The Ark Is Placed in the Tent
Study note
The ark was finally set inside the tent David had prepared. David offered burnt offerings and peace offerings to God. He then blessed the people and gave each person -- man and woman alike -- a loaf of bread, a piece of meat, and a cake of raisins. David appointed Levites to serve before the ark daily, leading worship with music and praise. Asaph was the chief musician, with others playing harps, lyres, and cymbals. Two priests blew trumpets continually before the ark.
1 They brought the ark of God and set it inside the tent that David had prepared for it. Then they presented burnt offerings and peace offerings to God. So they brought the ark of God, and set it in the midst of the tent that David had pitched for it: and they offered burnt sacrifices and peace offerings before God.
2 After David finished giving the offerings, he blessed everyone in the name of the Lord. And when David had made an end of offering the burnt offerings and the peace offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the LORD.
3 He gave each Israelite -- every man and woman -- a loaf of bread, a portion of meat, and a raisin cake. And he dealt to every one of Israel, both man and woman, to every one a loaf of bread, and a good piece of flesh, and a flagon of wine.
4 David assigned some of the Levites to serve in front of the ark of the Lord. Their job was to lead worship, give thanks, and praise the Lord, the God of Israel. And he appointed certain of the Levites to minister before the ark of the LORD, and to record, and to thank and praise the LORD God of Israel:
5 Asaph was the head musician. Zechariah came next, followed by Jeiel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Mattithiah, Eliab, Benaiah, and Obed-Edom. Jeiel played the harp and lyre, and Asaph sounded the cymbals. Asaph the chief, and next to him Zechariah, Jeiel, and Shemiramoth, and Jehiel, and Mattithiah, and Eliab, and Benaiah, and Obed-edom: and Jeiel with psalteries and with harps; but Asaph made a sound with cymbals;
6 The priests Benaiah and Jahaziel blew trumpets often. They did this in front of God's ark. Benaiah also and Jahaziel the priests with trumpets continually before the ark of the covenant of God.
David's Psalm of Thanksgiving
Study note
David gave Asaph and his fellow musicians a psalm to sing in thanks to the Lord. This psalm is also found in parts of Psalms 105, 96, and 106. It celebrates God's faithfulness to his covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. It recalls how God protected his people even when they were few in number and wandering among nations. The psalm calls on all people to give thanks, sing praises, and remember the wonderful things God has done.
7 On that day, David gave Asaph and his fellow musicians this psalm of thanks to sing to the Lord for the very first time. Then on that day David delivered first this psalm to thank the LORD into the hand of Asaph and his brethren.
8 Thank the Lord and call on his name. Make his deeds known among the nations. Give thanks unto the LORD, call upon his name, make known his deeds among the people.
9 Sing to him! Make music to praise him! Talk about all the amazing things he has done. Sing unto him, sing psalms unto him, talk ye of all his wondrous works.
10 Take pride in his holy name. Let everyone who looks for the Lord be filled with joy. Glory ye in his holy name: let the heart of them rejoice that seek the LORD.
11 Turn to the Lord and his power. Keep looking for his presence at all times. Seek the LORD and his strength, seek his face continually.
12 Remember the amazing things he has done. Remember his miracles and the choices he has made. Remember his marvellous works that he hath done, his wonders, and the judgments of his mouth;
13 You are the descendants of Israel, his servant -- the children of Jacob, the ones he chose. O ye seed of Israel his servant, ye children of Jacob, his chosen ones.
14 He is the Lord our God. His authority extends over the entire earth. He is the LORD our God; his judgments are in all the earth.
15 Never forget his deal. He made a promise that will stand for a thousand ages. Be ye mindful always of his covenant; the word which he commanded to a thousand generations;
16 This is the agreement he made with Abraham, the solemn oath he gave to Isaac. Even of the covenant which he made with Abraham, and of his oath unto Isaac;
17 He set it up for Jacob as a lasting law and for Israel as a promise that would last forever. And hath confirmed the same to Jacob for a law, and to Israel for an everlasting covenant,
18 He told them, 'I will give you the land of Canaan as your very own inheritance.' Saying, Unto thee will I give the land of Canaan, the lot of your inheritance;
19 This was back when they were only a small group -- just a handful of people living as outsiders in the land. When ye were but few, even a few, and strangers in it.
20 They moved from one nation to another, from one kingdom to the next. And when they went from nation to nation, and from one kingdom to another people;
21 But God would not let anyone mistreat them. He even confronted kings to protect them. He suffered no man to do them wrong: yea, he reproved kings for their sakes,
22 He warned, 'Do not lay a hand on the people I have chosen, and do not hurt my prophets.' Saying, Touch not mine anointed, and do my prophets no harm.
