代上 16:1,7-13, 34
1 眾人將 神的約櫃請進去，安放在大衛所搭的帳幕裡，就在 神面前獻燔祭和平安祭。
7 那日，大衛初次藉亞薩和他的弟兄，以詩歌稱頌耶和華，說：
8 “你們要稱謝耶和華，求告他的名，在萬民中傳揚他的作為。
9 要向他唱詩、歌頌，談論他一切奇妙的作為。
10 要以他的聖名誇耀：尋求耶和華的人，心中應當歡喜。
11 要尋求耶和華與他的能力，時常尋求他的面。
12 他僕人以色列的後裔，他所揀選雅各的子孫哪！你們要記念他奇妙的作為和他的奇事，並他口中的判語。
13 見上節
34 應當稱謝耶和華，因他本為善，他的慈愛永遠長存。
神的約櫃並不像電影裡演的那樣，是一個一點都不神奇、而且可以被任何人使用的神能力的管道（就像非利士人認為的那樣）。其實，約櫃真實地體現了 神對祂選民的信實，這信實就表現在 神對選民的揀選、救贖、和屬靈的建造上。約櫃的頂蓋被稱作“施恩座”，在那裡，神向人們顯示祂是一位又真又活、有位格、並且和祂的兒女有活潑的關係的 神。
今天經文的主題是 神的約櫃歸回耶路撒冷。神的聖名和作為是如此奇妙，以至於祂的百姓不得不唱出對祂的讚美，不得不向眾人宣揚祂的奇妙，以及祂如何救贖、釋放、和恢復祂的兒女。想要抑制這樣的感謝是不可能的事，就好像你試著用手去攔住海浪不讓它拍打海岸一樣。這樣的感謝不可能被減弱、被壓制、或被僅限於私下。對 神的所是及作為的親近的、個人的認識必然會使我們發出對 神的感恩。
在 神所有的作為中，最為奇妙的一件作為就是祂救贖我們這些受造之物，所以我們可以和 神同住，並且為 神而活。請在耶穌基督的十字架和復活的亮光中再讀一遍第8-13節。在基督裡，神不僅住在我們中間統治我們，而且祂還住在我們的裡面。讓我們一起歌唱 神的榮耀！讓我們為著 神兒子的緣故感恩地生活，因為 神的兒子將神的屬性以及祂美好的作為完全地表現出來了！讓我們將這些告訴我們身邊的每一個人，使他們也可以轉向榮耀的救主！
在歷代志上15章29節中記錄了一個強烈的對比，一方面是大衛為迎接約櫃進城在街上踴躍地跳舞，另一方面是大衛的妻子、掃羅的女兒米甲從窗戶裡觀看，因她自己心硬就輕看大衛熱情的感恩。讓我們加入大衛的行列，因著神的所是和祂的作為我們就滿心歡喜；因著被聖靈充滿我們就在自由中毫無保留地向 神獻上我們的感謝。
讓感謝的浪潮在我們中間湧流！讓我們同聲唱：“應當稱謝耶和華，因他本為善，他的慈愛永遠長存”
Unlike depictions in movies, the ark of the covenant was not magic which could be used by anyone to channel God’s power (as the Philistines found out)! Rather it visually displayed the spiritual reality of God’s faithfulness to His covenant people in electing, rescuing, and establishing them. The lid itself was known as the Mercy Seat - the very throne of God - where God showed He was in a real, personal, and living relationship with His children.
Today’s verses center around the great homecoming of the ark of God to Jerusalem. God’s holy name and wondrous works are so amazing that His people are drawn to sing out His praises and express to others just how wonderfully he has worked salvation, deliverance, and restoration for His children. Holding back such thanks is impossible - like trying to stop an ocean wave from breaking onto the shore with your hand. It can’t be muted, only private or restrained. Intimate, personal knowledge of who God is and what He has done produces thanksgiving which must break forth.
There is nothing more wondrous that God has worked than rescuing His creation so that we might live with and for our Lord. Read verses 8-13 again in light of the cross and resurrection of Jesus Christ. In Christ, God not only reigns and dwells among us but inside and through us. May we sing forth His glory then with thankful lives for the Son that fully display His character and good works. May we tell everyone so that they too will turn to glorify the Savior.
In 15:29 there is a stark contrast between King David dancing and celebrating in the streets as the ark comes to rest inside the tent and Michal, looking down from a window, who with a hardened heart is looking down her nose at the enthusiastic thanksgiving. Let us join with David, so overflowing with joy for exactly who God is and what He has done and so filled by the Spirit that in true freedom we hold nothing back in our thanksgiving.
Let the wave of thanks break forth as together we sing Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever.
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