The Ark of God in Jerusalem. 1 Chronicles 16:1-43

Transcription

1 1 The Ark of God in Jerusalem 1 Chronicles 16:1-43

2 2 The Ark of God in Jerusalem Text: 1 Chronicles 16:1-43, 1. They brought the Ark of God and put it in the middle of the tent David had pitched for it. Then they offered burnt sacrifices and peace offerings before God. 2. When David finished offering burnt sacrifices and peace offerings, he pronounced a blessing over the people in the Lord s name. 3. He then handed out to each Israelite man and woman a loaf of bread, a date cake, and a raisin cake. 4. He appointed some of the Levites to serve before the Ark of the Lord, to offer prayers, songs of thanks, and hymns to the Lord God of Israel. 5. Asaph was the leader and Zechariah second in command, followed by Jeiel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Mattithiah, Eliab, Benaiah, Obed-Edom, and Jeiel. They were to play stringed instruments; Asaph was to sound the cymbals; 6. and the priests Benaiah and Jahaziel were to blow trumpets regularly before the Ark of God s covenant. 7. That day David first gave to Asaph and his colleagues this song of thanks to the Lord: 8. Give thanks to the Lord! Call on his name! Make known his accomplishments among the nations! 9. Sing to him! Make music to him! Tell about all his miraculous deeds! 10. Boast about his holy name! Let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice! 11. Seek the Lord and the strength he gives! Seek his presence continually! 12. Recall the miraculous deeds he performed, his mighty acts and the judgments he decreed,

3 3 13. O children of Israel, God s servant, you descendants of Jacob, God s chosen ones! 14. He is the Lord our God; he carries out judgment throughout the earth. 15. Remember continually his covenantal decree, the promise he made to a thousand generations 16. the promise he made to Abraham, the promise he made by oath to Isaac! 17. He gave it to Jacob as a decree, to Israel as a lasting promise, 18. saying, To you I will give the land of Canaan as the portion of your inheritance. 19. When they were few in number, just a very few, and foreign residents within it, 20. they wandered from nation to nation, and from one kingdom to another. 21. He let no one oppress them, he disciplined kings for their sake, 22. saying, Don t touch my anointed ones! Don t harm my prophets! 23. Sing to the Lord, all the earth! Announce every day how he delivers! 24. Tell the nations about his splendor, tell all the nations about his miraculous deeds! 25. For the Lord is great and certainly worthy of praise, he is more awesome than all gods. 26. For all the gods of the nations are worthless, but the Lord made the heavens. 27. Majestic splendor emanates from him, he is the source of strength and joy. 28. Ascribe to the Lord, O families of the nations, ascribe to the Lord splendor and strength! 29. Ascribe to the Lord the splendor he deserves! Bring an offering and enter his presence! Worship the Lord in holy attire! 30.Tremble before him, all the earth! The world is established, it cannot be moved.

4 4 31. Let the heavens rejoice, and the earth be happy! Let the nations say, The Lord reigns! 32. Let the sea and everything in it shout! Let the fields and everything in them celebrate! 33. Then let the trees of the forest shout with joy before the Lord, for he comes to judge the earth! 34. Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good and his loyal love endures. 35. Say this prayer: Deliver us, O God who delivers us! Gather us! Rescue us from the nations! Then we will give thanks to your holy name, and boast about your praiseworthy deeds. 36. May the Lord God of Israel be praised, in the future and forevermore. Then all the people said, We agree! Praise the Lord! 37. David left Asaph and his colleagues there before the Ark of the Lord s covenant to serve before the ark regularly and fulfill each day s requirements, 38. including Obed-Edom and sixty-eight colleagues. Obed-Edom son of Jeduthun and Hosah were gatekeepers. 39. Zadok the priest and his fellow priests served before the Lord s tabernacle at the worship center in Gibeon, 40. regularly offering burnt sacrifices to the Lord on the altar for burnt sacrifice, morning and evening, according to what is prescribed in the law of the Lord which he charged Israel to observe. 41. Joining them were Heman, Jeduthun, and the rest of those chosen and designated by name to give thanks to the Lord. (For his loyal love endures!) 42. Heman and Jeduthun were in charge of the music, including the trumpets, cymbals, and the other musical instruments used in praising God. The sons of Jeduthun guarded the entrance. 43. Then all the people returned to their homes, and David went to pronounce a blessing on his family. (NET)

