Thanksgiving Series Day 2: David and the Return of the Ark

November 2020 Series on Thanksgiving – for more information and an outline see here.

1 They brought the ark of God and set it inside the tent that David had pitched for it, and they presented burnt offerings and fellowship offerings before God. 2 After David had finished sacrificing the burnt offerings and fellowship offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the Lord. 3 Then he gave a loaf of bread, a cake of dates and a cake of raisins to each Israelite man and woman. 4 He appointed some of the Levites to minister before the ark of the Lord, to extol, thank, and praise the Lord, the God of Israel:

1 Chronicles 16:1-4 New International Version (NIV)

In yesterday’s “Day 1” post, we looked at the peace or fellowship offering for thanksgiving. In today’s “Day 2” post and for the next three posts, we’ll look at examples of the offering during major events in the Old Testament history of the nation of Israel. Here David makes offerings in preparation for the arrival of the ark, being brought back from it’s temporary place after return from the Philistines to the city of Jerusalem. David had promised God a place, though it would be his son Solomon who would build it, to be in Jerusalem. To him and to the nation of Israel, the ark represented God’s presence, so the return of the ark was an occasion for great celebration and thankfulness. Note that the word “thanks” in v. 4 is the Hebrew word “yada“, which we discussed in the Day 1 post.

In the passage quoted above (1 Chronicles 16:1-4), David makes offerings and directs the Levites on how to celebrate the ark’s return. He offers burnt offerings and a fellowship offering that includes providing everyone with a loaf of bread, which possibly indicates that this fellowship offering was for thanksgiving.

David also later offers a song in 1 Chronicles 16:7-36. Note also that v. 7 mentions that David appointed Asaph and his associates to give praise with the song. Asaph is credited with writing Psalms 50 and 73-83.

David’s song touches on themes that are often used in the psalm and in passages of thanksgiving:

• v. 8: “Give praise (yada) to the Lord, proclaim his name;” – to the Israelites, the name of God was so sacred that they didn’t speak it, and it was represented as YHWH, from which we get Yahweh, or “He Brings into Existence Whatever Exists”. To give praise or thanks to the Lord, proclaiming his name would involve acknowledging Him as the Creator of all things and as holy above all things. Proclaiming God’s name and holiness is a central part of the “shema” from Deuteronomy 6:4-9 “Hear O Israel, the LORD our God, the LORD is one”, where the word for LORD in Hebrews is YHWH. This passage was used in Passover celebration and in the Deuteronomy passage Israelites were called to impress the commandments of God on their children. It’s also the passage Jesus quoted when asked what was the greatest commandment! How do you give praise and thanks for God’s holiness?
• v. 9: “Sing to him, sing praise to him” – the psalms are songs, in many cases ones that were actually used for singing to worship, praise and thank God. Psalms 9, 69 and 95, among others, mention singing as part of expressing thanksgiving. Do you have any favorite hymns or songs that include praise or thanksgiving to God? Sing with all your heart, even if you don’t feel that’s your talent or gift – we’re called only to make a “joyful noise”, not necessarily to have the voice of an angel while we make that noise :-).
• v. 12: “Remember the wonders he has done” – many expressions of thankfulness in the Old Testament include remembrances of great things God has done. Psalms 71:19, 106:21 and 126:2-3 mention that the LORD (or God) has “done great things”, and many Psalms re-tell the story of Israel’s deliverance from Egypt along with God’s work throughout history through the patriarchs and the nation of Israel. An example is the passage that follows v. 12, from v. 14-22, where God is remembered for his covenant to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and the promise to give them the land of Canaan. What great wonders and deeds has God done in your personal history? Give praise and thanks for all the ways He has worked through your life to bless you.
• v. 31-33: “Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad” – another theme in the scriptures is how the heavens and earth also rejoice and praise God. In v. 32 the sea and the fields are called to rejoice, and in v. 33 the trees are encouraged to sing with joy! Jesus once told the Pharisees that if his disciples stayed quiet then “the stones will cry out” (Luke 19:39-41)! All of God’s creation is somehow connected to him and we together can praise God as part of His creation. Are you rejoicing and glad in your heart and thankfulness to God?
• v. 34: “Give thanks (yada) to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.” – this phrase is one used throughout psalms of praise and thanksgiving in the Old Testament. In later thanksgiving devotionals of this series, we’ll look at five psalms that feature this phrase: Psalms 100, 106, 107, 118 and 136. Psalm 136 repeats the words “his love endures forever” in every verse. Of all God’s qualities, love certainly deserves a special place of honor in thanking God. How does God’s love prompt you to give thanks to Him?

As David gave great thanks for the presence of God in the ark, let us give thanks for the presence He provides today through His Son’s sacrifice and the gift of His Holy Spirit. Praise his name, sing with joy, remember His wondrous works in our lives, rejoice with His creation and give thanks for his love that endures forever.