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Public-domain commentary
Matthew Henry
From his Commentary on the Whole Bible. Henry comments on passages, not single verses — this entry covers 1 Chronicles 16:7–36.
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 16:7 marks a pivotal moment in Israel's history of worship, immediately following the joyous procession of bringing the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem. This verse highlights King David's proactive and inspired leadership in establishing organized praise and thanksgiving to the LORD, entrusting the formal delivery of a specific psalm of gratitude into the hands of Asaph and his fellow Levite musicians. It signifies the initiation of a new era of structured, intentional worship centered on God's dwelling among His people.
Context
Literary Context
This verse is situated at a critical juncture in David's reign, specifically within the narrative of the Ark of the Covenant's relocation to Jerusalem. 1 Chronicles 15 and the beginning of 1 Chronicles 16 detail the meticulous and joyous procession of the Ark into the tent David had prepared for it. Following the sacrifices and blessings in 1 Chronicles 16:1-3, David immediately appoints Levites to minister before the Ark, "to record, to thank, and to praise the LORD God of Israel" (1 Chronicles 16:4). Verse 7 then specifies the first formal act of thanksgiving, introducing the extensive psalm that follows in 1 Chronicles 16:8-36, which serves as the content of this initial, divinely inspired worship.
Historical & Cultural Context
The Ark of the Covenant was the most sacred object in Israel, symbolizing God's presence and covenant with His people. Its long journey from its capture by the Philistines and subsequent dwelling in various locations (e.g., 1 Samuel 7:1-2) meant that centralized, organized worship around it had been absent for decades. David's intense desire to bring the Ark to Jerusalem, making it the religious and political capital, was a profound act of devotion. His actions in 1 Chronicles 16:7 reflect his role not only as king but as a spiritual leader, establishing the infrastructure for national worship. The appointment of Levites like Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun (1 Chronicles 16:41-42) to lead musical praise was a significant cultural development, formalizing the role of music and song in Israelite worship, which would later flourish in the Temple era.
Key Themes
This verse contributes significantly to several overarching themes in 1 Chronicles. Firstly, it underscores Davidic Leadership in Worship, portraying David as a king who actively initiates and organizes the spiritual life of the nation, not merely a political figure. Secondly, it highlights the Centrality of God's Presence, as the entire event revolves around the Ark, the tangible symbol of God's dwelling among His people, eliciting profound joy and gratitude. Thirdly, the verse establishes the theme of Organized Thanksgiving and Praise, moving beyond spontaneous celebration to a structured, ongoing act of worship led by appointed Levites. This formalization of praise, particularly through music and song, sets a precedent for the elaborate temple worship described later in Chronicles, emphasizing the importance of intentional and continuous gratitude to God for His faithfulness and presence, as seen throughout the book of Chronicles.
Exposition and Analysis
Key Word Analysis
The Hebrew verb נָתַן (nâthan) means "to give, put, set, entrust, deliver." In this context, it signifies more than a casual handing over; it implies a formal commissioning and delegation of responsibility. David, as king, is not merely suggesting but actively instituting and entrusting a specific task—the leading of thanksgiving—to Asaph and his brethren. This highlights David's authority and his intentional establishment of an organized system of worship.
The Hebrew word רֹאשׁ (rôʼsh), meaning "head, beginning, chief, first," is used here adverbially to convey the sense of "at the first" or "in the beginning." This signifies that David's act of delivering this psalm was the initial and primary step in establishing formal, organized worship after the Ark's arrival. It emphasizes the foundational nature of this event, setting a precedent for all subsequent acts of public thanksgiving and praise in Jerusalem, marking a new era of structured worship.
The Hebrew verb יָדָה (yâdâh) encompasses a rich semantic range including "to praise, give thanks, confess, laud." It often implies an open, public acknowledgment of God's greatness, goodness, and faithfulness, sometimes accompanied by outstretched hands. Here, it defines the very purpose of the psalm and the worship service: a heartfelt, public expression of gratitude and adoration to the LORD for His presence and covenant.
Verse Breakdown
"Then on that day"
This phrase immediately connects the act of delivering the psalm to the momentous occasion of the Ark's arrival in Jerusalem. It emphasizes the immediacy and significance of David's action, indicating that establishing formal worship was a top priority, a direct and spontaneous response to God's manifested presence. The joy and solemnity of the Ark's placement naturally flowed into an outpouring of structured gratitude.
"David delivered first [this psalm]"
This clause highlights King David's initiative and leadership. The KJV's bracketed "[this psalm]" is an interpretive addition, as the Hebrew literally says "David gave first to give thanks." However, the following verses (1 Chronicles 16:8-36) clearly present the content of this "giving thanks" as a specific composition. The word "first" (derived from rôʼsh) underscores that this was the inaugural, foundational act of organized praise under David's direction, setting a pattern for the future.
"to thank the LORD"
This phrase states the explicit purpose of David's action. The entire endeavor was directed towards expressing gratitude and praise to Yahweh, the covenant God of Israel. It underscores the theological motivation behind David's leadership—not for personal glory, but for the adoration of God, acknowledging His sovereignty, goodness, and faithfulness in bringing His presence to Jerusalem.
