The Ark Placed at Zion and David's Song of Thanksgiving

Continuing a chronological Bible study:

(2 Samuel 6:18) And as soon as David had made an end of offering burnt offerings and peace offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the Lord of hosts.

The people had brought the ark of God to the place David had prepared for it at Zion.  David had then offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the LORD.  When he had finished with the offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the Lord, wishing them all happiness and prosperity and praying to God to bless them with all blessings.

(19) And he dealt among all the people, among the whole multitude of Israel, as well to the women as men, to every one a cake of bread, and a good piece of flesh, and a cake of raisins. So all the people departed every one to his house.

David dealt out to all the people, both men and women, a cake of bread, a piece of flesh, and a raisin cake.  Women had surely not been a part of the procession to bring the ark to Zion, but they now gathered in the celebration of it.  Regarding a "cake of raisins," the KJV translators called the original word "ashiyshah" a flagon and then added the words "of wine."  However, its actual meaning was something pressed together.  I suppose the KJV translators assumed it was wine that came from pressed grapes, but it is highly doubtful that David gave every man and woman in attendance a large bottle of wine.  Other translations have translated the word as some small comfit or cake with fruit.  I picture something like a fig newton.  After they ate their food, all the people then went to their homes.

(1 Chronicles 16:2) And when David had made an end of offering the burnt offerings and the peace offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the Lord. (3) And he dealt to every one of Israel, both man and woman, to everyone a loaf of bread, a good piece of flesh, and a cake of raisins.

1 Chronicles 16:2-3 told of the same event and then expounded on it:

(4) And he appointed certain of the Levites to minister before the ark of the Lord, and to record, and to thank and praise the LORD God of Israel.

David then appointed some Levites to minister before the ark of the Lord and to thank and praise Him.  He appointed them also to record the events.

(5) Asaph the chief, and next to him Zechariah, Jeiel, and Shemiramoth, and Jehiel, and Mattithiah, and Eliab, and Benaiah, and Obed Edom; and Jeiel with psalteries and with harps, but Asaph made a sound with cymbals.

David appointed Asaph, one of the three main singers appointed in 1 Chronicles 15:17, to be the chief minister.  From the second rank singers appointed in 1 Chronicles 15:18, David appointed Zechariah, Jeiel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Mattithiah, Eliab, Benaiah, and Obed Edom; and Jeiel was to play with psalteries and harps, and Asaph was to use cymbals.

(6) Benaiah also and Jahaziel the priests with trumpets continually before the ark of the covenant of God.

Benaiah and Jahaziel, the priests, were appointed to play the trumpets continually before the ark.

(7) Then on that day David delivered first this psalm to thank the Lord into the hand of Asaph and his brethren.

David first delivered the following psalm of thanksgiving to Asaph and his brethren to be sung by them.  Then they sang David's song of thanks:

(8) Give thanks to the Lord, call upon His name, make known His deeds among the people.

David called upon the people to give thanks to the Lord, calling upon His name, being the people He chose to have call upon His name.  Make all His good deeds known among the people; speak freely about them in praise to Him.

(9) Sing to Him, sing psalms to Him, talk of all His wondrous works!

Not only speak thanksgiving, but sing it to the Lord, telling of all His wondrous works!

(10) Glory in His holy name; let the heart of them rejoice who seek the Lord.

God's holy name is His very nature, sacred, set apart, and deserving of all reverence and honor.  To glory in that is to give honor, praise, and reverence, to God, recognizing His supreme majesty, power, and holiness.  Let the hearts of them who seek the Lord rejoice because joy comes from a relationship with Him.  When we seek Him, we align with His will, experiencing His peace and fulfillment.

(11) Seek the Lord and His strength, seek His face continually.

We are to seek the Lord and His strength, relying on His infinite power rather than our own limited abilities.  We should seek His face continually, pursuing an ongoing personal relationship with Him in all things.

(12) Remember His marvelous works that He has done, His wonders, and the judgments of His mouth, (13) O you seed of Israel, His servant, you children of Jacob, His chosen ones. (14) He is the Lord our God, His judgments in all the earth.

