(30) With the words of David, and of Asaph.--Heb., in the words. This appears to mean that the singing (2 Chronicles 29:28) consisted in chanting Davidic and Asaphite psalms, and it is usually so explained. But the expression "in the words of David and of Asaph" may be compared with "in the words of Jehovah," 2 Chronicles 29:15, and "in the command of David and Gad the king's seer," 2 Chronicles 29:25; and so may be understood to assert merely that the singing was in accordance with the arrangements of David and Asaph. (1 Chronicles 25:1-2; 1 Chronicles 25:9.)
Verse 30. - With the words of David, and of Asaph. We can scarcely exclude from our thought the impression that loving human reverence for their own past religious helpers of song and music, and enthusiasm for the memory of them, were here glanced at. The king's and the princes supplementary (moreover) injunction and instruction to the Levites as to what words they should put on their lips. Asaph the seer. This is the only place in which Asaph is thus distinctly named seer, but it is contained virtually in 1 Chronicles 25:2; and for the substantive title given to two colleagues, see 1 Chronicles 25:5; 2 Chronicles 35:15. The princes (see their growing prominence in 2 Chronicles 24:17; 2 Chronicles 28:21; 2 Chronicles 30:2, 6, 12, 24; 2 Chronicles 32:3).
29:20-36 As soon as Hezekiah heard that the temple was ready, he lost no time. Atonement must be made for the sins of the last reign. It was not enough to lament and forsake those sins; they brought a sin-offering. Our repentance and reformation will not obtain pardon but in and through Christ, who was made sin, that is, a sin-offering for us. While the offerings were on the altar, the Levites sang. Sorrow for sin must not prevent us from praising God. The king and the congregation gave their consent to all that was done. It is not enough for us to be where God is worshipped, if we do not ourselves worship with the heart. And we should offer up our spiritual sacrifices of praise and thanksgiving, and devote ourselves and all we have, as sacrifices, acceptable to the Father only through the Redeemer.
Moreover Hezekiah the king and the princes commanded the Levites to sing praise unto the Lord, with the words of David, and of Asaph the seer,.... Making use of psalms composed by the one and the other; Jarchi takes it to be the one hundred and fifth psalm, which begins, "O give thanks unto the Lord, call upon his name"; as in 1 Chronicles 16:7.
and they sang praises with gladness; the king and all the people:
and they bowed their heads and worshipped; made another adoration of the Divine Being, as deeply impressed with a sense of his greatness and goodness.
Asaph the seer.--So Heman is called (1 Chronicles 25:5); and Jeduthun (2 Chronicles 25:15).
With gladness.--Literally, unto exultation--i.e., rapturously.
And they bowed their heads.--When the song was ended (2 Chronicles 29:29).
and they sang praises with gladness; the king and all the people:
and they bowed their heads and worshipped; made another adoration of the Divine Being, as deeply impressed with a sense of his greatness and goodness.