Worship and the Altar

Lakeview Baptist Church

October 2, 2021

A Psalm of Thanksgiving:

1 Chronicles 16:1-14 [ESV] And they brought in the ark of God and set it inside the tent that David had pitched for it, and they offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before God. 2 And when David had finished offering the burnt offerings and the peace offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the LORD 3 and distributed to all Israel, both men and women, to each a loaf of bread, a portion of meat, and a cake of raisins.

4 Then he appointed some of the Levites as ministers before the ark of the LORD, to invoke, to thank, and to praise the LORD, the God of Israel. 5 Asaph was the chief, and second to him were Zechariah, Jeiel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Mattithiah, Eliab, Benaiah, Obed-edom, and Jeiel, who were to play harps and lyres; Asaph was to sound the cymbals, 6 and Benaiah and Jahaziel the priests were to blow trumpets regularly before the ark of the covenant of God. 7 Then on that day David first appointed that thanksgiving be sung to the LORD by Asaph and his brothers.

8 Oh give thanks to the LORD; call upon his name; make known his deeds among the peoples!

9 Sing to him, sing praises to him; tell of all his wondrous works!

10 Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice!

11 Seek the LORD and his strength; seek his presence continually!

12 Remember the wondrous works that he has done, his miracles and the judgments he uttered,

13 O offspring of Israel his servant, children of Jacob, his chosen ones!

14 He is the LORD our God; his judgments are in all the earth.

Parallel Passage

Psalm105:1-7 Oh give thanks to the LORD; call upon his name; make known his deeds among the peoples!

2 Sing to him, sing praises to him; tell of all his wondrous works!

3 Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice!

4 Seek the LORD and his strength; seek his presence continually!

5 Remember the wondrous works that he has done, his miracles, and the judgments he uttered,

6 O offspring of Abraham, his servant, children of Jacob, his chosen ones!

7 He is the LORD our God; his judgments are in all the earth.

This is a psalm that David recites, It represents an enthusiastic and lively worship service as the Ark of the Covenant makes its way to Jerusalem. This passage comprises, in variation form of Psalm 96; 105:1-15; 106:47-48. These three psalms are not identified as to its author or the occasion in which they are written. Perhaps David pulled from them as he worshiped in the sight of the Arc of the Covenant or that later he wrote the Psalms in remembrance of this great event. We just do not know.

It celebrates

· The redemption of Israel which is proclaimed to the world

· Israel is triumphant in judgment

· National joy for Israel.

Introduction

History of the Ark

· God instructed Moses in the construction of the Ark of the Covenant (Exodus 25:10ff)

· While carrying the Ark, the Israelites were victorious at Jericho (Josh 6)

· The Ark was captured by the Philistines (1 Samuel 4)

· God judged the Philistines, and they returned the Ark at Beth-Shemesh (1 Samuel 6)

· The Ark remained at Kirjath-jearim for Twenty years (1 Samuel 7)

· King David transports the Ark to Jerusalem ( )

A major focus or theme of 1 Chronicles is the formal worship of God. King David’s concern was that worship be rightly joined in and focused of the LORD, whether the location of the Ark of the Covenant was in the Tabernacle or in the Temple in Jerusalem.

· The Ark of the Covenant has been in the custody of the Levite priest, Obed-edom and is now on its way to Jerusalem.

· 16th chapter of First Chronicles finds David is celebration as the Ark is being transferred to Mount Sion, Jerusalem

· David’s detailed preparations include the instructions regarding the music, who is to sing, and who is to lead.

· David’s joyful and excited behavior is filled with great joy that his wife despised him for.

· David also is concerned over the offerings that will transpire when as the Ark of the Covenant enters the gates of Jerusalem.

Today, I am sure, many of you are filled with the same joy, as we entered these gates into our rebuilt sanctuary.

Matthew Henry wrote:

In singing this psalm we ought to have our hearts filed with great and high thoughts of the glory of God and the grace of the gospel, and with an entire satisfaction in Christ’s sovereign dominion and in the expectation of the judgment to come.[1]

Giving thanks to God.

· By singing psalms (ver. 9)

· By social conversation

· By glorying in His name (ver. 10).

Seeking God

· Earnestly

· Joyfully

· Continually.

A Memorial, A Day to Remember

Conclusion

· God was where he was supposed to be, “In the midst of His people” in a holy, set apart place – David pitched a tent for this purpose.

· Offerings were made in honor of God being placed in their midst.

· Celebration was offered to every one of Israel. All shared equally

· Blessings unto God were made

· A Psalm was sung

[1] Matthew Henry, Matthew Henry’s Commentary on the Whole Bible: Complete and Unabridged in One Volume (Peabody: Hendrickson, 1994), 883