I Chronicles 13-16

After conquering the city of Jerusalem the king of Tyre sends David wood and artisans to build him a house in his new city. Building more houses for himself king David pitches a tent for the ark of God, what strikes me as interesting about this is that the rest of the tabernacle, built to the standard that Moses was given from God, seems to be no more - which is why a new tent was put together for it. As the ark of the covenant was brought to Jerusalem strong praise was lifted up. 

I Chronicles 15:16,22 (NKJV) "Then David spoke to the leaders of the Levites to appoint their brethren to be the singers accompanied by instruments of music, stringed instruments, harps, and cymbals, by raising the voice with resounding joy... Chenaniah, leader of the Levites, was instructor in charge of the music, because he was skillful;"

I can imagine the shouting and the exited clamor as the ark entered the city gates with the Levites and David playing music, dancing around! The horns, trumpets and cymbals crashing along with the stringed instruments and harps were surely loud and all for the glory of God along with David leading out in worship lifting up a song of thanksgiving unto the LORD most high. Consistently harmonized with Psalm 105, I can only imagine the beautiful arrangement of the ancient instruments in song rejoicing because the covenant had been returned to Israel by it's king. From this point forward David commissioned Asaph, a psalmist, to minister before the ark regularly. Regular worship before the LORD is required work. I think about what this means for the believer today, how are we worshipping regularly before the LORD? Do I pick up my 6 and 4 stringed instruments and am I playing skillfully and loudly to glorify the LORD? This morning I was reminded of a song I heard for the first time last year and was reminded that God deserves strong worship each and every day from His covenant people. I love the last bit in verses 41 and 42, the instrumentalists were chosen to be gatekeeper worshippers because of God's everlasting mercy, what a redemption by grace!

I Chronicles 16:41-42 (NKJV) "and with them Heman and Jeduthun and the rest who were chosen, who were designated by name, to give thanks to the LORD, because His mercy endures forever; and with them Heman and Jeduthun, to sound aloud with trumpets and cymbals and the musical instruments of God. Now the sons of Jeduthun were gatekeepers."

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