The LORD is for Us

1 Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good;
    for his steadfast love endures forever!

2 Let Israel say,
    “His steadfast love endures forever.”
3 Let the house of Aaron say,
    “His steadfast love endures forever.”
4 Let those who fear the LORD say,
    “His steadfast love endures forever.”

5 Out of my distress I called on the LORD;
    the LORD answered me and set me free.
6 The LORD is on my side; I will not fear.
    What can man do to me?
7 The LORD is on my side as my helper;
    I shall look in triumph on those who hate me.

8 It is better to take refuge in the LORD
    than to trust in man.
9 It is better to take refuge in the LORD
    than to trust in princes.

10 All nations surrounded me;
    in the name of the LORD I cut them off!
11 They surrounded me, surrounded me on every side;
    in the name of the LORD I cut them off!
12 They surrounded me like bees;
    they went out like a fire among thorns;
    in the name of the LORD I cut them off!
13 I was pushed hard, so that I was falling,
    but the LORD helped me.

14 The LORD is my strength and my song;
    he has become my salvation.
15 Glad songs of salvation
    are in the tents of the righteous:
“The right hand of the LORD does valiantly,
16     the right hand of the LORD exalts,
    the right hand of the LORD does valiantly!”

17 I shall not die, but I shall live,
    and recount the deeds of the LORD.
18 The LORD has disciplined me severely,
    but he has not given me over to death.

19 Open to me the gates of righteousness,
    that I may enter through them
    and give thanks to the LORD.
20 This is the gate of the LORD;
    the righteous shall enter through it.
21 I thank you that you have answered me
    and have become my salvation.
22 The stone that the builders rejected
    has become the cornerstone.
23 This is the LORD's doing;
    it is marvelous in our eyes.
24 This is the day that the LORD has made;
    let us rejoice and be glad in it.

25 Save us, we pray, O LORD!
    O LORD, we pray, give us success!

26 Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD!
    We bless you from the house of the LORD.
27 The LORD is God,
    and he has made his light to shine upon us.
Bind the festal sacrifice with cords,
    up to the horns of the altar!

28 You are my God, and I will give thanks to you;
    you are my God; I will extol you.
29 Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good;
    for his steadfast love endures forever! – Psalm 118:1-29 ESV

This is the final psalm in the Hallel (Psalms 113-118), a section of the psalter focused on the praise of Yahweh. The repetitive use of the Hebrew word hālal, from which the English word hallelujah is derived, is why these six psalms are closely linked. These psalms contain references to the Exodus account, which led to their being called the Egyptian Hallel. 

“As the final psalm of the ‘Egyptian Hallel’, sung to celebrate the Passover . . ., this psalm may have pictured to those who first sang it the rescue of Israel at the Exodus, and the eventual journey’s end at Mount Zion. But it was destined to be fulfilled more perfectly, as the echoes of it on Palm Sunday and in the Passion Week make clear to every reader of the Gospels.” – Derek Kidner, Psalms 73—150. Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries series, pp. 412-13.

It is interesting to note that the word hālal appears nowhere in Psalm 118. Yet, it is considered the final of the Hallel Psalms. There is little doubt that the unidentified author of this psalm intended his song to praise Yahweh, but he chose to use a different word to convey his sentiments. 

Open to me the gates of righteousness,
    that I may enter through them
    and give thanks to the LORD. – Psalm 118:19 ESV

He uses the illiterative phrase yāḏâ yâ, which can be translated as “praise Yahweh.” Yâ is the contracted version of Yᵊhōvâ, and yāḏâ conveys the idea of thanksgiving as a form of praise for all that Yahweh has done. 

The psalmist opens his song with the words “yāḏâ Yᵊhōvâ” and provides the reason for his imperative.

Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good!
    His faithful love endures forever. – Psalm 118:1 NLT

Four times in as many verses, he repeats the phrase, “His faithful love endures forever.” He then spends the following 28 verses extolling the myriad ways Yahweh has proven His goodness and unfailing love. He begins with a personal testimony of Yahweh’s gracious activity in his own life.

In my distress I prayed to the LORD,
    and the LORD answered me and set me free. – Psalm 118:5 NLT

While the psalmist's name remains a mystery and the nature of his distress is unclear, he leaves little doubt that his circumstances were less than ideal. 

…hostile nations surrounded me. – vs 10 NLT

…they surrounded and attacked me… – vs 11 NLT

They swarmed around me like bees;
    they blazed against me like a crackling fire. – vs 12 NLT

My enemies did their best to kill me… – vs 13 NLT

Whoever the psalmist was, he found himself in a difficult situation in which the odds were stacked against him. His adversaries were many, and their intentions were clear: They were out to destroy him. But in the depth of his pain and suffering, he called on the LORD and was delivered. 

I destroyed them all with the authority of the LORD. – vs 10 NLT

Though he was overwhelmed and outgunned, Yahweh gave him a resounding victory over his enemies. Rather than boast in his own prowess or military proficiency, the psalmist gives all the credit to Yahweh.

…the LORD rescued me.
The LORD is my strength and my song;
    he has given me victory. – Psalm 118:13-14 NLT

He then explains the reason for his song of praise.

Songs of joy and victory are sung in the camp of the godly.
    The strong right arm of the LORD has done glorious things!
The strong right arm of the LORD is raised in triumph.
    The strong right arm of the LORD has done glorious things! – Psalm 118:15-16 NLT

The psalmist credited Yahweh for the victory, but he refused to blame him for his predicament. In fact, he did just the opposite. He viewed Yahweh as just in punishing his sin and merciful for sparing his life. 

The LORD has punished me severely,
    but he did not let me die. – Psalm 118:18 NLT

And the psalmist, who had been overwhelmed with fear and apprehension, was now overwhelmed with gratitude to Yahweh. He couldn't help but sing the LORD's praises for all He had done. 

Open for me the gates where the righteous enter,
    and I will go in and thank the LORD.
These gates lead to the presence of the LORD,
    and the godly enter there.
I thank you for answering my prayer
    and giving me victory! – Psalm 118:19-21 NLT

The psalmist summarizes his experience by referring to himself as “the stone that the builders rejected” (Psalm 118:22 ESV). Looking back on his situation, he recalled his inadequacy and helplessness. Surrounded by his enemies and ill-equipped to deal with their threats against him, he felt rejected by God. At one time, he had considered himself integral to Yahweh's plans, but the circumstances of life left him feeling discarded and forsaken. But Yahweh had not abandoned him. 

The stone that the builders rejected
    has now become the cornerstone.
This is the LORD’s doing,
    and it is wonderful to see.
This is the day the LORD has made.
    We will rejoice and be glad in it. – Psalm 118:22-24 NLT

In the gospel of Matthew, he records a conversation Jesus had with the religious leaders of Israel. Jesus told them a parable about a “certain landowner planted a vineyard, built a wall around it, dug a pit for pressing out the grape juice, and built a lookout tower. Then he leased the vineyard to tenant farmers and moved to another country” (Matthew 21:33 NLT). When the fall harvest arrived, the landowner sent his servants to collect his share of the crop. But “the farmers grabbed his servants, beat one, killed one, and stoned another” (Matthew 21:35 NLT). The landowner sent a larger group of servants, but they were treated similarly. Finally, the landowner sent his son, expecting him to be treated with respect. But “they grabbed him, dragged him out of the vineyard, and murdered him” (Matthew 21:39 NLT).

When Jesus asked the religious leaders what they thought the landowner should do to these tenant farmers, they quickly replied, “He will put the wicked men to a horrible death and lease the vineyard to others who will give him his share of the crop after each harvest” (Matthew 21:41 NLT). Then Jesus, borrowing from Psalm 118, dropped a bombshell.