5 5 Introduction: I. Hicks notes the importance of the entrance of the Ark of God into Jerusalem by writing, While only a few verses are dedicated to the conquest of Jerusalem (1 Chronicles 11:4-9), this whole chapter celebrates the arrival of the ark. A. 1 Chronicles 11:4-9, David and the whole Israelite army advanced to Jerusalem (that is, Jebus). (The Jebusites, the land s original inhabitants, lived there.) The residents of Jebus said to David, You cannot invade this place! But David captured the fortress of Zion (that is, the City of David). David said, Whoever attacks the Jebusites first will become commanding general! So Joab son of Zeruiah attacked first and became commander. David lived in the fortress; for this reason it is called the City of David. He built up the city around it, from the terrace to the surrounding walls; Joab restored the rest of the city. David s power steadily grew, for the Lord who commands armies was with him. (NET) Commentary: The Ark of God In Jerusalem 1 Chronicles 16:1-3, They brought the Ark of God and put it in the middle of the tent David had pitched for it. Then they offered burnt sacrifices and peace offerings before God. When David finished offering burnt sacrifices and peace offerings, he pronounced a blessing over the people in the Lord s name. He then handed out to each Israelite man and woman a loaf of bread, a date cake, and a raisin cake. (NET) I. They brought the Ark of God and set it inside the tent that David had pitched for it, and they presented burnt offerings and fellowship (peace) offerings before God. (NIV)

6 6 A. Burnt offerings are sacrifices of (atonement) dedication (Leviticus 1). The whole animal was given to God as an act of commitment and consecration. (Hicks) 1. Leviticus 1:1-17, him from the Meeting Tent: Speak to the Israelites and tell them, When someone among you presents an offering to the Lord, you must present your offering from the domesticated animals, either from the herd or from the flock. If his offering is a burnt offering from the herd he must present it as a flawless male; he must present it at the entrance of the Meeting Tent for its acceptance before the Lord. He must lay his hand on the head of the burnt offering, and it will be accepted for him to make atonement on his behalf. Then the one presenting the offering must slaughter the bull before the Lord, and the sons of Aaron, the priests, must present the blood and splash the blood against the sides of the altar which is at the entrance of the Meeting Tent. Next, the one presenting the offering must skin the burnt offering and cut it into parts, and the sons of Aaron, the priest, must put fire on the altar and arrange wood on the fire. Then the sons of Aaron, the priests, must arrange the parts with the head and the suet on the wood that is in the fire on the altar. Finally, the one presenting the offering must wash its entrails and its legs in water and the priest must offer all of it up in smoke on the altar it is a burnt offering, a gift of a soothing aroma to the Lord. If his offering is from the flock for a burnt offering from the sheep or the goats he must present a flawless male, and must slaughter it on the north side of the altar before the Lord, and the sons of Aaron, the priests, will splash its blood against the altar s sides. Next, the one presenting the offering must cut it into parts, with its head and its suet, and the priest must arrange them on the wood which

7 7 is in the fire, on the altar. Then the one presenting the offering must wash the entrails and the legs in water, and the priest must present all of it and offer it up in smoke on the altar it is a burnt offering, a gift of a soothing aroma to the Lord. If his offering to the Lord is a burnt offering from the birds, he must present his offering from the turtledoves or from the young pigeons. The priest must present it at the altar, pinch off its head and offer the head up in smoke on the altar, and its blood must be drained out against the side of the altar. Then the priest must remove its entrails by cutting off its tail feathers, and throw them to the east side of the altar into the place of fatty ashes, and tear it open by its wings without dividing it into two parts. Finally, the priest must offer it up in smoke on the altar on the wood which is in the fire it is a burnt offering, a gift of a soothing aroma to the Lord. (NET) B. The exact construction of this tent David built for the ark is not specifically stated. C. Fellowship (peace) offerings were sacrifices where the fat is burned to God, the priests ate the breasts and right thigh, and the worshipers ate the rest of the animal. (Hicks) 1. Leviticus 3:1-17, Now if his offering is a peace offering sacrifice, if he presents an offering from the herd, he must present before the Lord a flawless male or a female. He must lay his hand on the head of his offering and slaughter it at the entrance of the Meeting Tent, and the sons of Aaron, the priests, must splash the blood against the altar s sides. Then the one presenting the offering must present a gift to the Lord from the peace offering sacrifice: He must remove the fat that covers the entrails and all the fat that surrounds the entrails, the two

