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Thanksgiving before the Ark
This song begins with thanks to Yahweh and moves outward to praise, memory, witness, and prayer. It teaches God’s people to remember what he has done and to tell the nations who he is.
Understanding the passage
Read these words in context
In this passage, David appoints Asaph and his brothers to lead thanksgiving to Yahweh. What follows is worship material given for that day, calling Israel to remember Yahweh’s works, covenant, greatness, and saving help. The passage ends with all the people saying, “Amen,” and praising Yahweh.
1 Chronicles 16:7–36Main takeaway
This passage teaches worship that remembers Yahweh’s acts, honours his name, and calls all peoples to praise him.
Explore the poem and its images
Open a card to explore the full explanation and its Bible references.
01A call to thank, sing, seek, and rememberThe song opens with active worship: give thanks, call on Yahweh’s name, sing, tell, glory, seek, and remember.
Explanation
The song opens with active worship: give thanks, call on Yahweh’s name, sing, tell, glory, seek, and remember. Worship here is not only private feeling. It includes speaking about what Yahweh has done and rejoicing as people seek him. “Judgments of his mouth” points to what Yahweh has spoken and decided.
02Remembering Yahweh’s covenant careThe passage addresses the offspring of Israel and Jacob as God’s chosen ones. It recalls Yahweh’s covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, including the promise of Canaan as an inheritance.
Explanation
The passage addresses the offspring of Israel and Jacob as God’s chosen ones. It recalls Yahweh’s covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, including the promise of Canaan as an inheritance. Even when they were few and moved from nation to nation, Yahweh protected them and warned kings not to harm them.
03Yahweh’s praise belongs among all peoplesThe song widens from Israel to all the earth. People are told to declare Yahweh’s salvation, glory, and marvellous works among the nations.
Explanation
The song widens from Israel to all the earth. People are told to declare Yahweh’s salvation, glory, and marvellous works among the nations. The reason is clear: Yahweh is great, to be feared above all gods, and unlike the peoples’ idols, Yahweh made the heavens. His place is marked by honour, strength, and gladness.
04Glory, reverence, and a closing prayerAll families of the peoples are called to ascribe glory to Yahweh, bring an offering, and worship him.
Explanation
All families of the peoples are called to ascribe glory to Yahweh, bring an offering, and worship him. Creation is pictured rejoicing because Yahweh reigns and comes to judge the earth. The song closes with thanks for his enduring loving kindness, a prayer for salvation and gathering, and the people’s “Amen”.
Questions to explore
Pause, look back at the verses and talk together.
01What actions of worship are named at the start of the song?
List the verbs in the opening lines, such as giving thanks, calling, singing, seeking, and remembering, and notice that worship includes both praise and speaking about Yahweh’s works.
02How does the song describe Yahweh’s care for his people in earlier generations?
Look for the covenant promises and the protection given when they were few and travelled among nations.
03Why should the nations praise Yahweh according to this passage?
Use the reasons the text gives: Yahweh’s greatness, his glory, his salvation, and the fact that he made the heavens while idols are idols.
Read the Bible passage
World English Bible ClassicScripture quotation · Public domain
1 Chronicles 16:7–36
7Then on that day David first ordained giving of thanks to Yahweh by the hand of Asaph and his brothers.
8Oh give thanks to Yahweh. Call on his name. Make what he has done known among the peoples.
9Sing to him. Sing praises to him. Tell of all his marvelous works.
10Glory in his holy name. Let the heart of those who seek Yahweh rejoice.
11Seek Yahweh and his strength. Seek his face forever more.
12Remember his marvelous works that he has done, his wonders, and the judgments of his mouth,
13you offspring of Israel his servant, you children of Jacob, his chosen ones.
14He is Yahweh our God. His judgments are in all the earth.
15Remember his covenant forever, the word which he commanded to a thousand generations,
16the covenant which he made with Abraham, his oath to Isaac.
17He confirmed it to Jacob for a statute, and to Israel for an everlasting covenant,
18saying, “I will give you the land of Canaan, The lot of your inheritance,”
19when you were but a few men in number, yes, very few, and foreigners in it.
20They went about from nation to nation, from one kingdom to another people.
21He allowed no man to do them wrong. Yes, he reproved kings for their sakes,
22“Don’t touch my anointed ones! Do my prophets no harm!”
23Sing to Yahweh, all the earth! Display his salvation from day to day.
24Declare his glory among the nations, and his marvelous works among all the peoples.
25For great is Yahweh, and greatly to be praised. He also is to be feared above all gods.
26For all the gods of the peoples are idols, but Yahweh made the heavens.
27Honor and majesty are before him. Strength and gladness are in his place.
28Ascribe to Yahweh, you families of the peoples, ascribe to Yahweh glory and strength!
29Ascribe to Yahweh the glory due to his name. Bring an offering, and come before him. Worship Yahweh in holy array.
30Tremble before him, all the earth. The world also is established that it can’t be moved.
31Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice! Let them say among the nations, “Yahweh reigns!”
32Let the sea roar, and its fullness! Let the field exult, and all that is in it!
33Then the trees of the forest will sing for joy before Yahweh, for he comes to judge the earth.
34Oh give thanks to Yahweh, for he is good, for his loving kindness endures forever.
35Say, “Save us, God of our salvation! Gather us together and deliver us from the nations, to give thanks to your holy name, to triumph in your praise.”
36Blessed be Yahweh, the God of Israel, from everlasting even to everlasting. All the people said, “Amen,” and praised Yahweh.