Then Jesus asked them, “Didn’t you ever read this in the Scriptures?

‘The stone that the builders rejected
    has now become the cornerstone.
This is the Lord’s doing,
    and it is wonderful to see.’

I tell you, the Kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a nation that will produce the proper fruit. Anyone who stumbles over that stone will be broken to pieces, and it will crush anyone it falls on.” – Matthew 21:42-44 NLT

Jesus took this psalm of thanksgiving and praise and turned it into a warning of future judgment on all those who rejected Him as LORD and Savior. The Pharisees and Sadducees viewed Jesus as useless and of no value to their plans. They had discarded Him as nothing more than a religious heretic. They were the enemies who surrounded Jesus and threatened Him with death, but their efforts to eradicate Him would prove unsuccessful. God had not forsaken the psalmist and would not forsake His own Son. 

The psalmist prophetically wrote, “Bless the one who comes in the name of the LORD” (Psalm 118:26 NLT). Matthew picked up on this phrase when he recorded Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem. 

They brought the donkey and the colt to him and threw their garments over the colt, and he sat on it.

Most of the crowd spread their garments on the road ahead of him, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. Jesus was in the center of the procession, and the people all around him were shouting,

“Praise God for the Son of David!
    Blessings on the one who comes in the name of the Lord!
    Praise God in highest heaven!” – Matthew 21:7-9 NLT

Jesus was the fulfillment of Psalm 118. He was the rejected cornerstone and the one who comes in the name of the LORD. He was surrounded by enemies but won the victory in the power of the LORD. He defeated sin and death. He broke the bonds that held humanity captive. The Hallel Psalms speak of God's unfailing love and faithfulness. They remind us that God is always there for us. 

We literally walk in His presence each and every day (Psalms 116:9). He watches over us, and we can trust Him. In fact, the psalmist reminds us that "It is better to trust the LORD than to put confidence in people" (Psalms 118:8 NLT). People let us down, just like we let them down. But God never lets us down and never disappoints. He never fails to come through. He may not do things the way we want them done, but He always delivers – in ways we could never have imagined – and always for our good and His glory.

The strong right arm of the LORD is raised in triumph.
    The strong right arm of the LORD has done glorious things! – Psalms 118:16 NLT

The LORD is for us. So why don't we trust Him more? Is it because we refuse to recognize His hand in our lives? We have not trained ourselves to look for the signs of His presence. They are there. His answers to prayers that come at just the right time. His gracious provision for all our needs. His providential protection despite our proven unfaithfulness. God is for us and He loves us. That thought should blow us away and result in praise and thanksgiving – all day, everyday. 

Father, I know I don't thank You enough. I take far too much for granted, including the gracious gift of Your Son's sacrifice on my behalf. I want to live with a stark awareness of your goodness and graciousness in my life, not just for salvation but for Your constant provision, protection, and blessings along the way. The psalmist was grateful and expressed it in song. I am quick to complain but slow to compliment and commend You for Your sovereign role in every area of my life. I want to live more gratefully and joyfully, recognizing Your activity in my life and thanking You for it because Your faithful love endures forever. Amen

English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT) Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

An Uncomfortable But Honest Prayer

To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David.

1 Be not silent, O God of my praise!
2 For wicked and deceitful mouths are opened against me,
    speaking against me with lying tongues.
3 They encircle me with words of hate,
    and attack me without cause.
4 In return for my love they accuse me,
    but I give myself to prayer.
5 So they reward me evil for good,
    and hatred for my love.