Remember the Lord's marvelous works, all the wonders of nature and the universe, but also the daily works of provision and protection and salvation.  We are thankful for His word and His guidebook He left for all the earth, those commandments and judgments that keep us on the straight and narrow which lead to life everlasting.  David was speaking those words to God's chosen people Israel, but true Christians are God's spiritual Israel and His chosen saints.

(15) Be you mindful always of His covenant, the word He commanded to a thousand generations, (16) Which He made with Abraham, and of His oath to Isaac, (17) And has confirmed the same to Jacob for a law, to Israel an everlasting covenant, (18) Saying, "To you will I give the land of Canaan, the lot of your inheritance," (19) When you were but few, very few, and strangers in it.

David exhorted the people to always be mindful of their covenant with God that He commanded to a thousand generations after their forefathers.  He first made that covenant with Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, also called Israel, that He would give them the land of Canaan as their inheritance.  He gave it to them when they were few in number and there were still strangers in it.  Eventually the people did not hold up their end of the bargain and would lose their promised land.  However, Canaan, the promised land, represents the Promised Land of heaven for spiritual Israel.

(20) And when they went from nation to nation and from one kingdom to another people, (21) He suffered no man to do them wrong; yea, he reproved kings for their sakes, (22) "Do not touch My anointed and do My prophets no harm."

When His people went from nation to nation, conquering their promised land, the Lord was with them, protecting His people from the kings of those nations and delivering His anointed ones and prophets into their promised land.

(23) Sing to the Lord, all the earth; show forth from day to day His salvation.

David exhorted all peoples of the earth to sing to the Lord and to be that shining light showing forth the Lord's salvation.

(24) Declare His glory among the heathen, His marvelous works among all nations.

The Lord's people are to declare the marvelous works of the Lord to all nations.

(25) For great is the Lord and greatly to be praised; He is also to be feared above all gods.

The Lord is great and to be praised over all other gods and idols of the earth.  He should be feared above all gods as none can stand before Him; He is greater and more powerful than any.

(26) For all the gods of the people are idols, but the Lord made the heavens.

All the false gods of the people are merely idols in the universe that the one true God Himself made.

(27) Glory and honor are in His presence; strength and gladness are in His place.

Glory and honor surround the Lord; majestic splendor emanates from Him.  Strength and gladness are in His place; He is the very source of strength and joy.

(28) Give to the Lord, you kindreds of the people, give to the Lord glory and strength.

All peoples of the nations were to give the Lord the glory due Him.  They were to give their strength over to His will.  "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service." (Romans 12:1)

(29) Give to the Lord the glory due His name; bring an offering and come before Him; worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness.

Ascribe to the Lord the glory and honor due His name.  Bring an offering and come before Him; present your own bodies to Him to use as He wills.  Worship the Lord in all His holy splendor.

(30) Fear before Him, all the earth; the world also shall be stable that it be not moved.

All the earth should tremble before the Lord as He holds the very earth in His hands.  He is the one who established it firmly in the universe.

(31) Let the heavens be glad and let the earth rejoice, and let men say among the nations, "The Lord reigns."

Let the heavens and the earth rejoice that it is our Lord who reigns!  Imagine if some feeble idol reigned; there would not be much hope in that.  It is because our Lord reigns that we can have faith and not fear as the unsaved fear.  "But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope." (1 Thessalonians 4:13)

(32) Let the sea roar and all its fullness; let the fields rejoice and all that is in them.

The sea roars with awesome power that displays the almighty power of the Lord.  The fields rejoice and display splendor and beauty.  All nature shouts the existence of the Lord in a beautiful and powerful manner.

(33) Then shall the trees of the wood sing out at the presence of the Lord because He comes to judge the earth.

The earth sings the praises of the Lord.  When Jesus came into the world and was making His triumphal entry into Jerusalem shortly before His death, the people were shouting praises to Him.  The Pharisees tried to shut them up, but Jesus said that if the people were to hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out (Luke 19:40).  All creation is made to glorify God (Colossians 1:16; Psalm 19:1).

(34) O give thanks to the Lord, for He is good, for His mercy endures forever.

People are encouraged to give thanks to the Lord because He is good, and He can be nothing but good as that is His very nature, so we have nothing to fear.  And that goodness and His love and mercy endure forever.

