The Worship of God - Some Reminders

Text 1 Chronicles 16 Time 06 01 21 Place Childs Hill Baptist Church (Zoom)

I want us to go back this evening to our studies in 1 Chronicles and to 1 Chronicles 16. In this chapter we have the last part about how in David's time they moved the ark of the covenant to Jerusalem. At that time the ark was in one place, the altar at another. It is only in Solomon's time that the two are brought together again at the Temple. The chapter, of course, describes Old Testament worship so we have no direct instruction on the subject of New Testament worship but several principles arise from what is said. They will be helpful for us in this area. Let's ask three questions

1. What are the chief elements in the worship of God?

I think that if we look at verses 1-7 carefully we will see at least five elements that together make up true worship.

1. God's presence

It would be easy to skip over this but the chapter begins by saying that They brought the ark of God and set it inside the tent that David had pitched for it in Jerusalem. I remind you this refers to the ark of the covenant containing the ten commandments with its solid gold atonement cover or mercy seat. This is where in Old Testament times God visibly dwelt. It is sometimes referred to as his Shekinah glory. God, of course, is everywhere but he is able to bring his special presence near in a fixed locality. He did it in the Old Testament period, appearing above the ark and he continues to do today by coming near to his people as they worship him. At the beginning of Psalm 89 the psalmist says Hear us, Shepherd of Israel, you who lead Joseph like a flock. You who sit enthroned between the cherubim, shine forth .... In the New Testament Jesus promises (Matthew 18:20) that where even just two or three come together in his name he is there. Some think we come together only to be instructed but we come together to worship God and when we do we can know the special presence of God. Hence Cowper's hymn

Jesus, where'er your people meet, there they behold your mercy seat;

where'er they seek you, you are found, and ev'ry place is hallowed ground.

For you, within no walls confined, are dwelling in the humble mind;

such ever bring you where they come, and going, take you to their home.

2. Sacrifice

We read next and they presented burnt offerings and fellowship offerings before God. Burnt offerings, a holocaust or Shoah, were so called because the animal was completely consumed. With fellowship offerings some of the sacrifice was enjoyed by the worshipper. Old Testament sacrifice is now superseded by the once for all sacrifice of himself by Christ but we also are called to make spiritual sacrifices. Our whole lives are to be living sacrifices and in particular (Hebrews 13:15) we are Through Jesus ... to continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise - the fruit of lips that openly profess his name.

In order to worship we must sacrifice our time and our concern for ourselves and whatever else may take up our time and energy and devote it all to God.

3. Blessing and giving

In verse 2 we read that After David had finished sacrificing the burnt offerings and fellowship offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the LORD. Here the king blesses the people. We tend to keep the benediction in our worship services to the end but we can begin with it (Grace and peace to you) or have it at any point. It is an important part of worship, however. We too who worship are blessed. Just as the king here blesses his people so our king blesses us. In verse 3 we read of David Then he gave a loaf of bread, a cake of dates and a cake of raisins to each Israelite man and woman. So there was not only a blessing but a tangible gift for everyone present. We express this in the New Testament by our giving to God I guess but what we give is only what God has already given us.

4. Extolling, thanking and praising

Finally, in verses 4-7, we read of how David appointed some of the Levites to minister before the ark of the LORD, to extol, thank, and praise the LORD, the God of Israel. The details are that Asaph was the chief, in this and next to him in rank were Zechariah, then Jaaziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, etc. The way it was done was that They were to play the lyres and harps, Asaph was to sound the cymbals, and Benaiah and Jahaziel the priests were to blow the trumpets regularly before the ark of the covenant of God. Verse 7 concludes That day David first appointed Asaph and his associates to give praise to the LORD in this manner which then leads into the content of their praise in verses 8-36.

So first David set aside people to extol, thank, and praise the LORD. In the Old Testament it was the task of specific people set aside to it. In these New Testament times we all have to play our part as we are all priests to God, as believers. It is good to remember, as we sing and pray and hear preaching, that what we are seeking to do is to extol or celebrate - to mark out clearly who God is and thank him and give him praise from our hearts.

So we see something of the nature of worship. Let's worship God - now and whenever we can.

2. What can we learn from this example of the content when we praise the LORD?

In verses 8-36 we have the content of this praise. The words are typical of what we find in the Book of Psalms and in particular appears to be from Psalms 105:1-15; 96:1-13; 106. Let's take it in six parts and remind ourselves of the content of worship.

1. In worship, praise God and make known his wonders to all with gladness

8-10 Give praise to the LORD, proclaim his name; make known among the nations what he has done. Sing to him, sing praise to him; tell of all his wonderful acts. Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice. So

Give praise to the LORD/proclaim his name/Sing to him, sing praise to him/Glory in his holy name

Do so by making known among the nations what he has done. Tell of all his wonderful acts

As you do so, your heart seeking the LORD, rejoice.