6 Appoint a wicked man against him;
    let an accuser stand at his right hand.
7 When he is tried, let him come forth guilty;
    let his prayer be counted as sin!
8 May his days be few;
    may another take his office!
9 May his children be fatherless
    and his wife a widow!
10 May his children wander about and beg,
    seeking food far from the ruins they inhabit!
11 May the creditor seize all that he has;
    may strangers plunder the fruits of his toil!
12 Let there be none to extend kindness to him,
    nor any to pity his fatherless children!
13 May his posterity be cut off;
    may his name be blotted out in the second generation!
14 May the iniquity of his fathers be remembered before the LORD,
    and let not the sin of his mother be blotted out!
15 Let them be before the LORD continually,
    that he may cut off the memory of them from the earth!

16 For he did not remember to show kindness,
    but pursued the poor and needy
    and the brokenhearted, to put them to death.
17 He loved to curse; let curses come upon him!
    He did not delight in blessing; may it be far from him!
18 He clothed himself with cursing as his coat;
    may it soak into his body like water,
    like oil into his bones!
19 May it be like a garment that he wraps around him,
    like a belt that he puts on every day!
20 May this be the reward of my accusers from the LORD,
    of those who speak evil against my life!

21 But you, O God my Lord,
    deal on my behalf for your name's sake;
    because your steadfast love is good, deliver me!
22 For I am poor and needy,
    and my heart is stricken within me.
23 I am gone like a shadow at evening;
    I am shaken off like a locust.
24 My knees are weak through fasting;
    my body has become gaunt, with no fat.
25 I am an object of scorn to my accusers;
    when they see me, they wag their heads.

26 Help me, O LORD my God!
    Save me according to your steadfast love!
27 Let them know that this is your hand;
    you, O LORD, have done it!
28 Let them curse, but you will bless!
    They arise and are put to shame, but your servant will be glad!
29 May my accusers be clothed with dishonor;
    may they be wrapped in their own shame as in a cloak!

30 With my mouth I will give great thanks to the LORD;
    I will praise him in the midst of the throng.
31 For he stands at the right hand of the needy one,
    to save him from those who condemn his soul to death. – Psalm 109:1-31 ESV

One word comes to mind when I read a psalm like this: Uncomfortable, or maybe even shocking. I read it and am surprised that these words came from the pen of David, the man after God's own heart. But here they are for all to see and read in all their black and white glory.

May his children become fatherless,
    and his wife a widow.
May his children wander as beggars
    and be driven from their ruined homes.
May creditors seize his entire estate,
    and strangers take all he has earned.
Let no one be kind to him;
    let no one pity his fatherless children.
May all his offspring die. – Psalm 109:9-13 NLT

To say that David is feeling vindictive would be a mild understatement. He is incensed, and his words are incendiary. Remember, this is a song, and is addressed to the choirmaster. It was meant to be sung and performed as an act of worship. Yet, it is filled with shockingly blunt and surprisingly hateful petitions aimed at an unnamed enemy of David. 

Psalm 109 is what is known as an imprecatory prayer. It is a prayer for evil or misfortune to come upon someone else, usually an enemy. In the Bible, an imprecatory prayer is the prayer of a righteous man asking God to carry out justice by bringing punishment or destruction on those who have done evil and mistreated or abused him. A first read of this Psalm can be a little disconcerting.

David's requests are severe and seem motivated by extreme hatred. He is obviously upset and has been suffering greatly at the hands of this enemy. David doesn't disclose the identity of his enemy, but he wishes nothing but ill will against them. He makes it painfully clear what he wants God to do to them. He basically wants him dead, leaving his wife a widow and his children little more than beggars.

Is David wrong for praying this prayer? Is he letting his anger get the best of him? If so, why does God include this psalm in the Bible?

While David's requests may make us uncomfortable, we can probably relate at some level. We have all had similar thoughts concerning someone in our lives. Perhaps we never put those ideas into the form of a prayer, but we definitely conjured up images of those individuals getting their just desserts. We may not have been quite as harsh as David, but we likely wanted to see some kind of harm come to the one who had harmed us.

This is a purely human reaction. We want revenge and desire vengeance to be done. This is not necessarily wrong, especially if what was done to us is truly evil and sinful. But David knew something we all need to know: Vengeance is God's business, not ours. That is why David took his issue to God. 

