1 Chronicles 16

1  SO THEY brought the ark of God and set it in the midst of the tent which 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 he distributed to everyone of Israel, both man and woman, to everyone a loaf of bread, a portion of meat, and a cake of raisins.4  He appointed Levites to minister before the ark of the Lord and to celebrate [by calling to mind], thanking and praising the Lord, the God of Israel:5  Asaph was the chief, next to him Zechariah, Jeiel (Jaaziel), Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Mattithiah, Eliab, and Benaiah, Obed-edom and Jeiel, who were to play harps and lyres; Asaph was to sound the cymbals;6  Benaiah and Jahaziel the priests were to blow trumpets continually before the ark of the covenant of God.7  Then on that day David first entrusted to Asaph and his brethren the singing of thanks to the Lord [as their chief task]:8  O give thanks to the Lord, call on His name; make known His doings among the peoples!9  Sing to Him, sing praises to Him; meditate on and talk of all His wondrous works and devoutly praise them!10  Glory in His holy name; let the hearts of those rejoice who seek the Lord!11  Seek the Lord and His strength; yearn for and seek His face and to be in His presence continually!12  [Earnestly] remember the marvelous deeds which He has done, His miracles, and the judgments He uttered [as in Egypt],13  O you offspring of [Abraham and] of Israel His servants, you children of Jacob, His chosen ones!14  He is the Lord our God; His judgments are in all the earth.15  Be mindful of His covenant forever, the promise which He commanded and established to a thousand generations,16  The covenant which He made with Abraham, and His sworn promise to Isaac.17  He confirmed it as a statute to Jacob, and to Israel for an everlasting covenant, 18  Saying, To you I will give the land of Canaan, the measured portion of your possession and inheritance.19  When they were but few, even a very few, and only temporary residents and strangers in it,20  When they went from nation to nation, and from one kingdom to another people,21  He allowed no man to do them wrong; yes, He reproved kings for their sakes, 22  Saying, Touch not My anointed, and do My prophets no harm. 23  Sing to the Lord, all the earth; show forth from day to day His salvation.24  Declare His glory among the nations, His marvelous works among all peoples.25  For great is the Lord and greatly to be praised; He also is to be [reverently] feared above all so-called gods.26  For all the gods of the people are [lifeless] idols, but the Lord made the heavens.27  Honor and majesty are [found] in His presence; strength and joy are [found] in His sanctuary.28  Ascribe to the Lord, you families of the peoples, ascribe to the Lord glory and strength,29  Ascribe to the Lord the glory due His name. Bring an offering and come before Him; worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness and in holy array.30  Tremble and reverently fear before Him, all the earth’s peoples; the world also shall be established, so it cannot be moved.31  Let the heavens be glad and let the earth rejoice; and let men say among the nations, The Lord reigns!32  Let the sea roar, and all the things that fill it; let the fields rejoice, and all that is in them.33  Then shall the trees of the wood sing out for joy before the Lord, for He comes to judge and govern the earth.34  O give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; for His mercy and loving-kindness endure forever!35  And say, Save us, O God of our salvation; gather us together and deliver us from the nations, that we may give thanks to Your holy name and glory in Your praise.36  Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, forever and ever! And all the people said Amen! and praised the Lord.37  So David left Asaph and his brethren before the ark of the covenant of the Lord to minister before the ark continually, as each day’s work required,38  And Obed-edom with [his] sixty-eight kinsmen. Also Obed-edom son of Jeduthun, and Hosah, were to be gatekeepers.39  And David left Zadok the priest and his brethren the priests before the tabernacle of the Lord in the high place that was at Gibeon40  To offer burnt offerings to the Lord upon the altar of burnt offering continually, morning and evening, and to do all that is written in the Law of the Lord which He commanded Israel.41  With them were Heman and Jeduthun and the rest who were chosen and expressly named to give thanks to the Lord, for His mercy and loving-kindness endure forever.42  With them were Heman and Jeduthun with trumpets and cymbals for those who should sound aloud, and instruments for accompanying the songs of God. And the sons of Jeduthun were to be at the gate.43  Then all the people departed, each man to his house, and David returned home to bless his household.