8 8 kidneys with the fat on their sinews, and the protruding lobe on the liver (which he is to remove along with the kidneys). Then the sons of Aaron must offer it up in smoke on the altar atop the burnt offering that is on the wood in the fire as a gift of a soothing aroma to the Lord. If his offering for a peace offering sacrifice to the Lord is from the flock, he must present a flawless male or female. If he presents a sheep as his offering, he must present it before the Lord. He must lay his hand on the head of his offering and slaughter it before the Meeting Tent, and the sons of Aaron must splash its blood against the altar s sides. Then he must present a gift to the Lord from the peace offering sacrifice: He must remove all the fatty tail up to the end of the spine, the fat covering the entrails, and all the fat on the entrails, the two kidneys with the fat on their sinews, and the protruding lobe on the liver (which he is to remove along with the kidneys). Then the priest must offer it up in smoke on the altar as a food gift to the Lord. If his offering is a goat he must present it before the Lord, lay his hand on its head, and slaughter it before the Meeting Tent, and the sons of Aaron must splash its blood against the altar s sides. Then he must present from it his offering as a gift to the Lord: the fat which covers the entrails and all the fat on the entrails, the two kidneys with the fat on their sinews, and the protruding lobe on the liver (which he is to remove along with the kidneys). Then the priest must offer them up in smoke on the altar as a food gift for a soothing aroma all the fat belongs to the Lord. This is a perpetual statute throughout your generations in all the places where you live: You must never eat any fat or any blood. (NET) 2. Leviticus 7:11-21, This is the law of the peace offering sacrifice which he is to present to the Lord. If he presents

9 9 it on account of thanksgiving, along with the thank offering sacrifice he must present unleavened loaves mixed with olive oil, unleavened wafers smeared with olive oil, and well soaked ring-shaped loaves made of choice wheat flour mixed with olive oil. 13 He must present this grain offering in addition to ring-shaped loaves of leavened bread which regularly accompany the sacrifice of his thanksgiving peace offering. He must present one of each kind of grain offering as a contribution offering to the Lord; it belongs to the priest who splashes the blood of the peace offering. The meat of his thanksgiving peace offering must be eaten on the day of his offering; he must not set any of it aside until morning. If his offering is a votive or freewill sacrifice, it may be eaten on the day he presents his sacrifice, and also the leftovers from it may be eaten on the next day, but the leftovers from the meat of the sacrifice must be burned up in the fire on the third day. If some of the meat of his peace offering sacrifice is ever eaten on the third day it will not be accepted; it will not be accounted to the one who presented it, since it is spoiled, and the person who eats from it will bear his punishment for iniquity. The meat which touches anything ceremonially unclean must not be eaten; it must be burned up in the fire. As for ceremonially clean meat, everyone who is ceremonially clean may eat the meat. The person who eats meat from the peace offering sacrifice which belongs to the Lord while his uncleanness persists will be cut off from his people. When a person touches anything unclean (whether human uncleanness, or an unclean animal, or an unclean detestable creature) and eats some of the meat of the peace offering sacrifice which belongs to the Lord, that person will be cut off from his people. (NET)

