Praise and Worship in 1Chronicles
Praise in 1Chronicles
Answered prayer (4:10)
Those who serve the lord (9:13)
People who help us in times of need (12:18)
Victory over the enemies of god’s people (14:11)
The holiness of his character (15:12-14)
Those who worship the lord (16:10)
His faithfulness to his promises (16:15)
His rule over all the earth (16:31)
His salvation (16:35)
Faithful believers who pass on to us their wisdom (28:9)
His plans for us, which he has written down in his word (28:19)
His majesty and splendor (29:11).
Worship in 1Chronicles
First Chronicles begins with several chapters of genealogies—lists of families and names—starting with Adam and continuing through the priests and leaders at the beginning of David’s reign. Most of the remaining chapters retell the history of Israel up to the death of David, whose reign significantly shaped the faith and worship of God’s people. The Ark of the Covenant, where the Lord’s presence resided, was carried up to Jerusalem and placed in its own tent. Priests were appointed to worship before the Ark with singing and instrumental praise. David bought the threshing floor of Araunah as the site for the future Temple. He organized the priests and musicians for their various duties in the worship of the Lord.
With great rejoicing, David brought the Ark of the Covenant up to Jerusalem from the house of Obed-edom. The festive procession began with special sacrifices, and continued with glad shouts, singing, and the sounding of trumpets and other instruments. After the Ark arrived, David placed it in a special tent. He appointed some of the Levites, Asaph and his associates, to worship the Lord before the Ark. They were to proclaim the Lord’s great deeds (16:9-12), his faithfulness to his covenant (16:15), and his dominion over all the world (16:25-29).
For Israel, this was a new facet to worship—not the sacrifices of animals and the offerings of grain, but the organized singing and instrumental music that became a regular part of worship at the Tabernacle and Temple. This feature of worship characterizes many of the Psalms: “God has ascended with a mighty shout. The LORD has ascended with trumpets blaring” (47:5); “Sing a new song to the LORD!” (96:1); “Praise him with a blast of the trumpet; praise him with the lyre and harp!” (150:3). This regular celebratory praise has been called New Testament worship in an Old Testament setting. It anticipates worship offered by the early Christians, who sang “psalms and hymns and spiritual songs” to the Lord (Ephesians 5:19), offering their “sacrifice of praise” (Hebrews 13:15).
Genealogies record God’s faithfulness to many generations of his people (5:20).
Our heritage influences our worship. In Israelite society, the Levites were specifically charged with certain duties in worship, and these duties were passed down through the generations (9:22).
The might of great leaders rests ultimately in God’s hands (11:9).
Worship can strengthen our relationships (12:18).
Worship leads us to bless others, which may involve providing for their physical needs (16:3).
The blessing of the Lord upon one person can eventually touch many generations (17:27).
When we sin, we cannot always escape the consequences, but we can always depend on the Lord’s mercy (21:13).
Our acts of worship should flow out of a heart that loves God (28:9-10).