Give praise to the Lord, proclaim his name; make known among the nations what he has done. 1 Chronicles 16:8
The heat and humidity of the Midwestern summer closed in on us all week at the discipleship conference, but on the last day we welcomed a front of cooler air. Giving thanks for the break in weather and the amazing work God had done, hundreds joined voices to worship God. Many felt liberated to sing wholeheartedly before God, offering hearts, souls, bodies, and minds to Him. As I think back to that day decades later, I’m reminded of the pure wonder and joy of praising God.
King David knew how to wholeheartedly worship God. He rejoiced when the ark of the covenant, which signified God’s presence, was placed in Jerusalem—by dancing, leaping, and celebrating (1 Chronicles 15:29). Even though his wife Michal observed his abandon and “despised him in her heart” (v. 29), David didn’t let her criticism stop him from worshiping the one true God. Even if he appeared undignified, he wanted to give thanks to God for choosing him to lead the nation (see 2 Samuel 6:21–22).
David “appointed Asaph and his associates to give praise to the Lord in this manner: Give praise to the Lord, proclaim his name; make known among the nations what he has done. Sing to him, sing praise to him; tell of all his wonderful acts” (1 Chronicles 16:7–9). May we too give ourselves fully to worshiping God by pouring out our praise and adoration.
Read: 1 Chronicles 15:29-16:11 (NIV)
29 As the ark of the covenant of the Lord was entering the City of David, Michal daughter of Saul watched from a window. And when she saw King David dancing and celebrating, she despised him in her heart.
Ministering Before the Ark
16 1 They brought the ark of God and set it inside the tent that David had pitchedd for it, and they presented burnt offerings and fellowship offerings before God.
2 After David had finished sacrificing the burnt offerings and fellowship offerings, he blessede the people in the name of the Lord.
3 Then he gave a loaf of bread, a cake of dates and a cake of raisinsf to each Israelite man and woman.
4 He appointed some of the Levites to ministerg before the ark of the Lord, to extol,a thank, and praise the Lord, the God of Israel:
5 Asaph was the chief, and next to him in rank were Zechariah, then Jaaziel,b Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Mattithiah, Eliab, Benaiah, Obed-Edom and Jeiel. They were to play the lyres and harps, Asaph was to sound the cymbals,
6 and Benaiah and Jahaziel the priests were to blow the trumpets regularly before the ark of the covenant of God.
7 That day David first appointed Asaph and his associates to give praiseh to the Lord in this manner:
8 Give praisei to the Lord, proclaim his name;
make known among the nationsj what he has done.
9 Sing to him, sing praisek to him;
tell of all his wonderful acts.
10 Glory in his holy name;l
let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice.
11 Look to the Lord and his strength;
seekm his face always.
INSIGHT
- When have you felt free to worship God wholeheartedly?
- What led you to that sense of freedom and release?
The ark of the covenant was the most important piece of furniture in the tabernacle. The ark the craftsman Bezalel made was an oblong chest (measuring about 45 x 27 x 27 inches) made of acacia wood overlaid on the inside and outside with gold (see Exodus 31:1–5; 37:1–9). Inside the ark were the tablets containing the Law given to Moses (25:16), a pot of manna, and Aaron’s rod (Numbers 17:10). The lid of the ark was called the mercy seat, a slab of gold that fit over the top of the chest and featured two cherubim.
PRAYER
Creator God, we proclaim Your name above all others. You’re worthy to be praised! We worship You! In Jesus name, I pray. Amen!!
Read: 1 Chronicles 15:29-16:11 (NIV) | Bible in a Year: Jeremiah 43-45; Hebrews 5
