Bible Commentaries

1 Chronicles 16:3. A flagon of wine— A draught of wine. Hiller, p. 333.

1 Chronicles 16:7. Then—David delivered first this psalm, &c.— On that same day David delivered this psalm, that Asaph and his brethren might praise the Lord by it. Houbigant. See the 96th and 105th Psalms.

1 Chronicles 16:39. And Zadok the priest, and his brethren, &c.— Zadok was the chief of the secondary priests, and ministered in the tabernacle of Moses then at Gibeon. Here the ordinary worship of God was performed, and the daily sacrifices offered on the altar made by Moses; but the extraordinary worship was performed before the ark at Jerusalem, where Abiathar the high priest attended. See Bishop Patrick. The words, and with them Heman and Jeduthun, at the beginning of the 42nd verse, are omitted by the LXX. Instead of, cymbals for those that should make a sound, in that verse, Houbigant reads, well-sounding cymbals. See ch. 1 Chronicles 15:19.

REFLECTIONS.—1st, The ark being safely lodged, great sacrifices were offered in honour to God; the people nobly feasted, and a constant course of Levites was now appointed to sing God's praises, and to commemorate the mercies which they had received from him. Note; (1.) Grateful praise is the most acceptable sacrifice. (2.) The hungry who wait upon God shall be filled with his good things. (3.) Our worship of God must be regular and constant: whatever engagements may call us off, we must never omit the daily work of prayer and praise.

2nd, David's psalm opens [1.] with thanksgiving. God's people are bound (1.) to praise him. (2.) To call upon him in prayer, for the continuance of his mercies. (3.) To publish his glory to others. (4.) To rejoice in him; yea, to glory in his name, in his love, power, faithfulness, and mercy. [2.] It contains grateful memorials of God's dealings, which deserve everlasting remembrance. (1.) The covenant established with their fathers, and fulfilled to them. (2.) The miraculous works and providential preservation for which they were indebted to him. (3.) The statutes and judgments of his revealed will, with which they were so peculiarly favoured. [3.] It proceeds to declare the transcendant excellency of Israel's God. (1.) He, as the Creator, is alone deserving of worship, fear, and adoration. (2.) His perfections are great beyond compare, his strength almighty, his goodness unutterable, his glory surpasing, his dominion universal. (3.) He who is the universal governor, is also the universal judge; at whose bar the eternal state of man must be determined. [4.] In consequence of these views of God's glory, and past experience of his mercy, the Psalmist closes his song of praise with the language of prayer. (1.) He begs salvation from every enemy. (2.) That God would gather together his people, now in the land of promise, and shortly in the regions of glory. (3.) Lastly, he declares, that the consequence of his continual grace will engage their everlasting praise. [5.] The people hereunto added their joyful amen, and praised the Lord: and so may every faithful soul, in every age and place, exalt God's glory, grace, and faithfulness; and, as in duty bound, earnestly supplicate the continuance of the same blessings.

3rdly, The ark being fixed at Jerusalem, and the Levites appointed to minister before it, David takes a little care of the tabernacle at Gibeon. There Zadok attended, with the priests and Levites, to offer the appointed sacrifices continually, while Abiathar probably abode at Jerusalem, to consult the Lord before the ark. The service of God being thus settled, the people departed with joy, and David went down to bless his house, to pray with them, and for them. Note; Public services must never supersede private and family devotion.