1 Chronicles 16

Chapter 16

1 They brought the Ark of God and placed it inside the special tent David had prepared for it. And they presented burnt offerings and peace offerings to God.2 When he had finished his sacrifices, David blessed the people in the name of the LORD.

3 Then he gave to every man and woman in all Israel a loaf of bread, a cake of dates,t and a cake of raisins.
4 David appointed the following Levites to lead the people in worship before the Ark of the LORD—to invoke his blessings, to give thanks, and to praise the LORD, the God of Israel.5 Asaph, the leader of this group, sounded the cymbals. Second to him was Zechariah, followed by Jeiel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Mattithiah, Eliab, Benaiah, Obed-edom, and Jeiel. They played the harps and lyres.

6 The priests, Benaiah and Jahaziel, played the trumpets regularly before the Ark of God’s Covenant.

David’s Song of Praise

7 On that day David gave to Asaph and his fellow Levites this song of thanksgiving to the LORD:
8 Give thanks to the LORD and proclaim his greatness.
Let the whole world know what he has done.9 Sing to him; yes, sing his praises.
Tell everyone about his wonderful deeds.10 Exult in his holy name;
rejoice, you who worship the LORD.11 Search for the LORD and for his strength;
continually seek him.12 Remember the wonders he has performed,
his miracles, and the rulings he has given,13 you children of his servant Israel,
you descendants of Jacob, his chosen ones.14 He is the LORD our God.
His justice is seen throughout the land.15 Remember his covenant forever—
the commitment he made to a thousand generations.16 This is the covenant he made with Abraham
and the oath he swore to Isaac.17 He confirmed it to Jacob as a decree,
and to the people of Israel as a never-ending covenant:18 “I will give you the land of Canaan
as your special possession.”19 He said this when you were few in number,
a tiny group of strangers in Canaan.20 They wandered from nation to nation,
from one kingdom to another.21 Yet he did not let anyone oppress them.
He warned kings on their behalf:22 “Do not touch my chosen people,
and do not hurt my prophets.”23 Let the whole earth sing to the LORD!
Each day proclaim the good news that he saves.24 Publish his glorious deeds among the nations.
Tell everyone about the amazing things he does.25 Great is the LORD! He is most worthy of praise!
He is to be feared above all gods.26 The gods of other nations are mere idols,
but the LORD made the heavens!27 Honor and majesty surround him;
strength and joy fill his dwelling.28 O nations of the world, recognize the LORD,
recognize that the LORD is glorious and strong.29 Give to the LORD the glory he deserves!
Bring your offering and come into his presence.
Worship the LORD in all his holy splendor.30 Let all the earth tremble before him.
The world stands firm and cannot be shaken.31 Let the heavens be glad, and the earth rejoice!
Tell all the nations, “The LORD reigns!”32 Let the sea and everything in it shout his praise!
Let the fields and their crops burst out with joy!33 Let the trees of the forest rustle with praise,
for the LORD is coming to judge the earth.34 Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good!
His faithful love endures forever.35 Cry out, “Save us, O God of our salvation!
Gather and rescue us from among the nations,
so we can thank your holy name
and rejoice and praise you.”

36 Praise the LORD, the God of Israel,
who lives from everlasting to everlasting!
And all the people shouted “Amen!” and praised the LORD.

Worship at Jerusalem and Gibeon

37 David arranged for Asaph and his fellow Levites to serve regularly before the Ark of the LORD’s Covenant, doing whatever needed to be done each day.

38 This group included Obed-edom (son of Jeduthun), Hosah, and sixty-eight other Levites as gatekeepers.
39 Meanwhile, David stationed Zadok the priest and his fellow priests at the Tabernacle of the LORD at the place of worship in Gibeon, where they continued to minister before the LORD.40 They sacrificed the regular burnt offerings to the LORD each morning and evening on the altar set aside for that purpose, obeying everything written in the Law of the LORD, as he had commanded Israel.41 David also appointed Heman, Jeduthun, and the others chosen by name to give thanks to the LORD, for “his faithful love endures forever.”

42 They used their trumpets, cymbals, and other instruments to accompany their songs of praise to God.t And the sons of Jeduthun were appointed as gatekeepers.

43 Then all the people returned to their homes, and David turned and went home to bless his own family.