Praise to the Lord!

 “David was clothed with a robe of fine linen, as were all the Levites who bore the ark, the singers, and Chenamah the music master with the singers. David also wore a linen ephod. Thus all Israel brought up the ark of the covenant of the LORD with shouting and with the sound of the horn, with trumpets and with cymbals, making music with stringed instruments and harps.” (1 Chronicles 15:27-28)

    After the first unsuccessful attempt by King David to bring up the ark of the covenant into Jerusalem, David and the Levites read the instructions God had given in the book of Exodus chapter 25 verse 14. They were then able to bring the ark into Jerusalem, the new capital of Israel, so that the Hebrew nation could worship God in the capital of the nation God had given to them 400 years earlier when they had invaded the land under the leadership of Joshua, the son of Nun. David rejoiced along with his people dancing in the streets as the procession entered the city, and he penned these words of praise which are found in chapter 16 of 1^st Chronicles and also in Psalms 105:

    “Oh give thanks to the LORD! Call upon His name; Make known His deeds among the peoples! Sing to Him, sing psalms to Him; Talk of all His wondrous works! Glory in His Holy name; Let the hearts of those rejoice who seek the LORD! Seek the LORD and His strength; Seek His face forevermore! Remember His marvelous works which He has done, His wonders and the judgments of His mouth.”  (2 Chron. 16:8-12)

     “He is the LORD our God; His judgments are in all the earth. Remember His covenant forever, the word which He commanded, for a thousand generations, The covenant which He made with Abraham, And His oath to Isaac, And confirmed to Jacob for a statue, To Israel for an everlasting covenant, Saying, ‘To you I will give the land of Canaan As an allotment of your inheritance,’ When you were few in number, Indeed very few, and strangers in it.” (1 Chron. 16:14-19)

    “Sing to the LORD, all the earth; Proclaim the good news of His salvation from day to day. Declare His glory among the nations, His wonders among the peoples. For the LORD is great and greatly to be praised; He is also to be feared above all gods. Give to the LORD the glory due to His name; Bring an offering, and come before Him. Oh, worship the LORD in the beauty of His holiness! (1 Chron. 16:23-25, 29)

   “Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad; And let them say among the nations,  ‘The LORD reigns.’ Let the sea roar, and all its fullness; Let the field rejoice, and all that is in it. Then the trees of the woods shall rejoice before the LORD, for He is coming to judge the earth.  Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever. Blessed be the LORD God of Israel! From everlasting to everlasting! (1 Chron. 16:31-34,36)

(Read the entire chapter to get all that is given for us by King David in this triumphant psalm!)

    What excitement! What joy! What rejoicing we can hear from the lips of King David, ‘a man after God’s own heart.’ Did you see how many exclamation points are given to give emphasis and to help us imagine the author shouting with joy in his voice as he proclaims the greatness and faithfulness of God, our Creator, our Savior, and our Redeemer! Would you like to sing praises to our King right now? Open Psalms 105 and read aloud with enthusiasm and thankfulness for the God of our salvation!

PRAY:

1.     Lord help me to rejoice in You today. To remember that you have “hung the earth on nothing” and have provided everything we need to live and to enjoy the beauty of this world.

2.     Lord I praise you for you have made me in Your image and have adopted me as your son or daughter that I might be a witness to you where I am planted.

3.     Lord I thank you that I am a member of the “royal priesthood’ (1 Pet. 2-9) and that I have the opportunity to proclaim your greatness to those I come in contact with today.