The One Year® Chronological Bible, NKJV (Tyndale, 2013), April 23
The song recorded in 1 Chronicles 16 grants a look into David's happy heart.
Joy bubbles up when he recalls the promises of God to Abraham regarding a land, descendants, and a people. A thousand years later David himself has become a part of that fulfillment! Who would have thought it?
David's personal identity is enmeshed in the promises of God regarding a land and a people. David acknowledges:
- God's worth--"Oh, give thanks to the LORD! Call upon His name; make known His deeds among the peoples! Sing to Him . . . talk of all His wondrous works. Glory in His holy name . . . . Seek the LORD and His strength; seek His face evermore" (16:8-11).
- God's people--"Remember His marvelous works which He has done, His wonders, and the judgments of His mouth, O seed of Israel His servant, you children of Jacob, His chosen ones! He is the LORD our God; His judgments are in all the earth" (16:12-14)
- God's faithfulness--Beginning with the covenant that God made with Abraham, David chronicles God's faithfulness to one man and his descendants (16:15-22).
David spends the remainder of this psalm worshiping the LORD and reveling in God's goodness and greatness.
Because David is aware of his place in His Story, he is able to lead Israel to understand their place in His Story. Because David worships God personally and privately, he can lead Israel to worship God publicly. Because music and worship are foundational to David's personal development, he is able to make music and worship the center of Israel's culture. David has no idea that his place in God's story and his worship practice, both private and public, will contribute to the spiritual wellbeing of millions of believers in succeeding generations.
This scene reveals a number of truths about identity, authenticity, worship, and leadership:
- No one can lead others beyond their own personal experience.
- Authenticity occurs when the public persona matches the private person.
- A worshiping heart directs others to the greatness of the Living God.
- The most powerful songs are those that bubble up out of the heart from the overflow of a life lived in the presence of God.
Questions from today's chronological Bible reading (2 Samuel 6:12-23; 1 Chronicles 15:1-16:43):
What role do the Levites play in David's kingdom? What does David's positioning of the ark reveal about his understanding of the laws regarding the Tent of Meeting given to Israel in the Exodus era?
What does the song of praise in 1 Chronicles 16 reveal about David's understanding of Israel's history?
What impact does David's spiritual leadership have upon Israel?