It was a glorious day when the Ark of God was safely lodged within the tent which David had set up for it. That good man had his heart much set upon this, and he could not sleep contentedly until it was done (Ps. 132:4-5). The circumstances of the Ark were now better than what they had been. It had been in an obscure country-town – in “the fields of the wood,” according to the Psalm – but now it was removed to the royal city, where it was easily accessible for people to come to it. It had been neglected like a despised and broken vessel, but now it was regarded with veneration. It had formerly borrowed a room in a private home; but now it had a dwelling-place of its own, entirely to itself. Although God’s Word and ordinances may be clouded and eclipsed for a time, they shall always return out of obscurity and shine forth gloriously!

In spite of all this, the condition of the Ark was still far short of the circumstances that it enjoyed during the next reign, when the Temple was built. The Ark was currently housed in only a poor, humble tent; yet this was the Tabernacle which David, in his Psalms, often speaks of with so much affection! He pitched a tent for the Ark, and remained steadfast in his worship of the Lord Whom it belonged to; and herein, he did far better than Solomon, who built a grand and glorious temple for it, and yet turned his back upon Jehovah in his latter days. It has often been the case that the Church’s poorest times have been its purest.

David was now easy in his mind, for the Ark was housed in a place near to him. And he took measures to ensure that God had the glory of it. In two ways, he gave the Lord honor upon this occasion – first, by sacrifices (verse 1) in adoration of His perfections and in acknowledgment of His favors; and second, by songs. He appointed Levites to record this story in a song for the benefit of others, and to celebrate it themselves by thanking and praising the God of Israel (verse 4). All our rejoicings must express themselves in thanksgivings to Him from Whom all our comforts are received.

All the people were to have joy upon this occasion as well. David gave them something worth coming for, for he distributed to everyone a royal treat in honor of the day (verse 3) – hereby showing himself generous to his subjects, just as he had found God to be gracious to him. But even better than that, David also gave the people a blessing in the name of the Lord, as a father and a prophet (verse 2). He prayed to God for them, and he commended them to His grace.

A large portion of this chapter contains the thanksgiving-psalm which the Holy Spirit inspired David to compose and deliver to the chief musician, to be sung upon the occasion when the Ark was brought into the tent that had been prepared for it. David had penned many Psalms before this one – some of them during the time of his trouble by Saul. It seems that the words of this Psalm were written before; but now they were rearranged and delivered into the hands of Asaph for the first time, for the use of the Lord’s people. This song of thanksgiving is compiled from portions of several Psalms. Verses 8-22 are taken from Psalm 105:1-15; verses 23-33 are the whole 96th Psalm, with little variation; verse 34 is taken from Psalm 136:1; and then verses 35 and 36 come from the closing verses of Psalm 106. These Psalms are best expounded in their respective places; so here we will examine them as they are put together, with the purpose of thanking the Lord (verse 7) – a great duty indeed, in which we need to be greatly assisted.

God is to be glorified in our praises; His honor must be the center focus of our worship. We must glorify Him by our thanksgivings (verse 8), by our prayers (verse 8), by our songs (verse 9), and by our discourse (verse 9). We must glorify Him as a great God, Who is greatly to be praised (verse 25), and Who is the supreme God over all idols (verse 26). We must glorify Him as the Creator (verse 26), as the Ruler of the whole creation (verse 14), and as the Lord our God (verse 14). Thus we must give unto the Lord the glory due to His name (verses 28-29)!

Another purpose of our worship and thanksgiving is so that others may be edified and instructed. “Make known his deeds among the people!” (verse 8) “Declare his glory among the heathen!” (verse 24) In this way, those who are not the Lord’s people may be led into acquaintance with Him, allegiance to Him, and adoration of Him. Thus we must serve the interests of Christ’s kingdom among the human race, so that all the earth may fear and love Him (verse 30).

We ourselves may also be encouraged to triumph and trust in God! Those who give glory to God’s name are allowed to glory in it (verse 10). They may value themselves upon their relationship with God, and they may venture themselves upon His promises to them. “Let the heart of those rejoice that seek the Lord!” And much more ought those persons to rejoice who have both sought and found Him!

The Lord’s everlasting Covenant is to be the great theme of our joy and praise: “Be mindful of his covenant!” (verse 15) In the parallel passage (Ps. 105:8), we read, “He will be ever mindful of it.” And seeing that God never will forget it, we must never forget it either! This Covenant is ancient, yet it must never be forgotten. It was made with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (who had already been dead for over 600 years when this was written); yet the spiritual promises of the Covenant (verses 16-18) are still sure and certain to Abraham’s spiritual descendants.

