Nepaug Bible Church - http://www.nepaugchurch.org - Pastor's Adult Sunday School Notes - http://www.nepaugchurch.org/bb/bb20061105.htm

1 AND 2 CHRONICLES: GAINING DIRECTION OUT OF THE AIMLESSNESS OF APOSTASY
Part II: Gaining Direction From God's Work In The Reign Of David, 1 Chronicles 10-29
E. Following David's Example Of Leading God's People In True Worship
(1 Chronicles 16:1-43)
  1. Introduction
    1. The right kind of worship we should experience in Church is an issue today, for everything from "traditional" to "contemporary" methods exist, and that with a great variety of opinions as to their validity.
    2. David led Israel in worship as he brought the ark to its tent, and we view his method for insight for today:
  2. Following David's Example Of Leading God's People In True Worship, 1 Chronicles 16:1-43.
    1. In leading in worship, David selected the appropriate place, one that was neither secular nor too fancy:
      1. David set up a tent for the ark of God, 1 Chron. 16:1a,b. It was separate from other secular tents.
      2. Of interest to us is the fact that this tent was not elaborate; indeed, David later wanted to build an elaborate temple in contrast to the simplicity of this tent, 1 Chronicles 17:1. Nevertheless, the tent was acceptable to the Lord due to the attitude of the worshipers who came there to worship Him, 17:4-6.
    2. In leading in worship, David began the service by fellowship with the Lord and fellow human worshipers:
      1. David began offering burnt and peace offerings (1 Chron. 16:1c) that signified the (a) voluntary presentation of himself to God (in the burnt offering) and (b) fellowship with God (the peace offering was shared by God and David who ate of it), Ryrie Study Bible, KJV, 1978 ed., ftns. to Lev. 1:3; 3:1.
      2. Having voluntarily presented himself to God for fellowship with Him in worship, David blessed the people in the Lord's Name, and distributed gifts to each of them, men and women alike, sharing his delicacies of loaves of bread and date and raisin cakes, 1 Chron. 16:2-3 NIV. The partaking of these delicacies would signify fellowship between David and every one of his fellow worshipers in the Lord.
      3. Hence, David led Israel in worship in fellowship with God and his fellow worshipers, cf. 1 John 1:7.
    3. In leading in worship, David instituted prayers of thanksgiving and psalms of praise, 1 Chron. 16:4-7, 37-43. Various instruments were used (verses 5-6), and the content of the praise borrowed from several established psalms that were rich in spiritual content, Bible Knowledge Commentary, O. T., p. 607:
      1. David borrowed from Psalm 105:1-15 for 1 Chronicles 16:8-22, he borrowed from Psalm 96:1b-13a for 1 Chronicles 16:23-33, and he borrowed from Psalm 106:1b,c, 47-48 for 1 Chronicles 16:34-36, meaning he used familiar psalms the people loved and could readily, willingly, heartily sing! (Ibid.)
      2. The content of this 1 Chronicles 16:8-36 psalm is rich in Biblical content in keeping with Paul's admonition that believers in the church sing music that is "rich" in the Word of Christ, cf. Col . 3:16:
        1. David's psalm called for Israel to thank, praise and testify of the Lord and His great works, 16:8-9.
        2. It called for the hearts of the people of God to rejoice in God as they worshiped Him, 16:10.
        3. The psalm called upon the people to seek God's strength and fellowship at all times, recalling the long record of God's acts to bless Israel starting in Abraham's day and ending with them, 16:11-22.
        4. David's psalm called on Israel to testify to the Gentile nations of God's greatness and supremacy over their false idols so that the nations might also worship Him, 1 Chronicles 16:23-32.
        5. David's psalm called for the nations to adjust to God in accountability for His judgment, 16:33.
        6. Finally, the psalm concluded with thanksgiving to God's grace (16:34) coupled with a call for God to save Israel from the nations after she had been sent there in judgment for her sin (16:35), trusting God to be faithful to the Abrahamic Covenant from eternity past to eternity future, 1 Chron. 16:36a!
    4. The people responded by spontaneously saying "Amen!" and praising the Lord, 1 Chronicles 16:36b.
    5. After the people left at the end of this worship service, David went home to bless his household, carrying the gracious spirit of the past worship service with him home to affect his family members, 16:43!
Lesson: To lead God's people in effective worship, we should select a place to worship that does not have to be fancy, but distinct from secular distractions. Then we should check that we are in right relationship with God and one another. Though a variety of instruments can be used, the music should be known and loved by all involved, and full of Biblical content that arouses a spontaneous "Amen" in everyone's heart and a gracious "afterglow" that spills over into individual homes to their blessing!

Application: May we use this pattern of worship set by David to enjoy God's blessing in worship!