10 10 3. The meal celebrates the peace between God and his people. (Hicks) 4. Reconciliation and peace were objects of the fellowship offerings. D. These sacrifices were presented by the whole community of Israel with the Levitical priests performing their proper functions. (BBC via Coffman) F. 1 Chronicles 16:1-3, according to the Pulpit Commentary, really belong to the close of the last chapter and are parallel with Samuel 6:17-19, They brought the Ark of the Lord and put it in its place in the middle of the tent that David had pitched for it. Then David offered burnt sacrifices and peace offerings before the Lord. When David finished offering the burnt sacrifices and peace offerings, he pronounced a blessing over the people in the name of the Lord of hosts. He then handed out to each member of the entire assembly of Israel, both men and women, a portion of bread, a date cake, and a raisin cake. Then all the people went home. (NET) II. After David had finished sacrificing the burnt offerings and fellowship offerings, he reverently blessed the people in the name of the Lord. (NIV) III. Then he gave a loaf of bread, a cake dates and a cake of raisin to each Israelite man and woman. (NIV) A. These gifts were a part/function of the fellowship offering itself. (See Hicks.) B. 2 Samuel 6:17-20, They brought the Ark of the Lord and put it in its place in the middle of the tent that David had pitched for it. Then David offered burnt sacrifices and peace

11 11 offerings before the Lord. When David finished offering the burnt sacrifices and peace offerings, he pronounced a blessing over the people in the name of the Lord of hosts. He then handed out to each member of the entire assembly of Israel, both men and women, a portion of bread, a date cake, and a raisin cake. Then all the people went home. When David went home to pronounce a blessing on his own house, Michal, Saul s daughter, came out to meet him. She said, How the king of Israel has distinguished himself this day! He has exposed himself today before his servants slave girls the way a vulgar fool might do! (NET) C. Exodus 29:23-25, and one round flat cake of bread, one perforated cake of oiled bread, and one wafer from the basket of bread made without yeast that is before the Lord. You are to put all these in Aaron s hands and in his sons hands, and you are to wave them as a wave offering before the Lord. Then you are to take them from their hands and burn them on the altar for a burnt offering, for a soothing aroma before the Lord. It is an offering made by fire to the Lord. (NET) The Ark of God s Ongoing Ministry 1 Chronicles 16:4-6, He appointed some of the Levites to serve before the Ark of the Lord, to offer prayers, songs of thanks, and hymns to the Lord God of Israel. Asaph was the leader and Zechariah second in command, followed by Jeiel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Mattithiah, Eliab, Benaiah, Obed-Edom, and Jeiel. They were to play stringed instruments; Asaph was to sound the cymbals; and the priests Benaiah and Jahaziel were to blow trumpets regularly before the Ark of God s covenant. (NET) I. He appointed some of the Levites to minister (officiate) before the Ark of the Lord, to make petition, to give thanks, and to praise the lord, the God of Israel: (NIV)

12 12 A. The ministry of the Levites is described by three verbs: make petition, give thanks, and praise. (Hicks) 1. 1 Chronicles 15:2, Then David said, Only the Levites may carry the Ark of God, for the Lord chose them to carry the Ark of the Lord and to serve before him perpetually. (NET) 2. Deuteronomy 10:8, At that time the Lord set apart the tribe of Levi to carry the Ark of the Lord s covenant, to stand before the Lord to serve him, and to formulate blessings in his name, as they do to this very day. (NET) 3. Deuteronomy 18:5, For the Lord your God has chosen them and their sons from all your tribes to stand and serve in his name permanently. (NET) B. Coffman wrote, It is not altogether clear just exactly what some of these appointments included, but, of course, the persons receiving these appointments and instructions understood them and carried out their duties as instructed. C. Coffman further wrote, It is very significant that David was diligent to set up all these provisions for establishing on a permanent basis the worship of God in Jerusalem. II. Asaph was the chief, Zechariah second, then Jeiel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Mattithiah, Elial, Benaiah, Obed-Edom and Jeiel. A. Asaph was a Levite and the son of Berachiah the Gershonite. (Youngblood) 1. 2 Chronicles 20:14, Then in the midst of the assembly, the Lord s Spirit came upon Jachaziel son of Zechariah,