2. In worship, look to God for strength, recalling who he is, who we are and the covenant (11-22)

Look to the LORD for strength Look to the LORD and his strength; seek his face always

Recall who he is Remember the wonders he has done, his miracles ... the judgments he pronounced ... (14) He is the LORD our God; his judgments are in all the earth. Remember.

And who you are. Recall that (13) we are his servants, the descendants of Israel, (by faith if not by flesh) his chosen ones, the children of Jacob (by faith). We are his people.

And his covenant. In verses 15-22 comes a reminder that God remembers his covenant forever, the promise he made, for a thousand generations, the covenant he made with Abraham, the oath he swore to Isaac. It goes on He confirmed it to Jacob as a decree, to Israel as an everlasting covenant: To you I will give the land of Canaan as the portion you will inherit. When they were but few in number, few indeed, and strangers in it, back in the days of the Patriarchs they wandered from nation to nation, from one kingdom to another Egypt, Philistia, Aram Naharaim. He allowed no one to oppress them; for their sake he rebuked kings: Do not touch my anointed ones; do my prophets no harm. That same covenant protection remains today, if we are trusting in Jesus Christ.

3. In worship, declare God's glory to all for he is great and most worthy of praise

Declare God's glory to all Sing to the LORD, all the earth; proclaim his salvation day after day. Declare his glory among the nations, his marvellous deeds among all peoples. (28, 29) Ascribe to the LORD, all you families of nations, ascribe to the LORD glory and strength. Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name; bring an offering and come before him. 30a Tremble before him, all the earth!

He is great and most worthy of praise For great is the LORD and most worthy of praise; he is to be feared above all gods. For all the gods of the nations are idols, but the LORD made the heavens. Splendour and majesty are before him; strength and joy are in his dwelling place. 29b Worship the LORD in the splendour of his holiness. ... The world is firmly established; it cannot be moved.

4. In worship, rejoice because God is King and Judge of all
Let there be gladness everywhere Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad/Let the sea resound, and all that is in it; let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them! Let the trees of the forest sing, let them sing for joy before the LORD,
For God is King and Judge of all let them say among the nations, The LORD reigns!... for he comes to judge the earth.

5. In worship, give thanks to God for his goodness and love and pray he will save us

Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever.

Call on the Lord to save us. Cry out, Save us, God our Saviour; gather us and deliver us from the nations

that we may give thanks to your holy name, and glory in your praise.

6. In worship, end with a hallelujah and an Amen

In verse 36 the whole thing is summed up Praise be to the LORD, the God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting. Then all the people said "Amen" and "Praise the LORD." (Hallelujah). Amen means "it is so". If not formally, certainly in spirit this is how worship should close - with an hallelujah and an Amen.

3. How should we see worship? 

The chapter closes (37-43) with something about what happened once that inaugural day was over. In each thing that is said there is hint about how we should think of the worship of God.

1. See it as ministry

37, 38 David left Asaph and his associates before the ark of the covenant of the LORD to minister there regularly, according to each day's requirements. He also left Obed-Edom and his 68 associates to minister with them. Obed-Edom son of Jeduthun, and also Hosah, were gatekeepers. Worship can be thought of as ministry or service. That is why we call our meetings services and why those who lead them are often called ministers who minister the Word.

2. See it as obedience

39, 40 David left Zadok the priest and his fellow priests before the tabernacle of the LORD at the high place in Gibeon to present burnt offerings to the LORD on the altar of burnt offering regularly, morning and evening, in accordance with everything written in the Law of the LORD, which he had given Israel. What was done was what was laid down in the Old Testament Law. Now in these New Testament times, things are not laid down it may be with the meticulousness that we have in the Old Testament but we are clearly commanded to worship God together. In John 4:23, 24 Jesus says ... a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshippers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshippers must worship in the Spirit and in truth. 1 Peter 3:9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Hebrews 10:25 talks too about not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another - and all the more as you see the Day approaching. Apart form anything else we have a duty to meet to worship God.

3. See it as thanksgiving

41, 42 With them were Heman and Jeduthun and the rest of those chosen and designated by name to give thanks to the LORD, "for his love endures forever." Heman and Jeduthun were responsible for the sounding of the trumpets and cymbals and for the playing of the other instruments for sacred song. The sons of Jeduthun were stationed at the gate. Giving thanks was so important that certain men were set aside simply to do that. How important that we are thankful people and that we express our thankfulness to God. Remember the story of Jesus and the ten lepers - how ungrateful if we do not return to the Lord to give thanks.

4. See it as something that requires time and effort

43 Then all the people left, each for their own home, and David returned home to bless his family. There is a further hint here that worship takes time and effort. We must remember that.