Study

The Ark Placed in the Tent

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They brought in the ark of God, and set it inside the tent that David had pitched for it; and they offered burnt offerings and offerings of well-being before God. ²When David had finished offering the burnt offerings and the offerings of well-being, he blessed the people in the name of the L ord; ³and he distributed to every person in Israel—man and woman alike—to each a loaf of bread, a portion of meat, and a cake of raisins.

⁴ He appointed certain of the Levites as ministers before the ark of the L ord, to invoke, to thank, and to praise the L ord, the God of Israel. ⁵Asaph was the chief, and second to him Zechariah, Jeiel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Mattithiah, Eliab, Benaiah, Obed-edom, and Jeiel, with harps and lyres; Asaph was to sound the cymbals, ⁶and the priests Benaiah and Jahaziel were to blow trumpets regularly, before the ark of the covenant of God.

David’s Psalm of Thanksgiving

⁷ Then on that day David first appointed the singing of praises to the L ord by Asaph and his kindred.

 

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O give thanks to the L ord, call on his name,

make known his deeds among the peoples.

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Sing to him, sing praises to him,

tell of all his wonderful works.

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Glory in his holy name;

let the hearts of those who seek the L ord rejoice.

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Seek the L ord and his strength,

seek his presence continually.

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Remember the wonderful works he has done,

his miracles, and the judgments he uttered,

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O offspring of his servant Israel,

children of Jacob, his chosen ones.

 

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He is the L ord our God;

his judgments are in all the earth.

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Remember his covenant forever,

the word that he commanded, for a thousand generations,

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the covenant that he made with Abraham,

his sworn promise to Isaac,

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which he confirmed to Jacob as a statute,

to Israel as an everlasting covenant,

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saying, “To you I will give the land of Canaan

as your portion for an inheritance.”

 

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When they were few in number,

of little account, and strangers in the land,

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wandering from nation to nation,

from one kingdom to another people,

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he allowed no one to oppress them;

he rebuked kings on their account,

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saying, “Do not touch my anointed ones;

do my prophets no harm.”

 

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Sing to the L ord, all the earth.

Tell of his salvation from day to day.

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Declare his glory among the nations,

his marvelous works among all the peoples.

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For great is the L ord, and greatly to be praised;

he is to be revered above all gods.

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For all the gods of the peoples are idols,

but the L ord made the heavens.

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Honor and majesty are before him;

strength and joy are in his place.

 

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Ascribe to the L ord, O families of the peoples,

ascribe to the L ord glory and strength.

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Ascribe to the L ord the glory due his name;

bring an offering, and come before him.

Worship the L ord in holy splendor;

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tremble before him, all the earth.

The world is firmly established; it shall never be moved.

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Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice,

and let them say among the nations, “The L ord is king!”

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Let the sea roar, and all that fills it;

let the field exult, and everything in it.

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Then shall the trees of the forest sing for joy

before the L ord, for he comes to judge the earth.

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O give thanks to the L ord, for he is good;

for his steadfast love endures forever.

 

³⁵ Say also:

“Save us, O God of our salvation,

and gather and rescue us from among the nations,

that we may give thanks to your holy name,

and glory in your praise.

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Blessed be the L ord, the God of Israel,

from everlasting to everlasting.”

Then all the people said “Amen!” and praised the L ord.

Regular Worship Maintained

³⁷ David left Asaph and his kinsfolk there before the ark of the covenant of the L ord to minister regularly before the ark as each day required, ³⁸and also Obed-edom and his sixty-eight kinsfolk; while Obed-edom son of Jeduthun and Hosah were to be gatekeepers. ³⁹And he left the priest Zadok and his kindred the priests before the tabernacle of the L ord in the high place that was at Gibeon, ⁴⁰to offer burnt offerings to the L ord on the altar of burnt offering regularly, morning and evening, according to all that is written in the law of the L ord that he commanded Israel. ⁴¹With them were Heman and Jeduthun, and the rest of those chosen and expressly named to render thanks to the L ord, for his steadfast love endures forever. ⁴²Heman and Jeduthun had with them trumpets and cymbals for the music, and instruments for sacred song. The sons of Jeduthun were appointed to the gate.

⁴³ Then all the people departed to their homes, and David went home to bless his household.