13 13 son of Benaiah, son of Jeiel, son of Mattaniah, a Levite and descendant of Asaph. (NET) 2. Asaph sounded cymbals before the Ark of the Covenant when it was moved from the house of Obed-Edom to Jerusalem. (Youngblood) A. 1 Chronicles 15:16-19, David told the leaders of the Levites to appoint some of their relatives as musicians; they were to play various instruments, including stringed instruments and cymbals, and to sing loudly and joyfully. So the Levites appointed Heman son of Joel; one of his relatives, Asaph son of Berechiah; one of the descendants of Merari, Ethan son of Kushaiah; along with some of their relatives who were second in rank, including Zechariah, Jaaziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Benaiah, Maaseiah, Mattithiah, Eliphelehu, Mikneiah, Obed-Edom, and Jeiel, the gatekeepers. The musicians Heman, Asaph, and Ethan were to sound the bronze cymbals; (NET) 3. Asaph s family became one of the three families given responsibility for music and song in the temple. (Youngblood) a. 1 Chronicles 25:1-9, David and the army officers selected some of the sons of Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun to prophesy as they played stringed instruments and cymbals. The following men were assigned this responsibility: From the sons of Asaph: Zaccur, Joseph, Nethaniah, and Asarelah. The sons of Asaph were supervised by Asaph, who prophesied under the king s supervision. From the sons of Jeduthun: Gedaliah, Zeri, Jeshaiah, Hashabiah, and Mattithiah six in all, under supervision of their father Jeduthun, who prophesied as he played a

14 14 harp, giving thanks and praise to the Lord. From the sons of Heman: Bukkiah, Mattaniah, Uzziel, Shebuel, Jerimoth, Hananiah, Hanani, Eliathah, Giddalti, Romamti-Ezer, Joshbekashah, Mallothi, Hothir, and Mahazioth. All these were the sons of Heman, the king s prophet. God had promised him these sons in order to make him prestigious. God gave Heman fourteen sons and three daughters. All of these were under the supervision of their fathers; they were musicians in the Lord s temple, playing cymbals and stringed instruments as they served in God s temple. Asaph, Jeduthun, and Heman were under the supervision of the king. They and their relatives, all of them skilled and trained to make music to the Lord, numbered two hundred eightyeight. They cast lots to determine their responsibilities oldest as well as youngest, teacher as well as student. The first lot went to Asaph s son Joseph and his relatives and sons twelve in all, the second to Gedaliah and his relatives and sons twelve in all, (NET) 4. Following the captivity, 128 singers from this family returned from Babylon and conducted the singing when the foundations of Zerubbabel s temple were laid. (Youngblood) a. Ezra 2:41, The singers: the descendants of Asaph: 128. (NET) b. Ezra 3:10, When the builders established the Lord s temple, the priests, ceremonially attired and with their clarions, and the Levites (the sons of Asaph) with their cymbals, stood to praise the Lord according to the instructions left by King David of Israel. (NET)

15 15 5. Twelve psalms (Psalms 50:73-83) are attributed to the family of Asaph. (Youngblood) B. Zechariah was a Levite musician in the days of David. (Youngblood) 1. 1 Chronicles 15:18, along with some of their relatives who were second in rank, including Zechariah, Jaaziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Benaiah, Maaseiah, Mattithiah, Eliphelehu, Mikneiah, Obed-Edom, and Jeiel, the gatekeepers. (NET) C. Jeiel was a Levite keeper of the ark. (Bromiley) The Pulpit Commentary states that this person is likely the Jaaziel of 1 Chronicles 15: Chronicles 15:18, along with some of their relatives who were second in rank, including Zechariah, Jaaziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Benaiah, Maaseiah, Mattithiah, Eliphelehu, Mikneiah, Obed-Edom, and Jeiel, the gatekeepers. (NET) D. Shemiramoth was a Levite harpist who was among those appointed by David to supply music during the transfer of the ark from Obed-edom to Jerusalem and to continue the musical functions in regard to ark thereafter. (Bromiley) E. Jehiel was a Levite who was one of the musicians appointed to play upon instruments at the bringing up of the ark by David. (Bromiley)

