1 Chronicles 16:37-43: a reflection

37So he left Asaph and his brothers there before the ark of the LORD’s covenant, to minister before the ark continually, as every day’s work required; 38and Obed-Edom with their sixty-eight relatives; Obed-Edom also the son of Jeduthun and Hosah to be doorkeepers; 39and Zadok the priest and his brothers the priests, before the LORD’s tabernacle in the high place that was at Gibeon, 40to offer burnt offerings to the LORD on the altar of burnt offering continually morning and evening, even according to all that is written in the LORD’s law, which he commanded to Israel; 41and with them Heman and Jeduthun and the rest who were chosen, who were mentioned by name, to give thanks to the LORD, because his loving kindness endures forever; 42and with them Heman and Jeduthun with trumpets and cymbals for those that should sound aloud, and with instruments for the songs of God, and the sons of Jeduthun to be at the gate. 43All the people departed, each man to his house; and David returned to bless his house.

When David brings the ark to Jerusalem, he sets ministers before it to serve continually, and their appointed task is continual thanksgiving. He leaves Asaph and his brothers to minister before the ark continually, and appoints others to give thanks to the LORD, because his loving kindness endures forever. Burnt offerings were to be offered continually, morning and evening; thanks were to be given continually. The worship of God was not an occasional thing but a continual one, thanks offered morning and evening, ongoing praise for a steadfast love that endures forever. Because God's loving kindness endures forever, the giving of thanks was to be continual too, matching the constancy of his love with the constancy of their praise.

Notice the continual character of their thanksgiving, and its ground: because his loving kindness endures forever. The ministers were set to give thanks not once but continually, morning and evening, ongoing and regular. And the reason was the enduring love of God: his loving kindness endures forever, so their thanks were to endure too. Their praise was to match the constancy of God's love; because his steadfast love never ceased, their thanksgiving was to be continual. Thanksgiving was not reserved for special occasions but woven into the regular rhythm of their days, morning and evening, because the love it praised was constant and unfailing. Continual thanks answered a continual love; because God's kindness endures forever, their thanks endured too.

That is worth taking to heart, for we are called to continual thanksgiving, because God's steadfast love endures forever. We can reserve our thanksgiving for occasional moments, when something notable happens; but the ministers were set to give thanks continually, morning and evening, because God's loving kindness endures forever. Since God's love toward us is constant and unfailing, our thanks can be continual too, woven into the rhythm of our days rather than saved for special occasions. Do not reserve your thanksgiving for occasional moments; give thanks continually, morning and evening, because God's steadfast love endures forever. Give thanks to God continually, morning and evening, matching the constancy of your praise to the constancy of his love, as David set ministers to give thanks because his loving kindness endures forever; for God's steadfast love toward us never ceases, and our thanksgiving can answer that unfailing love by becoming continual, woven into the rhythm of our days rather than reserved for occasional moments.

Lord, when David brings the ark to Jerusalem, he sets ministers before it to serve continually, and their appointed task is continual thanksgiving. He leaves Asaph and his brothers to minister before the ark continually, and appoints others to give thanks to you, because your loving kindness endures forever. Burnt offerings were to be offered continually, morning and evening; thanks were to be given continually. The worship of you was not an occasional thing but a continual one, thanks offered morning and evening, ongoing praise for a steadfast love that endures forever. Show me the continual character of their thanksgiving, and its ground: because your loving kindness endures forever. The ministers were set to give thanks not once but continually, morning and evening. And the reason was your enduring love: your loving kindness endures forever, so their thanks were to endure too. Their praise was to match the constancy of your love; because your steadfast love never ceased, their thanksgiving was to be continual. Thanksgiving was woven into the regular rhythm of their days. Take that to my heart, for I am called to continual thanksgiving, because your steadfast love endures forever. I can reserve my thanksgiving for occasional moments, when something notable happens; but the ministers were set to give thanks continually, because your loving kindness endures forever. Since your love toward me is constant and unfailing, my thanks can be continual too. Keep me from reserving my thanksgiving for occasional moments; help me give thanks continually, morning and evening, Lord, because your steadfast love endures forever, matching the constancy of my praise to the constancy of your love.