(35) And say, "Save us, O God of our salvation, and gather us together, and deliver us from the heathen, that we may give thanks to Your holy name and glory in Your praise."

People call on God for their only salvation and to gather them together into His Christian church.  They call on God who is their only salvation and deliverance from the prince of the world, Satan, and all his heathen demons.  That salvation is the joy of man who will naturally want to thank and glorify the Lord.

(36) Blessed be the Lord God of Israel forever and ever. And all the people said, "Amen," and praised the Lord.

David ended his song by declaring the Lord God of Israel blessed forever and ever.  All the people answered him with an "Amen," and they praised the Lord.

(37) So he left there before the ark of the covenant of the Lord, Asaph and his brethren, to minister before the ark continually, as every day's work required; (38) And Obed Edom with his sixty-eight brethren, Obed Edom also the son of Jeduthun and Hosah to be porters.

David left Asaph and his Levite brethren to minister before the ark continually.  He also left Obed Edom with his sixty-eight brethren.  The way it was written with the punctuation used makes it unclear if Obed Edom and his 68 brothers were also to help minister before the ark, or if they were to be porters.  The fact that Obed Edom was mentioned twice perhaps means he and Hosah were separated from the 68 ministers to be specifically porters.  Then again with the qualifier "also the son of Jeduthun," could we be talking about another Obed Edom?  At this point, it doesn't really matter; suffice it to say that the Levites, the brethren of Asaph and Obed Edom, were left to minister before the ark.

(39) And Zadok the priest, and his brethren the priests, before the tabernacle of the Lord in the high place at Gibeon, (40) To offer burnt offerings to the Lord upon the altar of the burnt offering continually morning and evening, according to all that is written in the law of the Lord, which He commanded Israel.

While the tabernacle was still at Gibeon, David appointed Zadok and his brethren the priests, to be there to offer burnt offerings to the Lord upon the altar of the burnt offering there continually, every morning and evening, as commanded in the law (Exodus 29:42).

(41) And with them Heman and Jeduthun and the rest who were chosen, who were designated by name, to give thanks to the Lord, because His mercy endures forever.

David also appointed Heman and Jeduthun and others who were chosen and designated by name, to assist the priests at the tabernacle, giving thanks to the Lord because of His great mercy that endures forever.

(42) And with them Heman and Jeduthun with trumpets and cymbals for those that should make a sound, and with musical instruments of God. And the sons of Jeduthun were porters.

David left trumpets and cymbals with Heman and Jeduthun to make a loud sound when appropriate, and the musical instruments of God, those appropriate to accompany the singers in praising God in the tabernacle.  Jeduthun's sons were the porters there.

(43) And all the people departed every man to his house, and David returned to bless his house.

At the end of the celebration of the ark coming to Zion and the appointment of all those who would minister before it, all the people went back to their homes, and David returned to his house to bless it.

The Lord Reigns in Zion

Continuing a chronological Bible study:

(1 Chronicles 15:15) And the children of the Levites bore the ark of God upon their shoulders with its staves, as Moses commanded according to the word of the Lord.

The ark had been in the home of Obed Edom for three months, during which time David learned the proper way to move it.  Now, according to the law the Lord gave through Moses, the Levites carried the ark upon their shoulders rather than in a common cart (2 Samuel 6:3).

(16) And David spoke to the chief of the Levites to appoint their brethren the singers with instruments of music, psalteries and harps and cymbals, sounding, by lifting up the voice with joy.

David spoke to the chief of the Levites and had him appoint singers with musical instruments that along with the singing would result in loud resounding joy.

(17) So the Levites appointed Heman the son of Joel; and of his brethren, Asaph the son of Berechiah; and of the sons of Merari their brethren, Ethan the son of Kushaiah;

The Levites appointed Heman the son of Joel, Asaph the son of Berechiah, and Ethan the son of Kushaiah, to be singers with instruments.

(18) And with them their brethren of the second, Zechariah, Ben, and Jaaziel, and Shemiramoth, and Jehiel, and Unni, Eliab, and Benaiah, and Maaseiah, and Mattithiah, and Elipheleh, and Mikneiah, and Obed Edom, and Jeiel, the porters. 