Help me, O Lord my God!
    Save me because of your unfailing love.
Let them see that this is your doing,
    that you yourself have done it, LORD. – Psalm 109:26-27 NLT

I think there is a point at which David knew that what this person had done to him was in direct opposition to the will of God. David had shown them love, and their response had been evil.

I love them, but they try to destroy me with accusations
    even as I am praying for them!
They repay evil for good,
    and hatred for my love. – Psalm 109:4-5 NLT

Their actions were sinful and ungodly, and David knew that God was opposed to everything they had done to him. So he took his case to the Lord, pleading for justice in the form of vengeance. He was familiar with God's declaration found in the Book of Deuteronomy.

“Is not this laid up in store with me,
    sealed up in my treasuries?
Vengeance is mine, and recompense,
    for the time when their foot shall slip;
for the day of their calamity is at hand,
    and their doom comes swiftly.” – Deuteronomy 32:34-35 ESV

This passage is part of another song, written by Moses near the end of the Israelites' 40-year journey from Egypt to the promised land. The elderly liberator and leader of God's chosen people is nearing the end of his own earthly journey and preparing the people of Israel for their conquest of Canaan. He would not be going with them, and so he pens this epic poem to remind them of their need to leave behind their apostasy and idolatry and obey God. His record of God's promise of vengeance was directed at the people of Israel, not their enemies. Moses was warning them that God would not tolerate their infidelity and unfaithfulness. Their successful conquest of the land would require obedience and obeisance, their willing submission to God's will. 

But David had a different kind of vengeance in mind that was not self-directed but other-oriented. He was asking God to vindicate him by turning the tables on his enemy and giving him a taste of his own medicine. Basically, David was asking God to let this man reap what he sowed.

It gets really uncomfortable for most of us when David starts asking for bad things to happen to the guy's wife and kids. This seems a bit extreme. But this does not mean David had unbridled hatred for the man's family. It only reveals David's understanding of how things worked in their society. These were the natural consequences of life in the culture of David's day. A man and his offspring were inseparably linked. The actions of one directly influenced the other. This man's sins and punishment would be felt by his wife, children, and ancestors. That was the way things worked in their society. So David is praying for the natural consequences of this man's deserved punishment.

David knew God hated sin and injustice, so his prayer was not inappropriate or sinful. He was simply expressing a hatred for sin that mirrored that of God. He wanted to see God's will done. Sure, he was not shy in expressing his own opinion as to what that will should be, but at the end of the day, he wanted to see God mete out justice and vengeance on someone he believed to be an enemy of God.

But what balances this psalm out is David's request that God express His love and faithfulness to him.

But deal well with me, O Sovereign LORD,
    for the sake of your own reputation!
Rescue me
    because you are so faithful and good. – Psalm 109:21 NLT

David understood that God wanted to bless the righteous and punish the wicked. That is what this prayer is all about. It is a request for God to be God, and do what only God can do. Only God could rescue David and turn the evil that this person intended into a blessing. Only God could punish this individual justly and righteously, returning on him the kind of evil he had been dishing out.

Imprecations are effective only when we see sin from God's point of view and ask Him to deal with it according to His Word. David was simply praying back to God what he knew to be true about His character and His divine outlook on sin. David was praying for the kind of punishment for sin God had already expressed as proper and just.

The most crucial point is that David prayed with a pure, innocent heart. He had done nothing to deserve the treatment he had received. He was innocent, which is critical when praying an imprecatory prayer. Had David been guilty of mistreating this man, his prayers would have been improper and unheeded by God. But he stood guiltless before God and suffered unjustly, so he knew God would intervene. God protects His own. He defends His sheep.

David's prayer came from a firm understanding of who God was and what He stood for. This song is much more than an expression of hatred for his enemy. His prayer was driven by a desire to see justice done and for God to intervene.

