David's song

Wednesday 07/22/20

Series: Thru the Bible

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Thru the Bible: 1 Chron. 16-18; 2 Sam. 7-8

Last week was nearly all about the return of the Ark of the Covenant. This week we begin with the song David composed and gave to Asaph to be used in thanks to the Lord.

The words of this psalm are an entire series of bible lessons in themselves and that too is a lesson. David was a man of great passion. He thought and felt deeply…he was not a surface dweller or a shallow person. He had eyes wide open and he saw God in so many things with those eyes.

It reminds me of a much loved poem from William Blake,

“This life’s dim windows of the soul

Distorts the heavens from pole to pole

And leads you to believe a lie

When you see with, not through, the eye.”

David loved God…was passionate about Him and was not in the slightest embarrassed or ashamed of the ardor of that love.

People of great heart are often privy to insights regarding God and this life which pass right by others. While it is true that we need the scriptures to ground us in reality so that our emotions do not lead our hearts from the truth, those who feel things deeply and love without restraints or embarrassment, possess clearer, less obstructed eyes than the rest of us…and we are bound to thank God for their sharing what they see with the world.

David’s song of thanks

1 Chronicles 16:7-36,

“(7) On that day David first delivered this psalm into the hand of Asaph and his brethren, to thank the LORD:”

“(8) Oh, give thanks to the LORD!

Call upon His name;

Make known His deeds among the peoples!

(9) Sing to Him, sing psalms to Him;

Talk of all His wondrous works!

(10) Glory in His holy name;

Let the hearts of those rejoice who seek the LORD!

(11) Seek the LORD and His strength;

Seek His face evermore!

(12) Remember His marvelous works which He has done,

His wonders, and the judgments of His mouth,

(13) O seed of Israel His servant,

You children of Jacob, His chosen ones!

(14) He is the LORD our God;

His judgments are in all the earth.

(15) Remember His covenant forever,

The word which He commanded, for a thousand generations,

(16) The covenant which He made with Abraham,

And His oath to Isaac,

(17) And confirmed it to Jacob for a statute,

To Israel for an everlasting covenant,

(18) Saying, “To you I will give the land of Canaan

As the allotment of your inheritance,”

(19) When you were few in number, Indeed very few, and strangers in it. (20) When they went from one nation to another,

And from one kingdom to another people,

(21) He permitted no man to do them wrong;

Yes, He rebuked kings for their sakes, (22) Saying,

“Do not touch My anointed ones, And do My prophets no harm.”

(23) Sing to the LORD, all the earth;

Proclaim the good news of His salvation from day to day.

(24) Declare His glory among the nations,

His wonders among all peoples.

(25) For the LORD is great and greatly to be praised;

He is also to be feared above all gods.

(26) For all the gods of the peoples are idols,

But the LORD made the heavens.

(27) Honor and majesty are before Him;

Strength and gladness are in His place.

(28) Give to the LORD, O families of the peoples,

Give to the LORD glory and strength.

(29) Give to the LORD the glory due His name;

Bring an offering, and come before Him.

Oh, worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness! (Devotion)

(30) Tremble before Him, all the earth.

The world also is firmly established, It shall not be moved.

(31) Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad;

And let them say among the nations, “The LORD reigns.”

(32) Let the sea roar, and all its fullness;

Let the field rejoice, and all that is in it.

(33) Then the trees of the woods shall rejoice before the LORD,

For He is coming to judge the earth.

(34) Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good!

For His mercy endures forever.

(35) And say, “Save us, O God of our salvation;

Gather us together, and deliver us from the Gentiles,

To give thanks to Your holy name,

To triumph in Your praise.”

(36) Blessed be the LORD God of Israel

From everlasting to everlasting!

And all the people said, “Amen!” and praised the LORD.”

WOW! Praise is as much a revelation of a person’s heart as it is an extolling of the one being praised. This is why the psalms tell us that, “Praise is becoming to the upright”.

Listen to the words David uses to describe God and the favor and solicitous love and care He has shown to His people. Praise is the product of a heart that is mindful of God and grateful for and to Him!

These words were given to Asaph to be used immediately in song with the people, but were also later worked into various Psalms in the book of Psalms.

Its first movement (8-22) is found in Psalm 105:1-15
Its second movement (23-33) in Psalm 96:1b-13a
Its third movement (34-36) consisting of a quotation of the opening and closing sentences of Psalm 106:1-47 and 48.

All three of these canonical psalms are anonymous, ‘orphan psalms’ (without title) in the Old Testament Psalter; but on the basis of the king’s use of them here, they should indeed be classed as penned by his hand.