Considered a second rank, or perhaps backup to the three main singers, were the fourteen above named men.  It seems they were also porters of the sanctuary when they were not singing.

(19) So the singers, Heman, Asaph, and Ethan, were to sound with cymbals of brass; (20) And Zechariah, and Aziel, and Shemiramoth, and Jehiel, and Unni, and Eliab, and Maaseiah, and Benaiah, with psalteries on Alamoth; (21) And Mattithiah, and Elipheleh, and Mikneiah, and Obed Edom, and Jeiel, and Azaziah, with harps on the Sheminith to excel.

All the singers were appointed the instruments they should play when they sang.  The three lead singers, Heman, Asaph, and Ethan, were to play brass cymbals.  Eight men of the second rank were appointed psalteries, which were stringed instruments similar to the lyre.  "Alamoth" was the Hebrew word for "maidens or young women," so perhaps these psalteries were tuned to imitate the sound of young women’s voices.  The other six second rank singers were to play harps on the "Sheminith."  That word meant "eight" so perhaps these were particular eight-stringed harps called lyre harps.  The original word "natsach" that was translated "to excel" meant also "to be eminent" or "set forward."  Perhaps the harps were to be the most prominent or they led the other musicians.

The names of the second rank singers in verses 20-21 are slightly different than first named in verse 18.  Aziel is probably the same as Jaaziel, but Ben is left out and Azaziah added.  Either Ben went by both names or he was replaced soon after being appointed.

(22) And Chenaniah, chief of the Levites, for song; he instructed about the song because he was skillful.

Chenaniah, the chief of the Levites, seems to have been appointed the music conductor because he was skillful in that.

(23) And Berechiah and Elkanah were doorkeepers for the ark.

Berechiah, the father of one of the lead singers, Asaph (verse 17), and Elkanah were doorkeepers for the ark.

(24) And Shebaniah, and Jehoshaphat, and Nethanel, and Amasai, and Zechariah, and Benaiah, and Eliezer, the priests, did blow with the trumpets before the ark of God: and Obed Edom and Jehiah were doorkeepers for the ark.

Shebaniah, Jehoshaphat, Nethanel, Amasai, Zechariah, Benaiah, and Eliezer, the priests, blew trumpets before the ark of God.  These may be the same silver trumpets which were to be blown when the camps and the ark of the Lord moved (Numbers 10:5).

(2 Samuel 6:12) And it was told King David, saying, "The Lord has blessed the house of Obed Edom and all that pertains to him because of the ark of God." So David went and brought up the ark of God from the house of Obed Edom into the city of David with gladness.

When the Lord had struck Uzzah dead for touching the ark, David was afraid to move it any further, and he put it aside in the house of Obed Edom for a time.  David had since learned the proper way to move the ark, and when he had been told that having the ark actually blessed the house of Obed Edom, he was confident he could then move it to the city of David, and that he did with gladness.

(13) And it was that when they who bore the ark of the Lord had gone six paces, he sacrificed oxen and fatlings.

When the Levites had carried the ark six paces, apparently successfully, denoting God's acceptance, they stopped and David sacrificed oxen and fatted sheep (1 Chronicles 15:26) to the Lord.

(14) And David danced before the Lord with all his might, and David was girded with a linen ephod.

David was so glad, in fact, that he danced before the Lord with all his might.  The original word "karar" that was translated as "danced" was only used in the Bible twice and was not the usual word used for dance.  It means specifically "whirl" which implies dancing.  David was whirling with all his might.  He wore a linen ephod like the priests wore.  Perhaps he had laid aside his royal robes because it was lighter and he was better able to dance, and maybe to demonstrate that although he was king, he was willing to be the Lord's minister and servant.

(15) So David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the Lord with shouting, and with the sound of the trumpet.

David and all the representatives of the people of Israel brought the ark of the Lord to the city of David with joyful and triumphant shouting, with the trumpets, and surely with all the singers and musicians.

(1 Chronicles 15:25) So David and the elders of Israel and the captains over thousands went to bring up the ark of the covenant of the Lord out of the house of Obed Edom with joy.