16 16 F. Mattithiah was a son of Jeduthun and a Levitical temple musician appointed in David s time to play the lyre before the ark. (Bromiley) G. Eliab was a Levite musician. (Bromiley) H. Benaiah was a Levite who was appointed as singer and to play harps according to Alamoth. (Bromiley) I. This Obed-Edom was a musician who was among those assigned to play the lyre before the Ark of the Covenant. (Bromiley) J. Jeiel, the second person of this name mentioned in verse 5, likely Jehiah, was also a Levite musician assigned to the Ark of the Covenant. (Bromiley) Note: One Jeiel in verse 6 is also called Jehiah and the other Jaaziel. 1 Chronicles 15:18, 24, along with some of their relatives who were second in rank, including Zechariah, Jaaziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Benaiah, Maaseiah, Mattithiah, Eliphelehu, Mikneiah, Obed-Edom, and Jeiel, the gatekeepers. Shebaniah, Joshaphat, Nethanel, Amasai, Zechariah, Benaiah, and Eliezer the priests were to blow the trumpets before the Ark of God; Obed-Edom and Jehiel were also guardians of the ark. (NET) III. They were to play the lyres and harps, Asaph was to sound the cymbals, and Benaiah and Jahaziel (Eliezer) the priests were to blow the trumpts regularly before the Ark of the Covenant of God. (NIV) A. Jahaziel, probably Eliezer, was one of two priests appointed by David to sound trumpets before the ark on its journey to Jerusalem and regularly thereafter. (Bromiley) 1. 1 Chronicles 15:24, Shebaniah, Joshaphat, Nethanel, Amasai, Zechariah, Benaiah, and Eliezer the priests were

17 17 to blow the trumpets before the Ark of God; Obed-Edom and Jehiel were also guardians of the ark. (NET) B. Asaph and Benaniah have been identified in II above. David s Psalm of Thanks 1 Chronicles 16:7-36, That day David first gave to Asaph and his colleagues this song of thanks to the Lord: Give thanks to the Lord! Call on his name! Make known his accomplishments among the nations! Sing to him! Make music to him! Tell about all his miraculous deeds! Boast about his holy name! Let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice! Seek the Lord and the strength he gives! Seek his presence continually! Recall the miraculous deeds he performed, his mighty acts and the judgments he decreed, O children of Israel, God s servant, you descendants of Jacob, God s chosen ones! He is the Lord our God; he carries out judgment throughout the earth. Remember continually his covenantal decree, the promise he made to a thousand generations the promise he made to Abraham, the promise he made by oath to Isaac! He gave it to Jacob as a decree, to Israel as a lasting promise, saying, To you I will give the land of Canaan as the portion of your inheritance. When they were few in number, just a very few, and foreign residents within it, they wandered from nation to nation, and from one kingdom to another. He let no one oppress them, he disciplined kings for their sake, saying, Don t touch my anointed ones! Don t harm my prophets! Sing to the Lord, all the earth! Announce every day how he delivers! Tell the nations about his splendor, tell all the nations about his miraculous deeds! For the Lord is great and certainly worthy of praise, he is more awesome than all gods. For all the gods of the nations are worthless, but the Lord made the heavens. Majestic splendor emanates from him, he is the source of strength and joy. Ascribe to the Lord, O families of the nations, ascribe to the Lord splendor and strength! Ascribe to the Lord the splendor he deserves! Bring an offering and enter his presence!

18 18 Worship the Lord in holy attire!.tremble before him, all the earth! The world is established, it cannot be moved. Let the heavens rejoice, and the earth be happy! Let the nations say, The Lord reigns! Let the sea and everything in it shout! Let the fields and everything in them celebrate! Then let the trees of the forest shout with joy before the Lord, for he comes to judge the earth! Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good and his loyal love endures. Say this prayer: Deliver us, O God who delivers us! Gather us! Rescue us from the nations! Then we will give thanks to your holy name, and boast about your praiseworthy deeds. May the Lord God of Israel be praised, in the future and forevermore. Then all the people said, We agree! Praise the Lord! (NET) I. (On) That day David first committed to Asaph and his associates this psalm of thanks to the Lord: A. On the day specified in this verse David first committed to Asaph and his associates the duty to render public worship, on praises on a regular basis to Jehovah in Jerusalem in reference to the Ark of the Covenant. (See Coffman.) II. 1 Chronicles 16:8-22 is essentially identical to Psalm 105:1-15. A. Israel in 1 Chronicles 6:13 is rendered Abraham in Psalm 105:6. B. View Psalm 105:1-15 in this lesson series by Dr. Clyde Miller. III. 1 Chronicles 16:23-33 is comparable with Psalm 96:1-13. A. View Psalm 96:1-13 in this lesson series by Dr. Clyde Miller. IV. 1 Chronicles 16:34-36 is comparable with Psalm 106:1, A. View Psalm 106:1, 47, 48 in this lesson series by Dr. Clyde Miller.

