1 Chronicles

1 Chronicles 16: David's song of thanks

Begin in prayer

Before we read David's psalm of thanks, let us come before the LORD together with thankful hearts. Ask Him to show us that He is good, and to lead us to Jesus, who came to save.

Be glad in Yahweh, you righteous people! Give thanks to his holy Name.

Psalm 97:12

Father in heaven, please open our eyes as we read Your Word. Show us that You are good and that Your loving kindness never ends, and show us Jesus, who came to save. Make us more like Jesus. And please bless our family as we worship You together. In Jesus' name, Amen.

See where we're going

The ark was set in David's tent, and he offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before God (verses 1 and 2). He appointed Levites, with Asaph as chief, to thank and praise the LORD before the ark (verses 4 to 6). That day David first gave Asaph and his brothers a psalm of thanks to sing (verse 7). The psalm calls everyone to give thanks, to sing and to seek the LORD (verses 8 to 33). It says the LORD is good and His loving kindness endures forever (verse 34). All the people said Amen and praised the LORD (verse 36).

As you read 1 Chronicles 16, look for the answers:

Reflect together

Key truth

The LORD is good, and His loving kindness endures forever.

David brought the ark into the tent he had pitched, and he offered burnt offerings and peace offerings (verses 1 and 2). That day he gave Asaph and his brothers a psalm of thanks to sing (verse 7). The psalm calls everyone to thank the LORD, to seek Him, to remember His works and to sing (verses 8 to 12). It also says that the LORD made the heavens, and that all the gods of the peoples are idols (verse 26). Its center is verse 34, which says the LORD is good and His loving kindness endures forever. Loving kindness means faithful love, and the psalm says it never comes to an end. This matters, because thanks is the right answer to a God who is good and whose love does not end. It shows God as good, faithful and great, the Maker of the heavens, who is worth praise from all the earth. Jesus came to save His people from their sins, as His name shows (Matthew 1 verse 21).

How does 1 Chronicles 16 show us that the LORD is good, and that His loving kindness endures forever?

David set singers to thank the LORD before the ark.

The ark was set in its tent, and David offered burnt offerings and peace offerings (verses 1 and 2). He appointed Levites to thank and praise the LORD, with Asaph as chief (verses 4 and 5). That day David first ordained that thanks be given to the LORD (verse 7).

The psalm calls everyone to remember and sing about the LORD.

It says to give thanks, to call on His name and to tell the peoples His deeds (verses 8 and 9). It says to seek the LORD and to remember His marvelous works (verses 11 and 12). It says all the earth should sing, for the LORD made the heavens (verses 23 and 26).

The LORD is good, and Jesus came to save His people.

The psalm says the LORD is good, and His loving kindness endures forever (verse 34). It asks the God of salvation to save (verse 35). Jesus' name tells what He came to do, for He saves His people from their sins (Matthew 1 verse 21).

Memorise

Oh give thanks to Yahweh, for he is good, for his loving kindness endures forever.

1 Chronicles 16:34

Looking to Jesus in my life

Ask yourself in your heart, do I thank God for His goodness, and have I come to Jesus for forgiveness?

David's psalm says, “Oh give thanks to Yahweh, for he is good, for his loving kindness endures forever.” The psalm also cries, “Save us, God of our salvation!” Jesus is that salvation, for He came to save His people from their sins (Matthew 1 verse 21).

God showed His loving kindness most plainly at the cross. There Jesus bore the punishment for His people's sin, and His one death paid for it once for all. He rose on the third day, and His love has no end.

So give thanks, and come to Jesus. Turn from your sin and trust Him. Everyone who trusts Him is forgiven, and has good reason to sing for ever.

Parent's note

Tell your children that the LORD is good and His loving kindness endures forever, and that Jesus came to save sinners. Parents, this is a long psalm, so please read verses 8 to 12 and 34 to 36 aloud. Please do not tell them they are saved just because they grew up in a Christian home. Call each child to turn from sin and trust Jesus, and pray that God would give them a new heart.

Pray together

Now please close your time together in prayer. Thank God that the LORD is good and His loving kindness endures forever, and bring the heart question to Him. Every child can pray, so let each one say a short prayer if they want to.

Blessed be Yahweh, the God of Israel, from everlasting even to everlasting! Let all the people say, “Amen.” Praise Yah!

Psalm 106:48

Lord God, thank You that You are good, and that Your loving kindness endures forever. Please turn each of us from sin to trust Jesus, who came to save His people. Help us to give thanks to You every day. Amen.