Worship is restored to Israel through obedience!

1 Chronicles 16:36-43,

“(37) So he left Asaph and his brothers there before the ark of the covenant of the LORD to minister before the ark regularly, as every day’s work required; (38) and Obed-Edom with his sixty-eight brethren, including Obed-Edom the son of Jeduthun, and Hosah, to be gatekeepers; (39) and Zadok the priest and his brethren the priests, before the tabernacle of the LORD at the high place that was at Gibeon, (40) to offer burnt offerings to the LORD on the altar of burnt offering regularly morning and evening, and to do according to all that is written in the Law of the LORD which He commanded Israel;

(41) and with them Heman and Je-duthun and the rest who were chosen, who were designated by name, to give thanks to the LORD, because His mercy endures forever; (42) and with them Heman and Je-duthun, to sound aloud with trumpets and cymbals and the musical instruments of God.

Now the sons of Je-duthun were gatekeepers. (43) Then all the people departed, every man to his house; and David returned to bless his house.”

David’s desire & God’s promise

1 Chronicles 17:1-15,

“(1) Now it came to pass, when David was dwelling in his house, that David said to Nathan the prophet,

“See now, I dwell in a house of cedar, but the ark of the covenant of the LORD is under tent curtains.”

(2) Then Nathan said to David, “Do all that is in your heart, for God is with you.”

(3) But it happened that night that the word of God came to Nathan, saying,

(4) “Go and tell My servant David, ‘Thus says the LORD: “You shall not build Me a house to dwell in. (5) For I have not dwelt in a house since the time that I brought up Israel, even to this day, but have gone from tent to tent, and from one tabernacle to another. (6) Wherever I have moved about with all Israel, have I ever spoken a word to any of the judges of Israel, whom I commanded to shepherd My people, saying, ‘Why have you not built Me a house of cedar?’ ” ‘ (7) Now therefore, thus shall you say to My servant David, ‘Thus says the LORD of hosts: “I took you from the sheepfold, from following the sheep, to be ruler over My people Israel. (8) And I have been with you wherever you have gone, and have cut off all your enemies from before you, and have made you a name like the name of the great men who are on the earth. (9) Moreover I will appoint a place for My people Israel, and will plant them, that they may dwell in a place of their own and move no more; nor shall the sons of wickedness oppress them anymore, as previously, (10) since the time that I commanded judges to be over My people Israel. Also I will subdue all your enemies. Furthermore I tell you that the LORD will build you a house. (11) And it shall be, when your days are fulfilled, when you must go to be with your fathers, that I will set up your seed after you, who will be of your sons; and I will establish his kingdom. (12) He shall build Me a house, and I will establish his throne forever. (13) I will be his Father, and he shall be My son; and I will not take My mercy away from him, as I took it from him who was before you. (14) And I will establish him in My house and in My kingdom forever; and his throne shall be established forever.” ‘ ”

(15) According to all these words and according to all this vision, so Nathan spoke to David.”

2 Samuel 7:1-17,

“(1) Now it came to pass when the king was dwelling in his house, and the LORD had given him rest from all his enemies all around, (2) that the king said to Nathan the prophet,

“See now, I dwell in a house of cedar, but the ark of God dwells inside tent curtains.”

(3) Then Nathan said to the king, “Go, do all that is in your heart, for the LORD is with you.”

(4) But it happened that night that the word of the LORD came to Nathan, saying, (5) “Go and tell My servant David, ‘Thus says the LORD: “Would you build a house for Me to dwell in? (6) For I have not dwelt in a house since the time that I brought the children of Israel up from Egypt, even to this day, but have moved about in a tent and in a tabernacle. (7) Wherever I have moved about with all the children of Israel, have I ever spoken a word to anyone from the tribes of Israel, whom I commanded to shepherd My people Israel, saying, ‘Why have you not built Me a house of cedar?’ ” ‘ (8) Now therefore, thus shall you say to My servant David, ‘Thus says the LORD of hosts: “I took you from the sheepfold, from following the sheep, to be ruler over My people, over Israel. (9) And I have been with you wherever you have gone, and have cut off all your enemies from before you, and have made you a great name, like the name of the great men who are on the earth. (10) Moreover I will appoint a place for My people Israel, and will plant them, that they may dwell in a place of their own and move no more; nor shall the sons of wickedness oppress them anymore, as previously, (11) since the time that I commanded judges to be over My people Israel, and have caused you to rest from all your enemies. Also the LORD tells you that He will make you a house. (12) “When your days are fulfilled and you rest with your fathers, I will set up your seed after you, who will come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. (13) He shall build a house for My name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. (14) I will be his Father, and he shall be My son. If he commits iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men and with the blows of the sons of men. (15) But My mercy shall not depart from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I removed from before you. (16) And your house and your kingdom shall be established forever before you. Your throne shall be established forever.” ‘ ”

(17) According to all these words and according to all this vision, so Nathan spoke to David.”