19 19 V. Then all the people said, Amen and Praise the Lord. Provision Made For On-going Care For The Ark of the Covenant 1 Chronicles 16:37-42, David left Asaph and his colleagues there before the Ark of the Lord s covenant to serve before the ark regularly and fulfill each day s requirements, including Obed-Edom and sixty-eight colleagues. Obed-Edom son of Jeduthun and Hosah were gatekeepers. Zadok the priest and his fellow priests served before the Lord s tabernacle at the worship center in Gibeon, regularly offering burnt sacrifices to the Lord on the altar for burnt sacrifice, morning and evening, according to what is prescribed in the law of the Lord which he charged Israel to observe. Joining them were Heman, Jeduthun, and the rest of those chosen and designated by name to give thanks to the Lord. (For his loyal love endures!) Heman and Jeduthun were in charge of the music, including the trumpets, cymbals, and the other musical instruments used in praising God. The sons of Jeduthun guarded the entrance. (NET) I. David left Asaph and his associates before the Ark of the Covenant of the LORD to minister there regularly, according to each day s requirements. A. This ministration was in Jerusalem where the Ark of God was now permanently located. B. The Ark of the Lord was at that time in Jerusalem while the tabernacle was in Gibeon. II. He also left Obed-Edom and his sixty-eight associates to minister with them.

20 20 III. Obed-Edom son of Jeduthun, and also Hosah, were gatekeepers. A. Hosah, a descendant of Merari, was one of the gatekeepers in the tent of the ark when David brought the ark to Jerusalem. (Bromiley) IV. David left Zadok the priest and his fellow priests before the tabernacle of the Lord at the high place in Gibeon to present burnt offerings to the LORD on the altar of burnt offerings regularly, morning and evening, in accordance with everything written in the Law of the LORD, which he had given Israel. A. Hicks quoting Braun wrote, Israel, then, had two sanctuaries during the reign of David: Jerusalem (ark) and Gibeon (tabernacle). These were united in Solomon s temple. B. Gibeon was about 5 miles NW of Jerusalem. It was a Levitical city in the tribal territory of Benjamin. (Bromiley) C. Burnt offerings were now regularly offered at the tabernacle in keeping with the Law of the LORD. 1. Exodus 28:2, You must make holy garments for your brother Aaron, for glory and for beauty. (NET) D. Coffman quoting Goodman wrote, During the times of the Judges, the tabernacle had been at Shiloh; during the reign of Saul, it was at Nob; it was later at Gibeon; and later Solomon laid it up in the temple. 1. Joshua 18:1, The entire Israelite community assembled at Shiloh and there they set up the tent of meeting. Though they had subdued the land, (NET) 2. 1 Samuel 21:1-9, David went to Ahimelech the priest in Nob. Ahimelech was shaking with fear when he met David, and said to him, Why are you by yourself with no one accompanying you? David replied to Ahimelech the