"into the hand of Asaph and his brethren"
This specifies the recipients of David's commission. Asaph was a prominent Levite musician and choirmaster, and "his brethren" refers to the other Levites appointed to assist him. This detail signifies the formal delegation of musical and liturgical responsibility, establishing a professional, organized system for leading worship. It marks the beginning of the Levitical guilds' significant role in the musical praise of Israel.
Literary Devices
The verse employs several literary devices to convey its significance. The phrase "on that day" functions as a powerful temporal marker, creating a sense of immediacy and emphasizing the direct causal link between the Ark's arrival and the institution of formal worship. This immediate response highlights the profound impact of God's presence. The KJV's interpretive addition of "[this psalm]" (though not explicit in the Hebrew) can be seen as a form of synecdoche, where a specific part (the psalm) stands for the whole act of organized, musical thanksgiving that David initiated. Furthermore, David's act of entrusting the psalm to Asaph and his brethren serves as a foundational act that foreshadows the elaborate, organized musical worship that would become a hallmark of the Temple in Jerusalem, as detailed later in Chronicles and Psalms. The entire verse is an act of emphasis, underscoring the priority David placed on worship and the establishment of a formal liturgy for the nation.
Theological and Thematic Connections
1 Chronicles 16:7 profoundly illustrates the biblical principle that worship is a deliberate, joyful, and often organized response to God's manifested presence and His mighty acts. David's immediate institution of thanksgiving after the Ark's arrival demonstrates that true spiritual leadership prioritizes the adoration of God. This act establishes a pattern for Israel's corporate worship, emphasizing that gratitude is not merely a fleeting emotion but a sustained, intentional practice. It connects to the broader biblical narrative of God's desire for His people to know Him and respond in praise, recognizing His sovereignty and faithfulness. The formal delegation to Asaph and his brethren also underscores the importance of skilled and dedicated individuals in facilitating communal worship, ensuring its excellence and continuity as a witness to God's glory.
Reflection and Application
1 Chronicles 16:7 offers profound lessons for believers today. David's immediate and intentional act of establishing worship after experiencing God's presence challenges us to prioritize gratitude and praise in our own lives, both individually and corporately. It reminds us that worship is not an afterthought but a primary response to God's goodness and faithfulness. Just as David took the initiative to organize and delegate, we are called to be intentional about cultivating a spirit of thanksgiving, ensuring that our praise is not merely spontaneous but also structured and sustained. This might involve dedicating specific times for worship, utilizing our gifts in service, or supporting those who lead us in corporate praise. David's example encourages us to lead where we are, fostering environments where God is honored and His presence is celebrated with excellence and heartfelt devotion.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
Why is "first" important here?
The word "first" (Hebrew: rôʼsh, used adverbially as barishonah) is crucial because it highlights that David's act was the inaugural or primary step in establishing formal, organized worship in Jerusalem after the Ark's arrival. It signifies David's immediate prioritization of thanksgiving and praise, setting a foundational precedent for the future liturgical life of Israel. It wasn't just an act of worship, but the first in a new, structured era of national praise.
Who was Asaph, and what was his role?
Asaph was a prominent Levite musician, prophet, and choirmaster, one of the three heads of the Levitical guilds appointed by King David to lead musical worship before the Ark of the Covenant and later in the Temple (along with Heman and Jeduthun). His role, as indicated in 1 Chronicles 16:7, was to receive and lead the formal psalm of thanksgiving. Many psalms in the book of Psalms are attributed to him or his descendants (e.g., Psalm 50, Psalm 73-83), indicating his enduring legacy in Israelite worship.
Is the "psalm" mentioned here the same as a specific psalm in the book of Psalms?
The "psalm" that David delivered to Asaph and his brethren, recorded in 1 Chronicles 16:8-36, is a unique compilation. It is not identical to any single psalm in the book of Psalms but is rather a mosaic of verses drawn from Psalm 105:1-15, Psalm 96:1-13, and Psalm 106:1. This compilation was specifically crafted for the momentous occasion of the Ark's arrival, highlighting God's covenant faithfulness, His mighty deeds, and His universal sovereignty.
Christ-Centered Fulfillment
1 Chronicles 16:7, with David's passionate initiative to establish worship around the Ark, finds its ultimate fulfillment in Jesus Christ. The Ark symbolized God's presence among His people, a presence that is fully and perfectly embodied in Christ, who is "God with us" (Matthew 1:23). David's act of delivering a psalm of thanksgiving to Asaph for public praise foreshadows the "new song" of redemption that is sung through Christ. Through His perfect life, atoning death, and glorious resurrection, Jesus has established a new covenant of worship, not confined to a physical tent or temple, but "in spirit and truth" (John 4:23-24). He is the ultimate High Priest who leads our praise (Hebrews 2:12), enabling us to boldly enter God's presence with thanksgiving (Hebrews 10:19-22). Just as David organized worship, Christ, as the head of the church, continually calls His people to offer a "sacrifice of praise" to God (Hebrews 13:15), filling our hearts with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs (Ephesians 5:19-20; Colossians 3:16) in response to His ultimate act of salvation.