Give thanks to the LORD
This phrase is a call to worship and gratitude, emphasizing the importance of acknowledging God's sovereignty and benevolence. In the context of 1 Chronicles 16, King David is leading the Israelites in a celebration of bringing the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem. This act of thanksgiving is a central theme in Israelite worship, as seen in other scriptures such as Psalm 100:4, which encourages entering God's presence with thanksgiving. The act of giving thanks is not just a ritual but a heartfelt response to God's actions and character.

for He is good
The goodness of the LORD is a foundational attribute in the Hebrew understanding of God. This phrase affirms God's moral perfection and benevolence, which is a recurring theme throughout the Old Testament. The goodness of God is demonstrated in His creation, provision, and covenant faithfulness. In Exodus 33:19, God declares His goodness to Moses, linking it to His mercy and compassion. This goodness is not just an abstract quality but is experienced in the lives of believers through God's actions and promises.

His loving devotion endures forever
This phrase highlights the Hebrew word "chesed," often translated as lovingkindness, mercy, or steadfast love. It signifies God's covenantal loyalty and faithfulness to His people. The enduring nature of God's loving devotion is a reassurance of His unchanging character and eternal commitment to His promises. This concept is echoed in Lamentations 3:22-23, where God's mercies are described as new every morning. The eternal aspect of God's love points to His timeless nature and the assurance that His promises are reliable and everlasting. This enduring love is ultimately fulfilled in the person of Jesus Christ, who embodies God's steadfast love through His life, death, and resurrection.

1. David
The king of Israel who organized the return of the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem and led the people in worship and thanksgiving.

2. The Ark of the Covenant
A sacred chest that held the tablets of the Ten Commandments, representing God's presence with His people.

3. Jerusalem
The city where David brought the Ark, establishing it as the central place of worship for Israel.

4. Asaph and his brothers
Levites appointed by David to minister before the Ark, offering thanks and praise to God.

5. The Israelites
The people of God who participated in the celebration and worship as the Ark was brought to Jerusalem.The Call to Thanksgiving
As believers, we are called to continually give thanks to God, recognizing His goodness in every aspect of our lives.

Understanding God's Goodness
God's goodness is intrinsic to His nature, and acknowledging this helps us trust Him in all circumstances.

Enduring Devotion
God's loving devotion is not temporary or conditional; it is eternal and steadfast, providing us with security and hope.

Worship as a Community
Like the Israelites, we are encouraged to come together in worship, celebrating God's presence and faithfulness.

Reflecting God's Love
As recipients of God's enduring love, we are called to reflect this love to others, demonstrating His goodness through our actions.(34) O give thanks unto the Lord . . .--Several of the later psalms begin with this beautiful liturgic formula. (See Psalms 106; Psalms 107, 118, 136.; and comp. Jeremiah 33:11.) The ode thus concludes with the thought from which it started (1Chronicles 16:8).

Verses 34-36. - These verses, from the first, forty-seventh, and forty-eighth of Psalm 106, must have suggested the sad intermediate contents of that psalm, the significant key-note of which is sounded in our thirty-fifth verse. The suggestion in the midst of the unbounded gladness of this day is affecting, and must have been intended for salutary lesson and timely warning. In the midst of the fulness of praise and joy, the people are led to prayer - say ye - and the prayer is an humble petition for salvation, union, and protection from every enemy. God's treatment of his anointed people had been on his part one continued protection and one prolonged salvation. Yet they had often neither prayed for these nor acknowledged them. Now they are led again by the hand, as it were, to the footstool of the throne.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Give thanks
הוֹד֤וּ (hō·w·ḏū)
Verb - Hifil - Imperative - masculine plural
Strong's 3034: To throw, at, away, to revere, worship, to bemoan

to the LORD,
לַיהוָה֙ (Yah·weh)
Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

for
כִּ֣י (kî)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

He is good;
ט֔וֹב (ṭō·wḇ)
Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 2896: Pleasant, agreeable, good

His loving devotion
חַסְדּֽוֹ׃ (ḥas·dōw)
Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 2617: Kindness, piety, reproof, beauty

endures forever.
לְעוֹלָ֖ם (lə·‘ō·w·lām)
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 5769: Concealed, eternity, frequentatively, always


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OT History: 1 Chronicles 16:34 Oh give thanks to Yahweh for he (1 Chron. 1Ch iCh i Ch 1 chr 1chr)