21 21 priest, The king instructed me to do something, but he said to me, Don t let anyone know the reason I am sending you or the instructions I have given you. I have told my soldiers to wait at a certain place. Now what do you have at your disposal? Give me five loaves of bread, or whatever can be found. The priest replied to David, I don t have any ordinary bread at my disposal. Only holy bread is available, and then only if your soldiers have abstained from sexual relations with women. David said to the priest, Certainly women have been kept away from us, just as on previous occasions when I have set out. The soldiers equipment is holy, even on an ordinary journey. How much more so will they be holy today, along with their equipment! So the priest gave him holy bread, for there was no bread there other than the bread of the Presence. It had been removed from before the Lord in order to replace it with hot bread on the day it had been taken away. (One of Saul s servants was there that day, detained before the Lord. His name was Doeg the Edomite, who was in charge of Saul s shepherds.) David said to Ahimelech, Is there no sword or spear here at your disposal? I don t have my own sword or equipment in hand due to the urgency of the king s instructions. The priest replied, The sword of Goliath the Philistine, whom you struck down in the valley of Elah, is wrapped in a garment behind the ephod. If you wish, take it for yourself. Other than that, there s nothing here. David said, There s nothing like it! Give it to me! (NET) 3. 1 Chronicles 16:39, Zadok the priest and his fellow priests served before the Lord s tabernacle at the worship center in Gibeon, (NET)

22 Kings 8:4, The priests and Levites carried the Ark of the Lord, the tent of meeting, and all the holy items in the tent. (NET) E. Coffman further wrote, Of course, the ark belonged in the tabernacle, in the Holy of Holies; and, although David was unable to bring about the restoration of their true relation to each other, he did set in motion the events that would eventually lead to their being together when the temple was erected by Solomon to replace the tabernacle. V. With them were Heman and Jeduthun and the rest of those chosen and designated by name to give thanks to the LORD, for his love endures forever. A. Heman was a musician and seer, Levite, son of Joel and grandson of the prophet Smuel; of the family of the Kohaltites, appointed by David as one of the leaders of the temple singing. He had fourteen sons... who assisted their father in the chorus. Heman seems also to have been a man of spiritual power; he is called, the king s seer. (Bromiley) B. Jeduthun was a Merarite Levite of the Davidic period who with Asaph and Heman was responsible for the music at the tabernacle. (Bromiley) VI. Heman and Jeduthun were responsible for the sounding of the trumpets and cymbals and for the playing of the other instruments for sacred song. A. Clarke seriously questions David s introduction of instrumental music into the worship of God. 1. Amos 6:5, They sing to the tune of stringed instruments; like David they invent musical instruments. (NET) VII. The sons of Jeduthun were stationed at the gate.

23 23 The People Disperse 1 Chronicles 16:43, Then all the people returned to their homes, and David went to pronounce a blessing on his family. (NET) I. Then all the people left, each for his own home, and David returned home to bless his family. Conclusion: I. In regard to the Ark of the Covenant, the tabernacle and the worship of God, David was certainly well intentioned. A. However, he was not immediately able to set everything in order. B. David worked at this task for many years leaving to his son Solomon the task of building the Temple. C. David s good intentions did not keep him from error which resulted in, among other things, the death of Uzzah and the prophet Amos criticism. 1. Amos 6:5, They sing to the tune of stringed instruments; like David they invent musical instruments. (NET) II. We must be well intentioned, but we must be true to God s will and do God s things in God s ways!

24 24 Questions 1 Chronicles 16:1-43 (Questions based on NIV text.) 1. How important was the entrance of the Ark of God into Jerusalem? 2. What were the purposes of burnt offerings and of what did they consist? 3. What were the purposes of fellowship offerings and of what did they consist? 4. What was David s role in regard to the Ark of God and worship of the LORD? Did David act in a priestly role? By what authority did he appoint priests?

25 25 5. For what purposes did David appoint certain Levites in verse 4? 6. Identify each of the following: (1) Asaph (2) Zechariah (3) Jeiel (4) Shemiramoth (5) Jehiel (6) Mattithiah (7) Eliab (8) Benaiah

26 26 (9) Obed-Edom (10) Jeiel (11) Jahaziel (Eliezer) (12) Hosah 7. What duties did Asaph and his family perform? 8. At the time of the events of 1 Chronicles 16 the Ark of the Covenant was at Jerusalem. Where was the tabernacle? How did it get there from Shiloh? 9. What characterized the worship at each location? Itemize similarities and differences.

27 Identify and specify the roles of: (1) Zadok (2) Heman (3) Jeduthun