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Israel’s Sacrificial Worship – 1 Chronicles 16
David brought the Ark to Jerusalem and housed it in a temporary tent until a proper temple can be built. Now it’s time to let the worship begin. In 1 Chronicles 16:1-3, David leads Israel in a covenant-renewal ceremony that involves two kinds of sacrifices–burnt and fellowship offerings.
These offerings come from Leviticus when Moses outlined five offerings, or sacrifices, they could perform. A burnt offering was made for the atonement of sin (Leviticus 1:1). A fellowship offering, also called a peace offering, was made as a sign of fellowship between God and the people (Leviticus 3). See the entire list along with explanations in our Leviticus Offerings Chart.
Israel Worships with Songs of Praise
In 1 Chronicles 16:4-6, David gives specific instructions on how to minister before the Ark with thanks and praise. He appoints Asaph, who is musically gifted and wrote Psalms 50 and 73-83, as chief over the Levites.
Then David tells them the words to the song they will sing in praise. He pulls the lyrics from three separate Psalms, starting with Psalm 105 in 1 Chronicles 16:7-11. The song begins with praise, which does wonders for our heart.
When we praise God for who He is, we are reminded of his greatness. He is on the throne. He is Above. We are to look up at Him in awe. This puts our hearts in the right place to worship.
Next, the song calls Israel (and us) to remember what God has done for us in 1 Chronicles 16:12-14. Recalling God’s works is a faith boost. It reminds us of all He can do. Nothing is impossible for God. This builds our hope He will accomplish all He has planned.
This first section from Psalm 105 ends in 1 Chronicles 16:15-22 with a reminder God is a covenant maker and keeper. We can trust God to do what He says.
God chose Israel to have a unique position among the nations just as God has chosen us to be heirs in Christ. He will protect and provide for us.
God Deserves Our Song
The next ten verses in 1 Chronicles 16:23-33 are from Psalm 96. They remind Israel and us that there is just one true God. He is sovereign over all the nations, and we are meant to share this message with joy for all nations to hear.
The last three verses in 1 Chronicles 16:34-36 are from Psalm 106. The song ends as it began–with a call to give thanks and praise to God. It’s a reminder God is good and his love endures forever. God is the Savior, Deliverer, and Eternal King. And all glory and honor are His forever and ever.
Sing it Loud
This song, which was to be sung regularly in Jerusalem before the Ark, would have been a constant reminder to the people that God is good. It must have been especially uplifting for the returned remnant. The Ark is no more, but the words still hold true.
The returned people were a physical testament to God’s faithfulness to His promises. They were in the City of David, rebuilding.
Were there any musicians who returned? Did they sing this song again? More to come on that in Ezra 3:10-11.
In the book of Nehemiah, there will be more singing when the wall is finished. It seems as though, whenever the Israelites accomplished something they make a practice of praising and thanking God.
Do our hearts rejoice at what God accomplishes through us or for us? Are we even aware of what God is doing in our own little world? Or are we too distracted, scrolling, and watching to give it much thought?
Do we share the news of how good God is with others? Or are we too busy to pick up the phone and sing about it to our friends, stop to share it with our neighbors, or pause and tell the stories of God’s goodness to our children?
God is good. That is clear. But the enemy of our soul is drowning out this truth with noise so loud people often can’t hear the truth. So how can we amplify the good news of all God has done for us? In our circle of influence–no matter how big or small–who can we tell? How can we share what God has done and is doing in our own lives?
David Appoints Leaders for Worship
Now that the Ark is moved, the people have two places of worship. One is in Jerusalem where they can worship before the Ark with music and praise. The other is in Gibeon where they can offer regular sacrifices at the tabernacle.
In 1 Chronicles 16:37-43, David appoints worship leaders at each location. In Jerusalem, Asaph and Obed-Edom will minister before the Ark–leading the music and guarding the gates. At Gibeon, Zadock and the priests will continue to minister before the Tabernacle sacrificing and following the ritual instructions Moses laid out.
David’s Desire for God–God’s Blessing for David–1 Chronicles 17
Now Israel is united. Jerusalem is established as the capital. The palace is completed, and the Ark is in place.
David is a man of action with a heart for God. He becomes restless and wants to know what he should do next. He needs a project.
Then he gets a great idea in 1 Chronicles 17:1-2. Because he has a heart for the Lord, the first project that comes to mind is a house for the Lord. He is so excited. Nothing would give him more pleasure than to build a temple–a glorious place for the Ark and for the presence of the Lord to live.
