Appointed Praise

1 Chronicles 16: 4

And he appointed some of the Levites as ministers before the ark of the Lord, even to celebrate and to thank and praise the Lord God of Israel.

King David erected a tent to house the Ark of the Covenant. On the day that he had the Ark moved to the tent, he sent singers and musicians before the ark and he, himself, also sang and danced before the procession. After the ark was placed in the tent, King David made offerings to the Lord. When he finished making the offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the Lord and then he appointed a whole group of people to celebrate before the ark. There were people who played instruments, some even who blew trumpets continually. They were assigned to bring praise to the name of the Lord and to give thanks. It was important enough that the King involved himself in seeing it done.

These days we do not have priests to perform these tasks for us. We have entered into an intimacy with the Lord such that we do not need intercessors or mediators between us and our father. Jesus purchased our way to the father. We can now lay our own petitions at the feet of the father ourselves. That means, though, that we must also learn to praise and give thanks for ourselves. David setup a system whereby there was always someone in the tent offering thanks and praise to the father. That suggests to me that we are to be in a continual state of thanksgiving and praise. Even as you remind the Lord of the things for which you ask, offer your praise and honor him. Tell him how grateful you are to even be able to come into his presence. Let him hear how you love him and trust him. And really, if you will do that first, before you begin to petition him, you will find that your asking will change in tone. You will have a different perspective on his provision, more confidence and assurance I think. And that also will please the Lord.