David expresses gratitude

2 Samuel 7:18-29,

“(18) Then King David went in and sat before the LORD; and he said: “Who am I, O Lord GOD? And what is my house, that You have brought me this far? (19) And yet this was a small thing in Your sight, O Lord GOD; and You have also spoken of Your servant’s house for a great while to come. Is this the manner of man, O Lord GOD? (20) Now what more can David say to You? For You, Lord GOD, know Your servant. (21) For Your word’s sake, and according to Your Own heart, You have done all these great things, to make Your servant know them. (22) Therefore You are great, O Lord GOD. For there is none like You, nor is there any God besides You, according to all that we have heard with our ears. (23) And who is like Your people, like Israel, the one nation on the earth whom God went to redeem for Himself as a people, to make for Himself a name—and to do for Yourself great and awesome deeds for Your land—before Your people whom You redeemed for Yourself from Egypt, the nations, and their gods? (24) For You have made Your people Israel Your very own people forever; and You, LORD, have become their God.

(25) “Now, O LORD God, the word which You have spoken concerning Your servant and concerning his house, establish it forever and do as You have said. (26) So let Your name be magnified forever, saying,

‘The LORD of hosts is the God over Israel.’ And let the house of Your servant David be established before You. (27) For You, O LORD of hosts, God of Israel, have revealed this to Your servant, saying, ‘I will build you a house.’ Therefore Your servant has found it in his heart to pray this prayer to You. (28) “And now, O Lord GOD, You are God, and Your words are true, and You have promised this goodness to Your servant. (29) Now therefore, let it please You to bless the house of Your servant, that it may continue before You forever; for You, O Lord GOD, have spoken it, and with Your blessing let the house of Your servant be blessed forever.”

1 Chronicles 17:16-27,

“(16) Then King David went in and sat before the LORD; and he said: “Who am I, O LORD God? And what is my house, that You have brought me this far? (17) And yet this was a small thing in Your sight, O God; and You have also spoken of Your servant’s house for a great while to come, and have regarded me according to the rank of a man of high degree, O LORD God. (18) What more can David say to You for the honor of Your servant? For You know Your servant. (19) O LORD, for Your servant’s sake, and according to Your own heart, You have done all this greatness, in making known all these great things. (20) O LORD, there is none like You, nor is there any God besides You, according to all that we have heard with our ears. (21) And who is like Your people Israel, the one nation on the earth whom God went to redeem for Himself as a people—to make for Yourself a name by great and awesome deeds, by driving out nations from before Your people whom You redeemed from Egypt? (22) For You have made Your people Israel Your very own people forever; and You, LORD, have become their God. (23) “And now, O LORD, the word which You have spoken concerning Your servant and concerning his house, let it be established forever, and do as You have said. (24) So let it be established, that Your name may be magnified forever, saying, ‘The LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, is Israel’s God.’ And let the house of Your servant David be established before You. (25) For You, O my God, have revealed to Your servant that You will build him a house. Therefore Your servant has found it in his heart to pray before You. (26) And now, LORD, You are God, and have promised this goodness to Your servant. (27) Now You have been pleased to bless the house of Your servant, that it may continue before You forever; for You have blessed it, O LORD, and it shall be blessed forever.”

David’s Victories

1 Chronicles 18:1-13,

“(1) After this it came to pass that David attacked the Philistines, subdued them, and took Gath and its towns from the hand of the Philistines. (2) Then he defeated Moab, and the Moabites became David’s servants, and brought tribute. (3) And David defeated Had-adezer king of Zobah as far as Hamath, as he went to establish his power by the River Euphrates. (4) David took from him one thousand chariots, seven thousand horsemen, and twenty thousand foot soldiers. Also David hamstrung all the chariot horses, except that he spared enough of them for one hundred chariots.

This was a cruel process, but one that may in the end saved lives. By doing this David allowed this kingdom to still have some mobility via the use of horses, but denied them of their strength and speed. Unless they knew of a way to do this other than is known today, this was a painful thing for the horses which is regrettable. However, we MUST understand, that clear-minded thinking places animals in a lower position than humans in much the same way that humans are in a lower position than God. God is always as kind to mankind as He can allow without compromising His Own position or dignity which would be sin. In like manner, mankind should be kind in their caring and providing for their animals, but a line must be observed where their well-being is NOT placed before our own.

