The Culture of Hope Founded on Faith
A Template for Prayer
Parts of David’s prayer of thanksgiving in 1 Chronicles. 16:8-36 for the return of the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem are woven into several of the Psalms (with minor variations in Psalm 47, 48, 96, 105, and 106). Its antiquity, Old Testament placement, and focus on Israel’s history does not rule out its use in our own prayers. In five parts it gives us a contemporary template, readily adaptable to inform our worship today:
- Exhortation to sing praises to God who continues to do “wondrous works”:
“Give thanks unto the LORD. Call upon His name. Make known His deeds among the people. Sing unto Him; sing psalms unto Him. Talk ye of all His wondrous works. Glory ye in His Holy Name. Let the heart of them rejoice that seek the LORD. Seek the LORD and His strength, seek His face continually” (vss. 8-11).
- Encouragement to remember God’s specific workings in our lives:
“Remember His marvelous works that He has done, His wonders, and the judgments of His mouth O ye seed of Israel His servant, ye children of Jacob, his chosen ones. He is the LORD our God; his judgments are in all the earth” (vss. 12-14).
- Emphasis on God’s promises (Covenant) faithfully fulfilled:
“Be ye mindful always of His Covenant, the Word which he commanded to a thousand generations, even of the covenant which He made with Abraham and of His oath unto Isaac. And has confirmed the same to Jacob for a law and to Israel for an everlasting covenant saying, ‘Unto thee will I give the land of Canaan, the lot of your inheritance when ye were but few, even a few, and strangers in it.’ And when they went from nation to nation and from one kingdom to another people, He suffered no man to do them wrong. Indeed, He reproved kings for their sakes, saying, ‘Touch not mine anointed and do my prophets no harm” (vss. 15-22).
- Edict to all the nations of the earth to unite in worship of God under whose sovereign and holy authority we all stand:
“Sing unto the LORD, all the earth. Show forth from day to day His salvation. Declare His glory among the heathen and His marvelous works among all nations for great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised. He also is to be feared above all gods for all the gods of the people are idols, but the LORD made the heavens. Glory and honor are in His presence. Strength and gladness are in His place. Give unto the LORD, ye kindreds of the people; give unto the LORD glory and strength. Give unto the LORD the glory due unto His name. Bring an offering, and come before Him. Worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness. Fear before Him, all the earth. The world also shall be stable, that it be not moved. Let the heavens be glad and let the earth rejoice, and let men say among the nations, ‘The LORD reigns.’ Let the sea roar and the fullness thereof. Let the fields rejoice and all that is therein. Then shall the trees of the wood sing out at the presence of the LORD because he comes to judge the earth” (vss. 23-33).
- End with thanksgiving, intercession, and praise:
“O give thanks unto the LORD for He is good, for His mercy endures forever. And say ye, Save us, O God of our salvation. Gather us together and deliver us from the heathen that we may give thanks to thy holy name and glory in thy praise. Blessed be the LORD God of Israel for ever and ever. And all the people said, Amen, and praised the LORD” (vss. 34-36).
