Give Thanks to the Lord

1 Chronicles 16:7-36

Key Verse 16:34

This passage teaches us the purpose of God’s salvation, that is, God saves to enable man to praise his name, so that by man being able to praise God’s name, learning to render glory to God always, man would continue to remain in a mode where he can be blessed in an infinite measure. 

Read verse 7. “That day” refers to the day when the ark of the Lord entered the City of David (15:29). This verse associates the event (the ark entering the City) with “David’s Psalm of Thanks” to the Lord. What does this passage indicate about the significance of this event?

** The Ark of the Covenant is significant in that it represents the framework for a blessed life – the life that is blessed by God without a limit. [Just think about Moses’ Ten Commandments, for they teach us the right way to build the right relationship with God and with one’s neighbor. And think about the fact that relationships run vertically and horizontally.  These two relationships make a plus sign. At the heart of this sign is our Lord Jesus, who opened the way for us to be saved for the life in the eternal presence of the Lord.]

Read verses 8-9 and think about the exhortation to “make known among the nations what he has done” or to “tell of all his wonderful acts”. Here the word “he” or “his” refers to the Lord himself, rather than David. In what respect is it often difficult to talk about what the Lord has done rather than what I have done? 

** It is not always easy, largely because of one’s ignorance of the way in which successes come into our lives. Essentially these verses teach us to ascribe all of our successes to the Lord. But we often times end up not recognizing the Lord, mostly because of our ignorance. The Lord is the maker of all. If one makes a lot of money, in the first place it is the Lord who made that person, but that person can go proud and thereby become blind to see the Lord. He then gets puffed up and ends up bragging about himself. 

Read verses 10-11. Verse 10 says, “Let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice.” Normally people think they will find true joy when they find what they seek. Yet why does this passage say that one must rejoice even before finding what one is called to seek? 

** Two reasons can be said: first, it is because as far as seeking the Lord is concerned the result is guaranteed, for the Lord loves those who seek him that he always ensures that the seeker of him would find him. The second reason is that unlike all other objects of man’s search (like money) one will be fully satisfied with the result. Indeed all the objects which men seek (other than the Lord) are limited, so man is condemned to be dissatisfied even after getting what one desires to get. But it is not so with the Lord, for he is infinitely great. 

Read verse 12. What does “the judgments” refer to? How does one benefit by remembering the judgments he pronounced?

** Moses Ten Commandments have both the message of salvation and the message of judgment. For example, if one worships idols then one remains condemned to fall under God’s wrath and anger. 

Other examples include the disaster that hit the Philistines as the ark of the Lord stayed in their territory. 

** We are benefited by knowing in advance the way that leads to destruction. 

 

Read verses 13-22 and compare this passage with Genesis 12:1-4. What does this comparison indicate about God’s purpose in calling his children?

** It is for each person to become a source of blessing for all peoples on earth, by helping that person to know what it is to put trust in Him and obey His will. 

Read verses 23-33. What do the following verbs tell us about the practical way to fulfill the purpose of God’s calling for his children? 

Sing;

Proclaim;

Declare;

Ascribe;

Bring (an offering and come to him); 

Worship; and

Tremble.

** This is the call to become a good witness of Jesus Christ, so many would be saved into the blessed life in the Lord. 

Read verses 34-36. This passage suggests that God’s purpose of salvation is to enable the saved ones to bring glory to Him. What does God’s purpose do for man? 

** The purpose of God’s saving man and helping him bring glory to Him, is so that man himself would be blessed by God fully and all the time.

The end

---