I will give repeated thanks to the LORD,
    praising him to everyone.
For he stands beside the needy,
    ready to save them from those who condemn them. – Psalm 109:30-31 NLT

David wanted to see God's will done and His power manifested to all those around him. God's glory was David's foremost desire, and he was willing to wait on God to intercede on his behalf. He believed justice would be done, and he was ready to praise God even before the deliverance became a reality.

Father, give me a hatred for evil that is more powerful than my hatred for any particular individual and what they might do to me. May I learn to see any injustice done to me as an injustice done to You. This is more about You than me. May I learn to desire Your glory by seeing Your will be done – in my life and circumstances. Give me a greater understanding of Your hatred of evil and the manner in which You punish it, so that I might pray according to Your will and not mine. Amen

English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT) Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Worthy of Our Praise

1 David and the chiefs of the service also set apart for the service the sons of Asaph, and of Heman, and of Jeduthun, who prophesied with lyres, with harps, and with cymbals. The list of those who did the work and of their duties was: 2 Of the sons of Asaph: Zaccur, Joseph, Nethaniah, and Asharelah, sons of Asaph, under the direction of Asaph, who prophesied under the direction of the king. 3 Of Jeduthun, the sons of Jeduthun: Gedaliah, Zeri, Jeshaiah, Shimei, Hashabiah, and Mattithiah, six, under the direction of their father Jeduthun, who prophesied with the lyre in thanksgiving and praise to the Lord. 4 Of Heman, the sons of Heman: Bukkiah, Mattaniah, Uzziel, Shebuel and Jerimoth, Hananiah, Hanani, Eliathah, Giddalti, and Romamti-ezer, Joshbekashah, Mallothi, Hothir, Mahazioth. 5 All these were the sons of Heman the king’s seer, according to the promise of God to exalt him, for God had given Heman fourteen sons and three daughters. 6 They were all under the direction of their father in the music in the house of the Lord with cymbals, harps, and lyres for the service of the house of God. Asaph, Jeduthun, and Heman were under the order of the king. 7 The number of them along with their brothers, who were trained in singing to the Lord, all who were skillful, was 288. 8 And they cast lots for their duties, small and great, teacher and pupil alike.

9 The first lot fell for Asaph to Joseph; the second to Gedaliah, to him and his brothers and his sons, twelve; 10 the third to Zaccur, his sons and his brothers, twelve; 11 the fourth to Izri, his sons and his brothers, twelve; 12 the fifth to Nethaniah, his sons and his brothers, twelve; 13 the sixth to Bukkiah, his sons and his brothers, twelve; 14 the seventh to Jesharelah, his sons and his brothers, twelve; 15 the eighth to Jeshaiah, his sons and his brothers, twelve; 16 the ninth to Mattaniah, his sons and his brothers, twelve; 17 the tenth to Shimei, his sons and his brothers, twelve; 18 the eleventh to Azarel, his sons and his brothers, twelve; 19 the twelfth to Hashabiah, his sons and his brothers, twelve; 20 to the thirteenth, Shubael, his sons and his brothers, twelve; 21 to the fourteenth, Mattithiah, his sons and his brothers, twelve; 22 to the fifteenth, to Jeremoth, his sons and his brothers, twelve; 23 to the sixteenth, to Hananiah, his sons and his brothers, twelve; 24 to the seventeenth, to Joshbekashah, his sons and his brothers, twelve; 25 to the eighteenth, to Hanani, his sons and his brothers, twelve; 26 to the nineteenth, to Mallothi, his sons and his brothers, twelve; 27 to the twentieth, to Eliathah, his sons and his brothers, twelve; 28 to the twenty-first, to Hothir, his sons and his brothers, twelve; 29 to the twenty-second, to Giddalti, his sons and his brothers, twelve; 30 to the twenty-third, to Mahazioth, his sons and his brothers, twelve; 31 to the twenty-fourth, to Romamti-ezer, his sons and his brothers, twelve. – 1 Chronicles 25:1-31 ESV

David had a strong attention to detail. In his effort to make preparations for the future Temple, he left no matter unattended, carefully covering all his bases so that everything about the house of God was taken care of. As this chapter reveals, he even included the appointment of men who would ensure that the worship of God was accompanied by music. This was not a feature of the Tabernacle and does not seem to have been ordained by God but David, who was a musician himself, understood the power of musical instruments to enhance one’s worship of God.

