1 Chronicles 16)

1 So they brought the ark of God, (see 13:3; 15::3, and Ex. 25:22) and set it in the midst of the tent that David had pitched for it: and they brought near burnt sacrifices and peace offerings before God.

16:2-43. THE BLESSING OF YAHAVEH.

y  Y  2,3. The People blessed.
    Z  4-6. Ministrations. Persons.
     A  7. Deliver of Psalm to leaders.
      B  8-36-. The Psalm of Praise.
     A  -36. Response by People.
    Z  37-42. Ministrations. Persons.
   Y  43. The People dismissed.

951 - 950 B.C. A Sabbatic year
2 And when David had made an end of offering up the burnt offerings and the peace offerings, (not with his own hand, but by the priests') he blessed the people in the name of the Lord.
3 And he dealt to every one, to a man 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 And he appointed certain of the Levites to minister before the ark of the Lord, and to record, (cp. titles of Pss. 38 and 70) and to thank and praise the Lord God of Israel:
5 Asaph the chief, and next to him Zechariah, Jeiel, and Shemiramoth, and Jehiel, and Mattithiah, and Eliab, and Benaiah, and Obededom: and Jeiel with psalteries and with harps; but Asaph made a sound with cymbals;
6 Benaiah also and Jahaziel the priests with trumpets continually (i.e. morning and evening, as prescribed) before the ark of the covenant of God.

7 Then on that day David delivered first [the following words] to thank the Lord into the hand of Asaph and his brethren. (Others Psalms were probably 5, 11, and 68. Originally provided for this event, Ps. 68 was afterward divided up and incorporated in Pss. 105:1-15; 96:1-13; 106:1,47,48. Exactly the same has been done since the by many human authors. It is those who say they "treat the Bible like any other book" who deny to the Divine Author this right to do as He will with His own.)

8-36-. THE PSALM OF PRAISE.

B  z1  8-22. The peoples. (Ps. 105:1-18).
     a1  23-27. The earth. (Ps. 96:1-13.)
   z2  28,29 The peoples.         "
     a2  30-33. The earth.        "
   z3  34-36-. The People. (Ps. 106:47,48).

8 Give thanks to the Lord, call upon His name, make known His deeds among the Peoples.
9 Sing to Him, sing psalms to Him, meditate on of all His wondrous works.
10 Glory you all in His holy name: let the heart of them rejoice that seek the Lord.
11 Seek the Lord and His strength, ("Strength" put for the Ark, which was the sign of the presence of Jehovah, and the symbol of His strength. Cp. Ps. 105:4 and 132:6 and Ex. 25:22) seek His face continually.
12 Remember His marvelous works that He has done, His wonders, and the righteous rules of His mouth;
13 O you seed of Israel (when adopted for more general worship, in Ps. 105, this was changed to the more general term "Abraham" [v.6]) His servant, you sons of Jacob, (see Gen. 32:28; 43:6; 45:26,28) His chosen ones.
14 He is the Lord our God; His judgments are in all the earth.
15 Be you mindful (This was specially for this occasion. In Psalm 105:8, where it is for more general use, David [in editing] changed it to "He has remembered". See v.7) always of His covenant; the word which He commanded to a thousand generations;
16 Even of the covenant which He made with Abraham, and of His oath to Isaac; (See Gen. 50:24, and cp. Gen. 17:2; 26:3; 28:13)
17 And has confirmed the same to Jacob for a law, (see Gen. 50:24) and to Israel for an everlasting covenant,
18 Saying, "Unto you will I give the land of Canaan, the measuring line of your inheritance;" (The boundary lines marked by it.)
19 When you were but few, (in Ps. 105:12 it is "they". See v.13 & 15) even a few, and strangers in it.
20 And when they went from nation to nation, and from one kingdom to another people;
21 He suffered no man to oppress them: yes, He reproved kings for their sakes, (Cp. Gen. 12:17; 20:3)
22 Saying, "Touch not My anointed, (Israel was regarded as a kingdom of anointed kings and priests [Ex. 19:6]) and do My prophets no harm."
23 Sing to the Lord, all the earth; shew 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 feared above all gods.
26 For all the gods of the peoples are things of nothing: but the Lord made the heavens.
27 Glory and honor are in His presence; strength and gladness are in His dwelling-place. (i.e. the place of the Ark and the Covenant. In Ps. 96:6, which is more general, it is "in His Sanctuary". Cp. vv7 and 15)
28 Sacrifice (as in Ps. 96:7,8) to the Lord, you families of the people, give to the Lord glory and strength.
29 Sacrifice to the Lord the glory due to His name: bring a gift offering, and come before Him: (in Ps. 96:8, which is more general, it is "come into His courts") worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness. (Cp. 2 Chron. 20:21 and Ps. 96:9, from which the meaning seems to be "in His glorious Sanctuary".)

30 Fear (or revere) before Him, all the earth: the world also shall be stable, that it be not moved. (The Creator knows how to speak of the works of His hands)
31 Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice: and let mankind say among the nations, "The Lord reigns."
32 Let the sea roar, and the foulness thereof: let the fields rejoice, and all that is therein.
33 Then shall the trees of the wood (referring especially to the wood at Kirjath-jearim [the city of woods]. Cp. Ps. 132:6) sing out at the presence of the Lord, because He comes to judge the earth.
34 O give thanks to the Lord; for He is good; for His mercy is age-abiding.
35 And say you, (a liturgical direction suited to this special occasion. Not needed for subsequent general use in Ps. 106:47. Cp. vv.7 &15) "Save us, O God of our salvation, and gather us together, and deliver us from the heathen, (David knew from Deut. 4:27; 28:64; and 32, that the scattering of Israel had been foretold; and this prayer was based upon that revelation. So with Solomon. 1 Kings 8:46-50) that we may give thanks to Your holy name, (See Ex.3:5) and glory in Your praise."
36 Blessed be the Lord God of Israel for ever and ever.

And all the people said, "Amen", and praised the Lord.

37 So he left there before the ark (this was now in Zion [2 Sam. 6:12-17]. But the altars and vessels were in the Tabernacle at Gibeon [2 Chron. 1:3-6]) of the covenant of the Lord Asaph and his brethren, (these were left in Zion "before the Ark", while the priests ministered "before the Tabernacle" [see v.38], until Divine worship should be reconstructed in the Temple) to minister before the ark continually, as every day's work required:
38 And Obededom with their brethren, threescore and eight; Obededom also the son of Jeduthun and Hosah to be porters:
39 And Zadok the priest, and his brethren the priests, before the tabernacle (the dwelling-place) of the Lord in the high place that was at Gibeon,
40 To offer up burnt offerings to 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 And with them Heman and Jeduthun, (1 of the 3 directors of the Temple-worship. Cp. 25:1-6. 2 Chron. 5:12. A descendant of Merari [cp. 16:38 with 26:10]. Called also "Ethan" [15:17,19, and cp. 25:1,3,6. 2 Chron. 35:15]. Jethurun = to confess, give thanks. Pss. 38:61; and 76) and the rest that were chosen, who were expressed by name, to give thanks to the Lord, because His loving-kindness (or grace) endures for ever;
42 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 for the gate.

43 And all the people departed every man to his house: and David returned to bless his house. (This was when Michal met him [15:29]. Cp. 2 Sam. 6:20)

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