1 Chronicles 16:37 - Meaning and Application

Worship of God is not meant to be only a special duty for holy days or public triumphs. It should be a daily work. So David set it in order as a steady practice, and he required those who served in worship to do their duties in their proper places.

In the tabernacle of Moses, and later in Solomon’s temple, the ark and the altar were together. But since Eli’s time, they had been separated, and they stayed that way until the temple was built. It is hard to know why David, who knew the law and loved it, did not move the ark to Gibeon, where the tabernacle and altar were, or bring the tabernacle to Mount Zion, where the ark was.

Perhaps Moses’ tabernacle was so worn out by time and weather that it could not be moved or used to shelter the ark. Even so, David did not build a whole new tabernacle. He made only a tent for the ark, because the time was near when the temple would be built. Whatever the reason, the ark and altar remained apart during David’s life, but he made sure that neither one was neglected.

At Jerusalem, where the ark was, Asaph and his fellow Levites, men who assisted in temple worship, were appointed to minister before the ark continually with songs of praise, as each day required (1 Chronicles 16:37). No sacrifices were offered there, and no incense was burned, because the altars were not there. But David’s prayers were counted as incense, and the lifting up of his hands as the evening sacrifice (Psalm 141:2). So spiritual worship took its place above ceremonial worship.

Still, the ceremonial worship, because God had appointed it, must not be left out. So at Gibeon were the altars, where the priests served by offering sacrifices and burning incense continually, morning and evening, according to the law of Moses (1 Chronicles 16:39, 1 Chronicles 16:40). These practices had to continue, because even though they were less important than prayer and praise in themselves, they pointed ahead to the mediation of Christ, that is, his work of bringing God and people together. For that reason, they were honored and very important.

Zadok, a priest, was placed in charge of the altar service. Abiathar, it seems, stayed at Jerusalem to attend the ark, since he had the breastpiece of judgment, which had to be consulted before the ark. That is why, in David’s time, both Zadok and Abiathar are called priests (2 Samuel 8:17; 2 Samuel 20:25), one serving where the altar was and the other where the ark was.

At Gibeon, where the altars stood, David also appointed singers to give thanks to the Lord. The main line of all their songs was, “His mercy endures forever” (1 Chronicles 16:41). They used instruments set apart by God for this service, not instruments used for ordinary occasions. There is a great difference between common joy and holy joy, and that line should be carefully kept.

With everything arranged well and the worship of God in good order, two things followed. The people were satisfied and went home glad. David then returned to bless his house, meaning he planned to keep up family worship as well, since public worship should never take its place.