This was not music for music’s sake but was intended to accompany those who prophesied in the name of the Lord.

David …appointed men from the families of Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun to proclaim God’s messages to the accompaniment of lyres, harps, and cymbals. – 1 Chronicles 25:1 NLT

David appointed various men “who proclaimed God’s messages by the king’s orders” (1 Chronicles 25:2 NLT). This included Asaph, Jeduthun, and Heman, who was the king’s seer. As these men prophesied, they were to be accompanied by their sons who provided “music in the house of the Lord with cymbals, harps, and lyres for the service of the house of God” (1 Chronicles 25:6 ESV). Those who were chosen for this special service were accomplished musicians.

They and their families were all trained in making music before the Lord, and each of them—288 in all—was an accomplished musician. – 1 Chronicles 25:7 NLT

The Temple David had dreamed of building would be more than just a place to offer sacrifices; it would feature the perpetual worship of God. He would be the solitary focus within its walls 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The men listed in this chapter were worship leaders responsible for speaking the truth of God set to music. In essence, they formed a temple choir to praise God through music and song.  Music, always near and dear to David's heart, would play a significant role in the new Temple that Solomon would construct.

The Temple is most often associated with the sacrificial system and the Holy of Holies, that innermost room where the presence of God dwelt above the Mercy Seat. But as this passage indicates, there was so much more to Temple worship than animal sacrifices. The building was an incredible sight to behold with its magnificent gold overlays, tapestries, pillars, and ornate furnishings. But it was to be a feast for the ears as much as it was for the eyes. Music would fill the structure through the artful blending of musical instruments and human voices, and the music was to accompany the prophesying of God’s truth.

Visiting the completed Temple would have been a sensory overload – filled with sights and sounds designed to praise and bring glory to God. He was the focus. Walking into the temple would have left little doubt that God was the center of attention. The sacrifices were for Him, but so was the music. The entire structure was designed with Him in mind.

Consider the difference between then and now. Today, so much of what takes place within the typical "house of God" is about the worshipers and not the One being worshiped. Our churches are built with our comfort in mind and intended to accommodate our needs. In many ways, even the music is designed to entertain and encourage us. The sermons are written and delivered for our benefit. Rather than lifting up the name of God and celebrating the Word of God, many messages delivered from pulpits across our country have become little more than positive motivational speeches or Ted Talks filled with tips on living a better life. While the buildings themselves may be impressive architecturally, they do little to lift up and glorify God. Sadly to say, they have become man-centered, rather than God-honoring.

Yet David was not interested in building a place where men could feel encouraged and entertained. He wanted to create a house suitable for his God, where everything pointed to the glory and majesty of God. It was to be magnificent in every detail because David's God was transcendent and majestic. From the smallest brick laid to the highest note played, everything about the Temple was to be about God because He alone was worthy.

Psalm 150 declares the purpose behind David’s efforts to equip God’s house with a living sound system that would fill its corridors and rooms with music and messages that reflect God’s truth and worthiness.

Praise him with a blast of the ram’s horn;
    praise him with the lyre and harp!
Praise him with the tambourine and dancing;
    praise him with strings and flutes!
Praise him with a clash of cymbals;
    praise him with loud clanging cymbals.
Let everything that breathes sing praises to the Lord!

Praise the Lord! – Psalm 150:3-6 NLT

English Standard Version (ESV)
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT)
Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.