, David uttered 1500 years before Christ became a man and was crucified; and no one of those who lived before Him, nor yet of His contemporaries, afforded joy to the Gentiles by being crucified. But our Jesus Christ, being crucified and dead, rose again, and having ascended to heaven, reigned; and by those things which were published in His name among all nations by the apostles, there is joy afforded to those who expect the immortality promised by Him.
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SUMMARY
1 Chronicles 16:28 issues a profound and universal summons, calling all "kindreds of the people"—every family, tribe, and nation—to actively acknowledge and attribute to the Lord His inherent glory and strength. This verse, embedded within David's psalm of thanksgiving for the Ark's arrival in Jerusalem, transcends national boundaries, articulating a foundational principle of worship: that God alone is worthy of ultimate honor and power, and that humanity's proper response is to declare His supreme worthiness to the world.
CONTEXT
EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
Key Word Analysis
Verse Breakdown
Literary Devices
The verse employs several powerful literary devices that amplify its message. The most prominent is the Imperative mood, as seen in the repeated command "Give unto the LORD." This is not a gentle suggestion but a direct, authoritative instruction, emphasizing the non-negotiable nature of God's worthiness of praise and the universal obligation to worship Him. Repetition of the phrase "give unto the LORD" serves to intensify the command and underscore the singular focus of worship. It creates a rhythmic, emphatic call to action, driving home the central message that all praise and power belong exclusively to God. Furthermore, the phrase "ye kindreds of the people" utilizes Inclusivity (or universalism), broadening the scope of the command from a nationalistic to a global audience, highlighting God's sovereignty over all humanity and foreshadowing the global reach of His redemptive plan.
THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
1 Chronicles 16:28 profoundly articulates humanity's fundamental duty to God: to acknowledge His inherent worthiness and absolute power. It underscores that true worship is not merely an emotional response but a deliberate act of attributing to God what is rightfully His. This universal call to worship highlights God's sovereign claim over all creation and His desire for all peoples to recognize His unique status as the one true God. Theologically, it posits that God does not need us to give Him glory or strength, as He possesses these infinitely; rather, we need to give them to Him, as it aligns us with truth and fulfills our purpose as created beings. This verse serves as a foundational statement for missions, emphasizing that the good news of God's glory and strength is for every nation, inviting them into a proper relationship with their Creator.
REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
1 Chronicles 16:28 serves as a timeless and universal summons for all believers to engage in intentional and comprehensive worship. It challenges us to move beyond a self-centered faith and embrace a God-centered perspective where our primary purpose is to acknowledge and declare His supreme worthiness. This means actively praising God for who He is—His inherent glory, His omnipotence, His majesty—not just for what He does for us. Furthermore, the inclusion of "kindreds of the people" broadens our vision, reminding us that God's redemptive plan encompasses all nations. It compels us to pray for and participate in global missions, desiring to see every tribe and tongue join in this chorus of praise. Our lives, both individually and corporately, should be a living testimony that "gives glory and strength" to the Lord, reflecting His character and power to a world desperately in need of recognizing Him and finding their true purpose in His worship.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
Why does God need us to "give" Him glory and strength if He already possesses them infinitely?
Answer: God does not "need" anything from us in the sense of lacking it. He is complete, self-sufficient, and eternally glorious and strong. The command to "give unto the LORD glory and strength" is not about bestowing something upon Him that He lacks, but rather about acknowledging, recognizing, and declaring what is inherently true about Him. It is an act of worship, submission, and proper alignment of our perspective with reality. When we "give" Him glory, we are simply recognizing His infinite worth and declaring it publicly, both with our words and our lives. It is for our benefit and for the benefit of those around us, as it rightly orders our relationship with our Creator and draws others to Him. This is why the psalmist commands, "Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name" (Psalm 29:2).
Who are the "kindreds of the people" mentioned in this verse?
Answer: The phrase "kindreds of the people" (Hebrew: mishp'chot 'ammim) refers to all the families, clans, or ethnic groups of the nations. It is a comprehensive term for all humanity beyond the nation of Israel. This phrase highlights the universal scope of God's sovereignty and His ultimate plan for all peoples to recognize and worship Him. It foreshadows the New Testament vision of a global church, where believers from "every nation, tribe, people and language" will stand before the throne and the Lamb, worshipping God (Revelation 7:9). This inclusion of all "kindreds" emphasizes that God's call to worship and His redemptive purposes are not limited to one chosen people but extend to all humanity, inviting them into His saving grace.
CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
1 Chronicles 16:28 finds its ultimate and most profound fulfillment in Jesus Christ. He is the very embodiment of God's glory and strength, the "radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being" (Hebrews 1:3). In Jesus, God's glory is not merely declared but made visible and tangible, for "the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth" (John 1:14). His life, miracles, death, and resurrection are the supreme demonstration of God's strength, triumphing over sin, death, and the grave (Colossians 2:15). Furthermore, the universal call to "kindreds of the people" to give glory and strength to the Lord is realized through Christ's redemptive work. Through His sacrifice, people from every nation, tribe, and tongue are reconciled to God and empowered by the Holy Spirit to offer true worship (Ephesians 2:13-18). The Great Commission itself is a divine mandate for believers to go and make disciples of "all nations" (Matthew 28:19), ensuring that the "kindreds of the people" ultimately come to acknowledge and declare the glory and strength of God, revealed fully in His Son, Jesus Christ, to whom all honor and power are due.