Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;
his love endures forever.
Cry out, “Save us, God our Savior;
gather us and deliver us from the nations,
that we may give thanks to your holy name,
and glory in your praise.”
Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel,
from everlasting to everlasting.
Then all the people said “Amen” and “Praise the Lord.”
1 Chronicles 16:34-36
Scripture Notes
After David had been established as king of Israel, he built himself a palace of cedar and stone. He then placed the ark in a tent in the middle of the city, close and no longer hidden away. David would later learn that he would not be the one to build a magnificent temple to the Lord, but his heart knew that God deserved praise. Most of Chapter 16 is a psalm of thanksgiving that celebrates God’s power, glory, and strength.
Once the ark of the covenant was secured in a tent, David had a great number of musicians designated from each tribe. Assembled and ready to praise the Lord, David first prepared and sacrificed a burnt offering, then he commanded the musicians to send up a song of praise. After all the tribulations, battles, and moving from place to place, they had finally established the presence of the Lord.
Now the song itself is similar to the praises of Psalm 105 and Psalm 96 and portions of Psalm 106. This was not done in laziness, but to affirm the words already stated. We say ‘I love you’ to someone dear to us and do not come up with something else, not because we are not creative, but because those words need to be repeated to affirm their truth. David called the singers to repeat the psalms because:
- It followed the traditional method of reinforcing truths about God
- It follows the process of listening, then sacrificing, and then worshiping; this process is to be followed when coming before Christ.
- It was a way for a group to worship together.
Once the musicians were finished, then all the people said “Amen” and “Praise the Lord.” This shows that everyone was included in praising God, standing near his presence. We see the power of the unity of the people of Israel while we receive a cohesive and consistent message about God. He is faithful, full of mercy, and holds a covenant of grace woven through scripture. Repetition in scripture is there to affirm the many truths about God.
In a season where we prepare to give thanks, let us not forget to give thanks to God, for He is good and remains with us during both good times and bad. He delivers us out of trouble even when those struggles seem too big to comprehend. Even in times of war or the rumor of war or when the world seems to be a mess, we call on his name so we can continue to praise him.
And all the people said “Amen”
MEMORY VERse
Nicolas Poussin. Man Praying in Wilderness, n.d. The Art Institute of Chicago
Related Verses
More verses about faithfulness in thanksgiving:
Prayer Invitation
Application Questions
- How can you consistently remember to reflect on God’s goodness and faithfulness in your daily life?
- How can you respond to life’s triumphs and failures while recognizing the truth of God’s enduring love?
- How can you include communal worship during your daily routine, and why is it important to praise the Lord together?
- How can you be an example of God’s goodness and reflect his praise in your community, and when you talk with people?
MANÁ 
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