1 Chronicles 15 also told of David and the elders and captains of the people bringing the ark of God out of the house of Obed Edom with much joy.

(26) And it came to pass, when God helped the Levites who bore the ark of the covenant of the Lord, that they offered seven bullocks and seven rams.

This version gives the glory to God who helped the Levites who carried the ark.  This time it was acceptable to Him, and they carried the ark without stumbling.  They offered a sacrifice of seven young bulls and seven rams.

(27) And David was clothed with a robe of fine linen, and all the Levites who bore the ark, and the singers, and Chenaniah the master of the song with the singers; David also had upon him an ephod of linen.

David, the Levites who bore the ark, the singers, and Chenaniah the conductor, all wore robes of fine linen.  David also wore an ephod.

(28) Thus all Israel brought up the ark of the covenant of the Lord with shouting, and with sound of the cornet, and with trumpets, and with cymbals, making a noise with psalteries and harps.

All the leaders representing all of Israel brought the ark of God to the city of David with shouting and loud music.

(Psalm 97:1) The Lord reigns; let the earth rejoice; let the multitude of isles be glad!

My chronological Bible study takes me now to Psalm 97, a song of joy about the reign of the Lord.  It is possible the people could have sung such a song as they brought the ark to Zion.  Because the Lord reigns, the entire earth with all its lands can rejoice and be glad.

(2) Clouds and darkness round about Him, righteousness and judgment the habitation of His throne.

The clouds and darkness all around Him may refer to the darkness of the world, but it also might mean that He is covered by clouds and darkness as no man can see Him and live (Exodus 33:20), and often the Lord was described as being in a cloud.  He is a righteous God who executes just judgment because it is His very nature.

(3) A fire goes before Him and burns up His enemies round about.

The very being of God is power consuming all opposition.  Lies, superstitions, and sins cannot stand in His presence.  When He comes to judge, the unrighteous will be as chaff before the flame (Isaiah 5:24).

(4) His lightnings enlightened the world; the earth saw and trembled.

This may be literal in that God's lightnings indeed light up the sky with blazes that make the sun appear dim compared to them.  The inhabitants of the earth see such power and tremble.  

(5) The hills melted like wax at the presence of the Lord, at the presence of the Lord of the whole earth.

Nothing is able to stand against the Lord of the whole earth and the universe beyond it.

(6) The heavens declare His righteousness, and all the people see His glory.

The heavens declare the Lord's righteousness.  Whether by angels and messengers from heaven, or by the vastness and awesomeness of the sky and the universe, the people see the glory of God.

(7) Confounded be all they who serve graven images, who boast themselves of idols; worship Him, all gods.

Let those who serve false gods of engraved images and carved idols, and who boast of their ability to save them, be disappointed, confused, and ashamed.  Let all the false gods bow before the one true God of the universe.

(8) Zion heard and was glad, and the daughters of Judah rejoiced because of Your judgments, O Lord.

In the context of this post, perhaps Zion heard that the Lord God of the universe represented by His ark was coming to rest there.  They were very glad, as were all the surrounding villages, that the Lord and His righteous judgments reigned.

(9) For You, Lord, are high above all the earth; You are exalted far above all gods.

The Lord is infinitely exalted above all men, kings, gods, and angels.

(10) You who love the Lord, hate evil; He preserves the souls of His saints; He delivers them out of the hand of the wicked.

Those who love the Lord must hate evil, as evil cannot stand in the presence of God.  God preserves the souls of His saints and delivers them out of the hands of the wicked.  Although He may choose to preserve their lives and deliver them, this pertains more completely to their souls that no man is able to pluck out of His hand (John 10:29).

(11) Light is sown for the righteous, and gladness for the upright in heart.

Light is sown and laid up in store for the righteous.  Even if they are not immediately delivered from their circumstances, they know the light is coming and they are very glad for that.  "For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us." (Romans 8:18)

(12) Rejoice in the Lord, you righteous, and give thanks at the remembrance of His holiness.

The righteous rejoice in the Lord and give thanks that He is a holy God.  The holy righteous and just God can be nothing but that, and that is a reason to rejoice and be thankful.  We need not fear any man or any situation when we know that our God is all holy, all good, and all just, all the time.