“(5) When the Syrians of Damascus came to help Had-adezer king of Zobah, David killed twenty-two thousand of the Syrians. (6) Then David put garrisons in Syria of Damascus; and the Syrians became David’s servants, and brought tribute.

So the LORD preserved David wherever he went. (7) And David took the shields of gold that were on the servants of Had-adezer, and brought them to Jerusalem.

(8) Also from Tib-hath and from Chun, cities of Had-adezer, David brought a large amount of bronze, with which Solomon made the bronze Sea (the basin in which the Priests washed their hands for ritualistic purity), the pillars, and the articles of bronze.

(9) Now when Tou king of Hamath heard that David had defeated all the army of Had-adezer king of Zobah, (10) he sent Hadoram his son to King David, to greet him and bless him, because he had fought against Had-adezer and defeated him (for Hadadezer had been at war with Tou); and Hadoram brought with him all kinds of articles of gold, silver, and bronze.

(11) King David also dedicated these to the LORD, along with the silver and gold that he had brought from all these nations—from Edom, from Moab, from the people of Ammon, from the Philistines, and from Amalek. (12) Moreover Abishai the son of Zeruiah killed eighteen thousand Edomites in the Valley of Salt. (13) He also put garrisons in Edom, and all the Edomites became David’s servants.

And the LORD preserved David wherever he went.”

2 Samuel 8:1-14,

“(1) After this it came to pass that David attacked the Philistines and subdued them. And David took Metheg Ammah from the hand of the Philistines. (2) Then he defeated Moab. Forcing them down to the ground, he measured them off with a line. With two lines he measured off those to be put to death, and with one full line those to be kept alive. So the Moabites became David’s servants, and brought tribute.

(3) David also defeated Had-adezer the son of Rehob, king of Zobah, as he went to recover his territory at the River Euphrates. (4) David took from him one thousand chariots, seven hundred horsemen, and twenty thousand foot soldiers. Also David hamstrung all the chariot horses, except that he spared enough of them for one hundred chariots.”

Another consideration in view to this event was that David could not care for so many horses while on military campaign, NOR could he give them back to the enemy. This was a necessary, albeit undesirable action.

“(5) When the Syrians of Damascus came to help Had-adezer king of Zobah, David killed twenty-two thousand of the Syrians.

(6) Then David put garrisons in Syria of Damascus; and the Syrians became David’s servants, and brought tribute.

So the LORD preserved David wherever he went.

(7) And David took the shields of gold that had belonged to the servants of Hadadezer, and brought them to Jerusalem.

(8) Also from Betah and from Berothai, cities of Had-adezer, King David took a large amount of bronze.

(9) When Toi king of Hamath heard that David had defeated all the army of Had-adezer, (10) then Toi sent Joram his son to King David, to greet him and bless him, because he had fought against Hadadezer and defeated him (for Hadadezer had been at war with Toi); and Joram brought with him articles of silver, articles of gold, and articles of bronze.

(11) King David also dedicated these to the LORD, along with the silver and gold that he had dedicated from all the nations which he had subdued— (12) from Syria, from Moab, from the people of Ammon, from the Philistines, from Amalek, and from the spoil of Hadadezer the son of Rehob, king of Zobah.

(13) And David made himself a name when he returned from killing eighteen thousand Syrians in the Valley of Salt. (14) He also put garrisons in Edom; throughout all Edom he put garrisons, and all the Edomites became David’s servants.

And the LORD preserved David wherever he went.”

David’s Cabinet

1 Chronicles 18:14-17,

“(14) So David reigned over all Israel, and administered judgment and justice to all his people. (15) Joab the son of Zeruiah was over the army; Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was recorder; (16) Zadok the son of Ahitub and Abimelech the son of Abiathar were the priests; Shav-sha was the scribe; (17) Bena-iah the son of Jehoi-ada was over the Cherethites and the Pelethites; and David’s sons were chief ministers at the king’s side.”

2 Samuel 8:15-18,

“(15) So David reigned over all Israel; and David administered judgment and justice to all his people. (16) Joab the son of Zeruiah was over the army; Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was recorder; (17) Zadok the son of Ahitub and Ahimelech the son of Abiathar were the priests; Seraiah was the scribe; (18) Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over both the Cherethites and the Pelethites; and David’s sons were chief ministers.”

Blessings!

I hope this teaching will challenge you and encourage you to place your trust in the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord.

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Blessings!

David’s song to God

Series: Thru the Bible

Pastor Mark