A Sermon of Thanks From David's Heart

(The words in italics are scripture as we have a conversation with the text)

We are going to look at 1 Chronicles 16:8-36 today.

1 Chronicles is broken into 3 sections

I. God’s People in God’s World (1:1–9:44)

II. Saul (9:35–10:14)

III. David (11:1–29:19)

“It seems clear, and it is generally agreed, that the Chronicler’s primary source was the books of Samuel-Kings in the Palestinian tradition. It may appear that we are given a clear pointer to at least some other sources in various citations from official annals like “The Book of the Kings of Judah and Israel”” There are a number of forms in1 Chronicles but for our passages for today we are looking at a sermon and a prayer. It is as if the author wrote my sermon for me. According to the New American Commentary

“Speeches, Sermons, and Prayers: At several points in Chronicles the speeches of kings and others are recorded, for example, speeches of David and Solomon and various utterances from the later kings of Judah. Some of these might easily be regarded as sermons. In other areas prayers are recorded, for example, Solomon’s prayer of dedication before the altar of the temple in front of the whole assembly of Israel (2 Chr 6:14–42) and Jehoshaphat’s prayer on the occasion of the attack by the troops of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir (2 Chr 20:6–12).”

Today we are looking at a sermon and a prayer from David and as usual it is in the form of a song. How many times have songs taught us theology and the foundation of what we believe? No one knew how to do this better or the power of music more than David did. David’s Song of Thanks 16:8-36 first he begins by emphasizing the need to Give Thanks.

1 Chronicles 16:8-36

8Oh give thanks to the Lord; call upon his name;

make known his deeds among the peoples!

9Sing to him, sing praises to him;

tell of all his wondrous works!

10Glory in his holy name;

let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice!

You can here it right? The song that is teaching you, that is calling you to give thanks to God no matter your circumstance? You can here it right? David then calls us to Seek The Lord.

11Seek the Lord and his strength;

seek his presence continually!

Why? Because, we have to put God in our mind so that we see what to go towards in this life. We as humans need to have a focus so that we do not go the wrong way and so that we can see what we are living for and fighting for. After we have our focus David calls us to Remember. David calls us to remember what God has done for us.

12Remember the wondrous works that he has done,

his miracles and the judgments he uttered,

Remember who you are, the chosen of God.

13O offspring of Israel his servant,

children of Jacob, his chosen ones!

Remember the covenant God created with his people, with you.

14He is the Lord our God;

his judgments are in all the earth.

15Remember his covenant forever,

the word that he commanded, for a thousand generations,

16the covenant that he made with Abraham,

his sworn promise to Isaac,

17which he confirmed to Jacob as a statute,

to Israel as an everlasting covenant,

18saying, “To you I will give the land of Canaan,

as your portion for an inheritance.”

God protected you when you were wondering and when you did not know where you would be and God will protect you now.

19When you were few in number,

of little account, and sojourners in it,

20wandering from nation to nation,

from one kingdom to another people,

21he allowed no one to oppress them;

he rebuked kings on their account,

22saying, “Touch not my anointed ones,

do my prophets no harm!”

We do this, we remember when we sing hymns, when we pray, when we read the scripture, when we take communion. We also do this, remember, when we sit in our pain and feel the presence of God around us, when we are in need and God supplies just at the right time, when we need a rest and we feel the hands of God all around us. We remember when we see our children grow, when we hug our loved ones, when we walk outside and see nature and all its beauty. We remember. Remembering is our hope. After you remember Then Declare what you know to be true:

23Sing to the Lord, all the earth!

Tell of his salvation from day to day.

24Declare his glory among the nations,

his marvelous works among all the peoples!

Why? God is Great!

25For great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised,

and he is to be feared above all gods.

26For all the gods of the peoples are worthless idols,

but the Lord made the heavens.

God is strong because God is Creator God.

27Splendor and majesty are before him;

strength and joy are in his place.

Bring God an offering of worship.

28Ascribe to the Lord, O families of the peoples,

ascribe to the Lord glory and strength!

29Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name;

bring an offering and come before him!

Worship the Lord in the splendor of holiness;

30tremble before him, all the earth;

Who will Worship God? The Nations will Worship Him.

yes, the world is established; it shall never be moved.

31Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice,

and let them say among the nations, “The Lord reigns!”

The Earth will Worship God. The rocks will cry out and worship God, Creator God.

32Let the sea roar, and all that fills it;

let the field exult, and everything in it!

33Then shall the trees of the forest 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 steadfast love endures forever!

David then shows us that only after we have thanked God, put our focus on God, Remembered what God has done for us, and declared what God is and has done in worship do we then Ask of God. And what do we ask for? For Salvation!!!

And this is the prayer of David’s heart.

35Say also:

“Save us, O God of our salvation,

and gather and deliver us from among the nations,

that we may give thanks to your holy name

and glory in your praise.

36Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel,

from everlasting to everlasting!”

Then all the people said, “Amen!” and praised the Lord.

This is our time of lent. We are to be looking at this world and preparing our hearts for the death and resurrection of Christ. We are to be thanking God for who God is in our lives.

We are to be focusing our hearts and minds on the understanding of God so we know where to go and to not be distracted by everything around us. We are to remember the covenant God made with us and who we are, the People of God. We are declare to the world the love and joy that God brings in our lives as we worship God in Spirit and in Truth. We are to Ask God for salvation and lay down those things in our lives that are keeping us from becoming closer to God. This is what lent is about so I ask you to pray with me the prayer that David ended this sermon with.