God’s former mercies to His people of old – to our spiritual forefathers – is to be commemorated by us, even now, with thankfulness to His praise! Let it be remembered how the Lord protected the patriarchs in their unsettled condition when they were few and might easily have been swallowed up, and when they were continually upon the move – exposed to those who bore them ill-will and sought to do them mischief. Yet no man was allowed to do them wrong – neither Canaanites, nor Philistines, nor Egyptians. Even kings were reproved and plagued for their sakes. These people were the anointed of the Lord, and sanctified by His grace and for His glory; and they had received the blessing of the Holy Spirit. If anyone harmed them, it was at their own peril (verses 19-22).

The great salvation of the Lord must especially be the subject of our praises (verse 23). “Show forth from day to day his salvation” – that is, His promised salvation in Jesus Christ! We have reason to celebrate that from day to day; for we daily receive the benefits of it, and it is a subject that can never be exhausted!

The Lord is to be praised by a proper and constant attendance upon Him in the ordinances which He has appointed. “Bring an offering!” commands the Psalmist (verse 29). In those days, it was to be an offering of the fruit of the ground or of a sacrificial animal; but now, it is especially to be an offering from the lips and the heart (Heb. 13:15). Let us worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness – in holy places and in a holy manner (verse 29). Holiness is the beauty of the Lord, as well as the beauty of all sanctified souls and all religious performances.

God’s universal Kingship ought to be the fear and joy of all people! Let us reverence it (“Fear before him, all the earth!”), and let us also rejoice in it (“Let the heavens be glad and rejoice!”); for the Lord reigns, and He establishes the world by His Providence! (verses 30-31)

The prospect of the Lord’s coming judgment should inspire us with an awful pleasure; for although that great Last Day will consume all things on earth, yet we may rejoice that He will come to judge the earth! (verses 32-33)

But in the midst of all our praises, we must not forget to pray for the relief of the saints and servants of God who are in distress! (verse 35) When we are rejoicing in God’s favors to us, we must remember our afflicted brothers and sisters who are scattered and oppressed; and we must pray for their salvation and deliverance as we would for our own, for we are members of the same Body of Christ!

Finally, let us make God the Alpha and Omega of our praises! David began this song (verse 8) with the words, “Give thanks to the Lord!” And he concluded (verse 36) with these words: “Blessed be the Lord!” And as the place from which this doxology is taken (Ps. 106:48) adds, “Let all the people say, Amen, Hallelujah!” – here we find that the people did just that! “All the people said, Amen, and praised the Lord.” When the Levites had finished this Psalm, then – and not until then – the people who were present signified their consent by saying, “Amen!”

The worship of God is not only to be the work of a solemn day now and then, but it ought to be the work of every day. David, therefore, set it up for constancy. It does seem a little strange that he did not either bring the Ark to Gibeon (where Moses’ Tabernacle, the brass altar of sacrifice, and the golden incense-altar were still located), or else bring the Tabernacle and altars to Mount Zion (where the Ark now was). Whatever was the reason, they were separated during David’s time; but he took care that neither of them should be neglected. At Jerusalem (where the Ark was), he appointed Asaph and his brethren to minister before the Ark continually, with songs of praise (verse 37). No sacrifices were offered there, nor incense burned, because the altars were not there; but David’s prayers were directed as incense, and the lifting up of his hands as the evening sacrifice (Ps. 141:2) – and so, even in David’s time, we see that spiritual worship took the place of ceremonial. Yet the ceremonial worship was not to be omitted, since it was appointed by Divine institution for the time; and therefore, the work of the priests at Gibeon was to sacrifice and burn incense on the altars, which they did continually – morning and evening – according to the law of Moses (verses 39-40). These things were still to be observed – even though they were inferior to the spiritual services of prayer and praise – because they were pictures and foreshadows of the high priestly work of Jesus. That is why such a great deal of honor was put upon their observance. Zadok apparently resided in Gibeon, to preside in the service of the altars; and it is probable that Abiathar settled in Jerusalem, to attend the Ark – for he had the high priest’s breastplate of judgment, which was only to be consulted before the Ark. This is the reason why we read that both Zadok and Abiathar were priests in David’s time (2 Sam. 8:17; 20:25). One was where the altars were, and the other was with the Ark. At Gibeon, where the altars were, David also appointed singers to give thanks to the Lord; and the theme of all their songs was to be this: “his mercy endureth for ever!” (verse 41)

Matters being thus settled, and the affairs of religion being put into a happy channel, the people were satisfied and went home pleased. And David himself returned to bless his house – resolving to still keep up family worship in his own home, which public worship must not supersede!

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