BLESSED be the Shem of Yahweh FOREVER – 10

Subject: David's Prayer Before the Ark

The Bible records a special prayer made by David when he brought the ark to set it inside the tent. 

Space does not allow me to expound on this passage, but you can read the entire prayer in 1 Chronicles 16:8-36. With David leading in prayer, he brings Asaph, the priests, the Levites and the brethren to worship Yahweh God in prayer.


1 Chronicles 16:8-36

8 Oh give thanks to the Yahweh; call upon his name;
    make known his deeds among the peoples!
9 Sing to him, sing praises to him;
    tell of all his wondrous works!
10 Glory in his holy name;
    let the hearts of those who seek Yahweh rejoice!

11 Seek Yahweh and his strength;

    seek his presence continually!
12 Remember the wondrous works that he has done,
    his miracles and the judgments he uttered,
13 O offspring of Israel his servant,
    children of Jacob, his chosen ones!

14 He is Yahweh our God;

    his judgments are in all the earth.
15 Remember his covenant forever,
    the word that he commanded, for a thousand generations,
16 the covenant that he made with Abraham,
    his sworn promise to Isaac,
17 which he confirmed to Jacob as a statute,
    to Israel as an everlasting covenant,
18 saying, “To you I will give the land of Canaan,
    as your portion for an inheritance.”

19 When you were few in number,
    of little account, and sojourners in it,
20 wandering from nation to nation,
    from one kingdom to another people,
21 he allowed no one to oppress them;
    he rebuked kings on their account,
22 saying, “Touch not my anointed ones,
    do my prophets no harm!”

23 Sing to Yahweh, all the earth!

    Tell of his salvation from day to day.
24 Declare his glory among the nations,
    his marvelous works among all the peoples!
25 For great is Yahweh, and greatly to be praised,

    and he is to be feared above all gods.
26 For all the gods of the peoples are worthless idols,
    but Yahweh made the heavens.

27 Splendor and majesty are before him;
    strength and joy are in his place.

28 Ascribe to Yahweh, O families of the peoples,

    ascribe to Yahweh glory and strength!

29 Ascribe to Yahweh the glory due his name;

    bring an offering and come before him!
Worship Yahweh in the splendor of holiness;[a]
30     tremble before him, all the earth;
    yes, the world is established; it shall never be moved.
31 Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice,
    and let them say among the nations, “Yahweh reigns!”

32 Let the sea roar, and all that fills it;
    let the field exult, and everything in it!
33 Then shall the trees of the forest sing for joy
    before Yahweh, for he comes to judge the earth.

34 Oh give thanks to Yahweh, for he is good;

    for his steadfast love endures forever!

35 Say 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.
36 Blessed be Yahweh, the God of Israel,

    from everlasting to everlasting!”

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

David starts the prayer to call on Yahweh’s Name. David’s prayer is concerned about the Shem of Yahweh from beginning to end. You see the words "Name" and "Yahweh" frequently coming up in this short prayer.

Name: 4X

1. Call on His Name
2. Glory in His Holy Name
3. The glory due His Name
4. Give thanks to your Holy Name


Yahweh: 16X

1. Give thanks to Yahweh
2. Seek Yahweh
3. Seek Yahweh and his strength 
4. He is Yahweh our God
5. Sing to Yahweh
6. Great is Yahweh and greatly to be praised
7. Yahweh made the heavens
8. Ascribe to Yahweh, O families of the peoples
9. Ascribe to Yahweh glory and strength!
10. Ascribe to Yahweh the glory due his name
11. Worship Yahweh in the splendor of holiness
12. Yahweh reigns!
13. At the presence of Yahweh
14. Oh give thanks to Yahweh, for He is good;
15. Blessed be Yahweh, the God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting!
16. Praise Yahweh


One of the ways to worship God in prayer is through music and musical instruments. 

• Here, David specifically appointed Levites to play psalteries and harps to exalt, thank, and praise God before the ark of His covenant. 
• Asaph sang with cymbals while the priests played the trumpets. 
• Together they made music to praise God and prayed. 
• They called on God's Name together and gave Yahweh the glory due to His Name (1Ch 16:29).

We need to all the more praise God in our prayers. 

• I find that I am only familiar with the kind of prayers that come to God with an agenda. Isn't this what we do when we have prayer meetings? We commit this matter into prayer and that matter into prayer. 

• But when it comes to praising God and His Name, I find myself on unfamiliar grounds. 

• This only shows how shallow I know Yahweh God. 

There is so much for us to learn in this series in the coming days. Let's learn these precious lessons together.


Can you guess how the prayer ends? 

“Blessed be Yahweh, the God of Israel forever and ever.” (1Chronicles 16:36)