David consults the prophet Nathan, and he says go for it. But Nathan spoke too soon. That night, in a dream, God came to him with a message in 1 Chronicles 17:3-6.
Through Nathan, God explains to David that He has no need for a house right now. God has been moving around with the Israelites for hundreds of years–in a tent. If God wanted a house, He would have commanded it be built.
Instead, God has other plans for David. In 1 Chronicles 17:7-15, God reveals His plan and the promise he lays out is called the Davidic Covenant.
Rather than building a house for God…God will build a house for David. Not literally but metaphorically through a legacy that will live on into eternity through Jesus Christ.
God is very direct in pointing out that His ways are not our ways. David’s idea was good, but God’s was better.
The Davidic Covenant
God’s covenant with David is characterized by “I will” statements. Many likely sound familiar because they were promises God made to Abraham, Moses, and the Israelites.
God promises in the Davidic Covenant:
- I will make your name great (which He also promised to Abraham).
- I will provide a place for my people (also promised to Abraham and Moses).
- I will give you rest (promised to Moses + the Israelites).
- I will raise up your offspring to succeed you (also promised to Abraham).
- I will establish your offspring’s kingdom.
- I will establish the throne of your son’s kingdom forever.
- I will be his father, and he will be my son (promised to Israel).
The Davidic Covenant is the fourth and final covenant of the Old Testament. First was the Noahic Covenant, then the Abrahamic Covenant, followed by the Mosaic Covenant.
The Davidic Covenant ties the Old Testament to the final covenant: the New Covenant in the New Testament. The link between the two is most clearly seen in Luke 1:26-33 when the angel meets Mary.
Mary’s child will:
- Be great
- Be the Son of God
- Sit on the throne of His father David
- Reign forever
And his kingdom will never end. Jesus was the fulfillment of all the Old Testament covenants and their promises.
David Responds in Wonder with a Humble Heart
David accepts this covenant with wonder. His son, Solomon, will build the Lord’s physical house, the temple. His future descendant will rule the world.
Did David realize the eternal significance of this statement? Was the prophecy from Genesis 3:15 on his mind that an offspring would come to crush the serpent? Did he understand that offspring would be his?
David sat before the Lord and pondered, praised, and prayed to God in 1 Chronicles 17:16-19. He has such humility asking, “Who am I, Lord God, and what is my family, that you have brought me this far?”
David is humbly expressing his surprise that such a great promise, this decree of an eternal kingdom, should be given to him and his future lineage. The very fact that he seems so overwhelmed by the promise may mean he did understand the future fulfillment of the promise.
Then David moves on to awareness and acceptance of God’s sovereignty and favor. In 1 Chronicles 17:20-22 he professes, “There is no one like you, Lord.” And he says, “You made your people Israel your very own forever.”
It is clear David attributes everything he has accomplished to the grace of God. God’s will, His power, and His choice.
David prayed with complete confidence in 1 Chronicles 17:23-27. He believed God’s promise would become a reality.
The Challenge
The Chronicler seems to be challenging the exiles with these questions:
- Can you develop a faith like David’s?
- Could you humbly wonder at how God brought you out of exile?
- Are you aware of God’s sovereignty and plan for you and Israel?
- Can you be confident in God’s promise to bring the world a Messiah through the line of David?
Surely, God wants the same for us, and that’s why this story is in the Bible. The promise wasn’t just for the Israelites to read thousands of years ago. The Chronicler was inspired to encourage the poor remnant, but God knew we would read his words too.
So we can be inspired to:
- Have faith like David’s.
- Humbly wonder at all God has done for us.
- Accept God’s sovereignty–His plan for us and the world.
- And have confidence in God’s promise that we will be with Him, and with Jesus, in the end…which is really the beginning.
🎧 Ready to dive deeper? Click here to listen to the Bible Book Club Podcast now!
Themes of this podcast:
God’s promises are personal and eternal. Through the Davidic Covenant, we’re reminded God’s promises are both for Israel and, through Christ, for us.
Humility is the path to faith. David’s response to God’s blessing wasn’t pride—it was awe. He acknowledged everything he had was from God. We’re invited to do the same–sit with God in wonder, recognize His work in our lives, and walk in confidence because of who He is, not because of what we’ve done.
Our ways are not His ways. David wanted to build a temple, but God had such a better idea. We might have the best of intentions, but God’s plans are often different and ultimately better for us.
Show Notes:
