Living into David's Psalm of Thanksgiving

I woke the other morning emotionally tired.  I got enough sleep, my body was rested, but my heart was “bland.”  Describing what I wasn't feeling is difficult. In those early morning moments, it seemed too much effort to conjure anticipation for the day, hope, happiness, or even quiet contentment.  I didn’t feel “blah,” because that’s an emotion of sorts. Instead, I had a weird feeling of being empty without being poured out.  Even as I sat with Jesus, I dispassionately went through the motions to move forward into my day.

God whispered: “Live into 1 Chronicles 16.”

I’d been working on a blog with 1 Chronicles 16 as the focal point for several weeks.  I approached the passage at least three different ways with three completely unique emphases.  None of what I composed satisfied me.  Each piece had elements I was pleased with, but I wasn't expressing what I really wanted to say, or what I believed anyone needed to hear.  Each composition read like well-constructed words without any umph.

I drove to work with nuggets of 1 Chronicles 16 flitting in and out of my consciousness. Be thankful. Rejoice. Seek the Lord. Remember His deeds. He is good. 

Background: 1 Chronicles 15

First Chronicles 15 tells the story of David bringing the Ark of the Covenant back to Jerusalem.  He first prepared a place for the ark to dwell, then organized a big parade to escort the Ark of the Covenant from the house of Obed-edom to its new home. The Levites who were the ones chosen to carry God’s Ark were instructed and prepped. He arranged for musicians to accompany the ark, ordering instrumentalists and singers. It was to be a grand jubilee!  Everyone got dressed in their finest. They sang and danced and celebrated the return of the Ark and the favor of God.

1 Chronicles 16

In Chronicles 16 the ark is home; God dwells with His people again. Burnt offerings and fellowship offerings were sacrificed to honor God. David blessed the people and then passed out party cake to end the big gala. In verses 8-30 David presents a Psalm of Thanksgiving. He doesn't give a big speech recounting how he orchestrated the Ark's return. He doesn't wax poetic about organizing people and the celebration. David doesn't talk about himself at all; His focus is all on God and the wonder of God in their midst.

Let that sink in. Sit for a moment and contemplate what that means.

His focus was all on God and the wonder of God in their midst. 

The morning of my bland emotions is long past, but the story of David and the return of the Ark has stayed with me.  Even as I sit and write, I am searching my heart and asking, “Is my focus all on God?  Am I living in wonder over God in my midst?”

I don’t know what you are facing.  I don’t know the circumstances you are living.  I do know that life is too much some days.  We are a broken people.  And God has come to dwell in our midst. 

There is more to be discovered in David’s Psalm of Thanksgiving. I identified four concepts that David reveals in his Psalm.  I’ll blog about one concept each week for the next four weeks.  Join me on this journey to focus more on God, to realize afresh the wonder that God dwells with us. Begin this week by reading through 1 Chronicles 16:8-30, David’s Psalm of Thanksgiving. Ask yourself: Is my focus all on God?  Am I living in wonder over God in my midst?  When we’re all finished, I’m hoping we will want to throw God a parade!  We can finish our celebration with cake.