1 So they brought the Arke of God, and set it in the midst of the tent that Dauid had pitched for it: and they offered burnt sacrifices, and peace offerings before God.
2 And when Dauid had made an end of offering the burnt offerings, and the peace offrings, he blessed the people in the name of the Lord.
3 And hee dealt to euery one of Israel, both man and woman, to euery one a loafe of bread, and a good piece of flesh, and a flagon of wine.
4 ¶ And he appointed certaine of the Leuites to minister before the Arke of the Lord, and to record, and to thanke and praise the Lord God of Israel,
5 Asaph the chiefe, and next to him Zachariah, Ieiel, and Shemiramoth, and Iehiel, and Mattithiah, and Eliab, and Benaiah, and Obed Edom: and Ieiel with Psalteries and with harpes: but Asaph made a sound with cymbals.
6 Benaiah also and Iahaziel the Priestes, with trumpets continually before the Arke of the Couenant of God.
7 ¶ Then on that day, Dauid deliuered first this Psalme to thanke the Lord, into the hand of Asaph and his brethren:
8 Giue thankes vnto the Lord, call vpon his name, make knowen his deeds among the people.
9 Sing vnto him, sing psalmes vnto him, talke you of all his wonderous workes.
10 Glory yee in his holy Name, let the heart of them reioyce that seeke the Lord.
11 Seeke the Lord, and his strength, seeke his face continually.
12 Remember his marueilous works that he hath done, his wonders, and the iudgements of his mouth,
13 O ye seed of Israel his seruant, ye children of Iacob his chosen ones.
14 He is the Lord our God, his iudgements are in all the earth.
15 Be ye mindfull alwayes of his Couenant: the worde which hee commanded to a thousand generations:
16 Euen of the Couenant which hee made with Abraham, and of his othe vnto Isaac:
17 And hath confirmed the same to Iacob for a lawe, and to Israel for an euerlasting Couenant,
18 Saying, vnto thee will I giue the land of Canaan, the lot of your inheritance.
19 When ye were but few, euen a few, and strangers in it:
20 And when they went from nation to nation, and from one kingdome to another people:
21 Hee suffered no man to doe them wrong: yea, hee reprooued kings for their sakes,
22 Saying, Touch not mine anointed, and doe my Prophets no harme.
23 Sing vnto the Lord all the earth: shew foorth from day to day his saluation.
24 Declare his glory among the heathen: his marueilous workes among all nations.
25 For great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised: he also is to be feared aboue all gods.
26 For all the gods of the people are idoles: but the Lord made the heauens.
27 Glory and honour are in his presence: strength and gladnesse are in his place.
28 Giue vnto the Lord, yee kinreds of the people: giue vnto the Lord glory and strength.
29 Giue vnto the Lord the glory due vnto his Name: bring an offering, and come before him, worship the Lord in the beautie of holinesse.
30 Feare before him all the earth: the world also shall be stable, that it be not mooued.
31 Let the heauens be glad, and let the earth reioyce: and let men say among the nations, The Lord reigneth.
32 Let the sea roare, and the fulnesse thereof: let the fieldes reioyce, and all that is therein.
33 Then shall the trees of the wood sing out at the presence of the Lord, because hee commeth to iudge the earth.
34 O giue thanks vnto the Lord, for hee is good: for his mercy endureth for euer.
35 And say yee, Saue vs, O God of our saluation, and gather vs together, and deliuer vs from the heathen, that we may giue thanks to thy holy Name, and glory in thy praise.
36 Blessed be the Lord God of Israel for euer and euer: and all the people saide, Amen, and praised the Lord.
37 ¶ So hee left there before the Arke of the couenant of the Lord, Asaph and his brethren, to minister before the Arke continually, as euery dayes worke required:
38 And Obed Edom with their brethren, threescore and eight: Obed Edom also the sonne of Ieduthun, and Hosah to be porters:
39 And Zadok the Priest, and his brethren the Priests, before the Tabernacle of the Lord, in the high place that was at Gibeon,
40 To offer burnt offerings vnto the Lord, vpon the Altar of the burnt offering continually morning and euening, and to doe according to all that is written in the Lawe of the Lord, which hee commanded Israel:
41 And with them Heman and Ieduthun, and the rest that were chosen, who were expressed by name, to giue thankes to the Lord, because his mercy endureth for euer.
42 And with them Heman and Ieduthun with trumpets and cymbales, for those that should make a sound, and with musicall instruments of God: and the sonnes of Ieduthun were Porters.
43 And all the people departed euery man to his house, and Dauid returned to blesse his house.
The solemnity with which the ark was fixed. (1-6) David's psalm of praise. (7-36) Setting in order the worship of God. (37-43)1-6 Though God's word and ordinances may be clouded and eclipsed for a time, they shall shine out of obscurity. This was but a tent, a humble dwelling, yet this was the tabernacle which David, in his psalms, often speaks of with so much affection. David showed himself generous to his subjects, as he had found God gracious to him. Those whose hearts are enlarged with holy joy, should show it by being open-handed.
7-36 Let God be glorified in our praises. Let others be edified and taught, that strangers to him may be led to adore him. Let us ourselves triumph and trust in God. Those that give glory to God's name are allowed to glory in it. Let the everlasting covenant be the great matter of our joy his people of old, be remembered by us with thankfulness to him. Show forth from day to day his salvation, his promised salvation by Christ. We have reason to celebrate that from day to day; for we daily receive the benefit, and it is a subject that can never be exhausted. In the midst of praises, we must not forget to pray for the servants of God in distress.
37-43 The worship of God ought to be the work of every day. David put it into order. At Jerusalem, where the ark was, Asaph and his brethren were to minister before the ark continually, with songs of praise. No sacrifices were offered there, nor incense burnt, because the altars were not there; but David's prayers were directed as incense, and the lifting up of his hands as the evening sacrifice. So early did spiritual worship take place of ceremonial. Yet the ceremonial worship, being of Divine institution, must by no means be omitted; therefore at Gibeon, at the altars, the priests attended; for their work was to sacrifice and burn incense; and that they did continually, morning and evening, according to the law of Moses. As the ceremonies were types of the mediation of Christ, the observance of them was of great consequence. The attendance of his appointed ministers is right in itself, and encourages the people.
Commentary by Matthew Henry, 1710.