A Model For Worship
As David
brings the Ark to Jerusalem, David also has an inaugural worship. As we saw yesterday in the procession, there
is quite a fanfare at the worship.
Trumpets are blown. Cymbals are
clashed. Songs are sung.
In this,
I see two very interesting points.
First, let’s look at the prayers that the Levites are to make. The Levites are to invoke the Lord. That verb there means to remember or to call
to mind. The Levites in charge of the
worship space are tasked with remembering the Lord. Why is this important? Well, when David was king the Lord was
remembered. Things went well for the
Hebrew people during David’s reign.
However, we know from reading the Minor Prophets that as time goes on,
the priests and Levites in the temple no longer remember the name of the Lord. As the Lord is forgotten in the temple, the
people fall into sin and judgment.
Second,
notice that as the worship is consecrated, David distributes food to all those
who are present. Worship is not just
about bringing glory to God – although certainly that is far and away the
primary focus. But worship also has
something for those who are worshipping.
There is something upon which we can feed. Sometimes it is literal food. Other times it is spiritual food. But rest assured, there is always something
for us when we come and worship God.
Song of Thanks
Much of
the rest of the chapter is a song of thanks written by David. Actually, this is a compilation of three separate
psalms. Verses 8-22 come from Psalm
105:1-15. Verses 23-33 come from Psalm
96:1-13. Verses 34-36 come from Psalm
106:1, 47-48. What has likely happened
is that David uses some content from psalms that he had written earlier in his
life that he found were particularly meaningful in worshipping God.
As for
the actual content of this song, it is especially fitting that the chronicler would
choose to recount these words. There are
a number of themes brought up throughout this psalm. Each of these themes would be significant to
a group of exiles returning after being humbled by their God.
First,
notice how many times David urges the people to seek the Lord. They are to seek Him for strength. They are to seek Him for life. Life is best when it is spent in the pursuit
of God.
Second,
they are to declare praise of God. They
are to praise God’s name in His presence.
They are to declare God’s praise to the people around them. Through David, the chronicler has a great
opportunity to exhort the people to not lose sight of God and to encourage the
people around them to do likewise. One
of the best ways to continue in God’s ways is to be active about proclaiming
His greatness to the Lord.
Third,
how much of these quoted psalms have to do with remembering the Lord? They are to not only remember the Lord, but
remember the faithfulness of the Lord.
In spite of human sinfulness, God has remained faithful to His portion
of the covenant. This is a powerful
testimony to the people coming back from the exile.
Fourth,
the psalm ends on a note of salvation.
It is at the Lord’s hand that salvation comes. Remember that in the chronicler’s time the
Hebrew people have watched nation after nation be destroyed and wiped off of
the face of the earth under the Assyrians, Babylonians, and Persians. Yet, they remain. God allowed them to continue to exist. They were spared when others weren’t.
Business As Usual
Once the
festivities and the worship are over, David leaves people in charge and goes
home. The rest of the Hebrew people who
had gathered went back to their homes.
They returned to their normal lives.
This may
seem like a let-down, but I believe on a certain level that this is actually a
good thing. Certainly the worship couldn’t
last forever. The Hebrew people need to
go back into the world or else they wouldn’t be able to declare the greatness
of the Lord! We must leave worship and
return to the world in order to live out our calling from God.
Second,
this demonstrates a certain level of trust.
David trusts that the priests and the Levites can do their job. David doesn’t need to micromanage the work of
the temple. David is a war general. His place is in the palace, both leading the
Hebrew people politically and preparing for the battlefield. There are people better suited for the job of
caring for the Ark. David leaves the task
in their capable hands.
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