Scripture Daily

Context No. 1070 of 4322 · 1 Chronicles

Context · Reflection

1 Chronicles 16:23-36: in context

23Sing to the LORD, all the earth! Display his salvation from day to day. 24Declare his glory among the nations, and his marvelous works among all the peoples. 25For great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised. He also is to be feared above all gods. 26For all the gods of the peoples are idols, but the LORD made the heavens. 27Honor and majesty are before him. Strength and gladness are in his place. 28Ascribe to the LORD, you families of the peoples, ascribe to the LORD glory and strength! 29Ascribe to the LORD the glory due to his name. Bring an offering, and come before him. Worship the LORD in holy array. 30Tremble before him, all the earth. The world also is established that it can’t be moved. 31Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice! Let them say among the nations, “The LORD reigns!” 32Let the sea roar, and its fullness! Let the field exult, and all that is in it! 33Then the trees of the forest will sing for joy before the LORD, for he comes to judge the earth. 34Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, for his loving kindness endures forever. 35Say, “Save us, God of our salvation! Gather us together and deliver us from the nations, to give thanks to your holy name, to triumph in your praise.” 36Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, from everlasting even to everlasting. All the people said, “Amen,” and praised the LORD.

This is the second half of David's psalm of thanksgiving when the ark came to Jerusalem. It widens out to summon the whole world: sing to the LORD, all the earth; declare his glory among the nations; the gods of the peoples are idols, but the LORD made the heavens. It calls the families of the peoples to ascribe glory to God, and then invites all creation to join, let the heavens be glad, the earth rejoice, the sea roar, the fields exult, the trees of the forest sing for joy, for the LORD comes to judge the earth. And near the end, a cry: save us, God of our salvation; gather us and deliver us from the nations, that we may give thanks to your holy name.

Two movements stand out. First, the psalm cannot keep the praise inside Israel or even inside humanity; it summons the whole creation to worship, the seas and fields and forests, as if the natural world itself is meant to join the song. Praise, at full stretch, is cosmic; the trees sing and the sea roars because their Maker is worthy, and human worship is joining a chorus the whole creation is built to sing. Second, right in the middle of all this exuberant praise comes a very human cry: save us, gather us, deliver us. The same song that calls the forests to sing also pleads for rescue, because God's people were scattered and needed gathering. Praise and petition are not opposites here; the psalm holds both, adoring the God who made the heavens and in the same breath begging him to save and gather his people. That is a healthy pattern for worship, big enough to summon all creation to glorify God, and honest enough to cry out for help in the same song.

Is my praise large enough to join the whole creation in glorifying God, and honest enough to cry save us and gather us in the same breath?

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