1 Chronicles 16:23-36: a reflection

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.

David's psalm of thanksgiving rises to a call for universal praise: Sing to the LORD, all the earth; tell of his salvation from day to day. Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous works among all the peoples. The praise of God is not to be confined to Israel; it is to be declared among the nations, to all peoples, until all the earth sings to the LORD. And the psalm envisions all creation joining in: let the heavens be glad, the earth rejoice, the sea roar, the trees sing for joy, for the LORD reigns.

Notice the outward and universal thrust of the praise. It is not enough to praise God privately; the psalm calls us to declare his glory among the nations, to make his works known among all peoples, so that all the earth might come to praise him. God's glory is meant to be proclaimed, not hidden; his praise is to spread to all peoples. And the whole creation is summoned to join the song.

That gives our praise an outward direction. We can keep our praise of God to ourselves, a private matter between us and him. But the psalm calls us to declare his glory among the nations, to make known what he has done, so that others too might come to praise him. Our praise is meant to overflow into proclamation, telling others of God's glory and works, that they might join the song. Do not keep the praise of God to yourself. Declare his glory to others, tell of his works, make known his salvation, that others too might come to praise him. Join the great song the whole creation is summoned to sing, and help spread the praise of God among the nations.

Lord, David's psalm calls me to sing to you, and to declare your glory among the nations, your marvelous works among all the peoples, until all the earth sings your praise. Give my praise that outward direction. Keep me from keeping the praise of you to myself, a private matter between us. Help me declare your glory to others, to make known what you have done, so that others too might come to praise you. Let my praise overflow into proclamation, telling of your glory and works, that others might join the song. And thank you that all creation is summoned to praise you, the God who reigns. Help me join that great song, and help spread the praise of you among the nations, that all the earth might sing to the LORD.