A Call to Praise God Above All
Study note
The second half of David's psalm calls all the earth to worship the Lord. It declares that God is greater than all other gods, which were just idols made by human hands. The psalm invites all of creation -- the heavens, the earth, the sea, and the trees -- to rejoice because the Lord rules over everything. It ends with a prayer for God to save and gather his people, followed by a great shout of praise from all the people.
23 Sing to the Lord, everyone on earth! Share the good news of his saving power every day. Sing unto the LORD, all the earth; shew forth from day to day his salvation.
24 Tell the nations about his glory. Let every people group hear about his incredible works. Declare his glory among the heathen; his marvellous works among all nations.
25 The Lord is great and deserves the highest praise. He is more worthy of honor than any other so-called god. For great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised: he also is to be feared above all gods.
26 The gods worshipped by other nations are nothing but worthless idols. But the Lord is the one who created the heavens. For all the gods of the people are idols: but the LORD made the heavens.
27 Splendor and majesty surround him. Power and joy fill the place where he lives. Glory and honour are in his presence; strength and gladness are in his place.
28 Praise the Lord, all you families of the world! Give the Lord the glory and honor he deserves. Give unto the LORD, ye kindreds of the people, give unto the LORD glory and strength.
29 Give the Lord the honor that belongs to his name. Bring your offerings and come into his presence. Worship the Lord dressed in the beauty of holiness. Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name: bring an offering, and come before him: worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness.
30 Let everyone on earth tremble in awe before him! The world is firmly established and will not be moved. Fear before him, all the earth: the world also shall be stable, that it be not moved.
31 Let the heavens celebrate and the earth be joyful! Let all the nations declare, 'The Lord is king!' Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice: and let men say among the nations, The LORD reigneth.
32 Let the sea and everything living in it shout with praise. Let the fields and everything growing in them be glad. Let the sea roar, and the fulness thereof: let the fields rejoice, and all that is therein.
33 Then the trees of the forest will sing with joy before the Lord, because he is coming to bring justice to the earth. Then shall the trees of the wood sing out at the presence of the LORD, because he cometh to judge the earth.
34 Thank the Lord, because he is good! His faithful love never ends. O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever.
35 Cry out, 'Save us, O God who rescues us! Bring us together and deliver us from the foreign nations, so that we can thank your holy name and celebrate as we praise you.' And say ye, Save us, O God of our salvation, and gather us together, and deliver us from the heathen, that we may give thanks to thy holy name, and glory in thy praise.
36 All praise to the Lord, the God of Israel, from the beginning of time to the end of time! Then all the people said 'Amen!' and praised the Lord. Blessed be the LORD God of Israel for ever and ever. And all the people said, Amen, and praised the LORD.
Worship Services Are Organized
Study note
David set up a permanent system of worship. He left Asaph and his relatives to serve before the ark in Jerusalem every day. Meanwhile, the priest Zadok and his fellow priests continued to serve at the original tabernacle in Gibeon, where they offered the regular morning and evening sacrifices as the Law of Moses required. Heman and Jeduthun led the music at Gibeon. This arrangement meant there were two centers of worship until the temple was built.
37 David left Asaph and his kin to serve in front of the ark each day. They did whatever tasks were needed. So he left there before the ark of the covenant of the LORD Asaph and his brethren, to minister before the ark continually, as every day's work required:
38 He also left Obed-Edom and his 68 relatives to serve. Obed-Edom son of Jeduthun and Hosah worked as gatekeepers. And Obed-edom with their brethren, threescore and eight; Obed-edom also the son of Jeduthun and Hosah to be porters:
39 David put Zadok the priest in charge at the Lord's tent. It was at the worship place in Gibeon. His fellow priests served with him. And Zadok the priest, and his brethren the priests, before the tabernacle of the LORD in the high place that was at Gibeon,
40 They burned offerings to the Lord on the altar each morning and night. They followed all the Lord's law told Israel. To offer burnt offerings unto the LORD upon the altar of the burnt offering continually morning and evening, and to do according to all that is written in the law of the LORD, which he commanded Israel;
41 Heman, Jeduthun, and others served with them. These men were picked by name to thank the Lord. They praised him because his love lasts for all time. And with them Heman and Jeduthun, and the rest that were chosen, who were expressed by name, to give thanks to the LORD, because his mercy endureth for ever;
42 Heman and Jeduthun were in charge of the trumpets, cymbals, and other instruments used in worshipping God. Jeduthun's sons served as gatekeepers. And with them Heman and Jeduthun with trumpets and cymbals for those that should make a sound, and with musical instruments of God. And the sons of Jeduthun were porters.
43 After the celebration, everyone went home. David also went home to bring a blessing to his own family. And all the people departed every man to his house: and David returned to bless his house.