Then David said to the whole assembly, "Blessed be the LORD your God." So the whole assembly blessed the LORD, the God of their fathers. They bowed down and paid homage to the LORD and to the king. Then David said to the whole assembly,David, as the king of Israel, often addressed the assembly of Israel, which included leaders, elders, and representatives of the tribes. This reflects the theocratic leadership where the king served as both a political and spiritual leader. David's role as a unifier of the tribes is evident here, as he gathers them for a significant moment of worship and transition of leadership to Solomon. “Bless the LORD your God.”
The call to bless the LORD emphasizes worship and gratitude. In Hebrew culture, blessing God involves acknowledging His sovereignty, goodness, and provision. This phrase underscores the covenant relationship between God and Israel, where God is recognized as their personal deity, reinforcing the communal identity centered around Yahweh. So the whole assembly blessed the LORD,
The response of the assembly indicates unity and collective worship, a hallmark of Israelite religious practice. This communal act of blessing God reflects the importance of corporate worship in Israel's faith life, where the community together acknowledges God's greatness and faithfulness. the God of their fathers.
This phrase connects the present generation with the patriarchs—Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob—highlighting the continuity of God's covenant promises. It serves as a reminder of God's faithfulness through generations and the enduring nature of His covenant with Israel. They bowed down and paid homage to the LORD and to the king.
Bowing down signifies deep reverence and submission. In ancient Near Eastern culture, such acts were common in both religious and royal contexts. The dual homage to the LORD and the king reflects the theocratic nature of Israel's monarchy, where the king was seen as God's appointed ruler. This act also prefigures the ultimate kingship of Jesus Christ, who is both divine and kingly, deserving of worship and allegiance. Persons / Places / Events 1. DavidThe King of Israel who led the people in worship and preparation for the building of the Temple. He is a central figure in this passage, demonstrating leadership in worship. 2. The Whole AssemblyThe gathered people of Israel who participated in the act of blessing and worshiping the LORD, showing unity and collective reverence. 3. The LORD (Yahweh)The God of Israel, who is the focus of worship and blessing in this passage. The use of "LORD" in all caps signifies the covenant name of God, Yahweh. 4. The God of their FathersThis phrase emphasizes the continuity of faith and the covenant relationship between God and the ancestors of Israel, such as Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. 5. The KingRefers to David, who is also honored by the people, indicating respect for his God-given authority and leadership. Teaching Points Leadership in WorshipDavid's role as a leader in worship highlights the importance of godly leadership in guiding others to honor God. Leaders today should model reverence and devotion. Corporate WorshipThe collective action of the assembly underscores the power and significance of corporate worship. Believers are encouraged to gather and worship together, strengthening community and faith. Continuity of FaithThe reference to "the God of their fathers" reminds us of the importance of passing down faith through generations. We are called to teach and uphold the faith traditions of our spiritual ancestors. Reverence and HomageThe act of bowing down signifies deep respect and submission to God's authority. In our lives, we should regularly practice humility and reverence before God. Respect for AuthorityThe homage paid to the king reflects a biblical principle of respecting God-ordained authority. Christians are called to honor and pray for their leaders. Bible Study Questions 1. How does David's leadership in worship challenge or inspire you in your own role within your community or family? 2. In what ways can you participate more fully in corporate worship, and why is it important for your spiritual growth? 3. How can you ensure that the faith and values of your spiritual ancestors are passed down to future generations? 4. What are some practical ways you can demonstrate reverence and submission to God in your daily life? 5. How can you show respect for authority in your life, and what biblical principles guide your actions in this area? Connections to Other Scriptures Deuteronomy 6:13This verse emphasizes the importance of fearing the LORD and serving Him only, which is reflected in the assembly's act of worship and homage. Psalm 95:6This Psalm calls for worship and bowing down before the LORD, our Maker, similar to the actions of the assembly in 1 Chronicles 29:20. Philippians 2:10-11The New Testament speaks of every knee bowing and every tongue confessing Jesus Christ as Lord, paralleling the homage paid to the LORD in this passage. People David, Gad, Isaac, Jehiel, Jesse, Nathan, Ophir, Samuel, Solomon, ZadokPlaces Hebron, Jerusalem, OphirTopics Assembly, Bent, Bless, Blessed, Bow, Bowed, Congregation, David, Fathers, Fell, Heads, Homage, Low, Obeisance, Praise, Praised, Prostrate, Prostrated, Themselves, Worshiped, Worshipped, WorshippingDictionary of Bible Themes 1 Chronicles 29:20 5138 bowing
5174 prostration Library The Waves of Time
'The times that went over him.'--1 CHRON. xxix. 30. This is a fragment from the chronicler's close of his life of King David. He is referring in it to other written authorities in which there are fuller particulars concerning his hero; and he says, 'the acts of David the King, first and last, behold they are written in the book of Samuel the seer ... with all his reign and his might, and the times that went over him, and over all Israel, and over all the kingdoms of the countries.' Now I have ventured …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy ScriptureThat we Ought to Offer Ourselves and all that is Ours to God, and to Pray for All
The Voice of the Disciple Lord, all that is in the heaven and in the earth is Thine.(1) I desire to offer myself up unto thee as a freewill offering, and to continue Thine for ever. Lord, in the uprightness of mine heart I willingly offer(2) myself to Thee to-day to be Thy servant for ever, in humble submission and for a sacrifice of perpetual praise. Receive me with this holy Communion of Thy precious Body, which I celebrate before Thee this day in the presence of the Angels invisibly surrounding, …
Thomas A Kempis—Imitation of Christ The History Books
[Illustration: (drop cap T) Assyrian idol-god] Thus little by little the Book of God grew, and the people He had chosen to be its guardians took their place among the nations. A small place it was from one point of view! A narrow strip of land, but unique in its position as one of the highways of the world, on which a few tribes were banded together. All around great empires watched them with eager eyes; the powerful kings of Assyria, Egypt, and Babylonia, the learned Greeks, and, in later times, …
Mildred Duff—The Bible in its Making Concerning Salutations and Recreations, &C.
Concerning Salutations and Recreations, &c. [1273] Seeing the chief end of all religion is to redeem men from the spirit and vain conversation of this world and to lead into inward communion with God, before whom if we fear always we are accounted happy; therefore all the vain customs and habits thereof, both in word and deed, are to be rejected and forsaken by those who come to this fear; such as taking off the hat to a man, the bowings and cringings of the body, and such other salutations of that …
Robert Barclay—Theses Theologicae and An Apology for the True Christian Divinity Enoch, the Deathless
BY REV. W. J. TOWNSEND, D.D. Enoch was the bright particular star of the patriarchal epoch. His record is short, but eloquent. It is crowded into a few words, but every word, when placed under examination, expands indefinitely. Every virtue may be read into them; every eulogium possible to a human character shines from them. He was a devout man, a fearless preacher of righteousness, an intimate friend of God, and the only man of his dispensation who did not see death. He sheds a lustre on the …
George Milligan—Men of the Bible; Some Lesser-Known The Exile --Continued.
We have one psalm which the title connects with the beginning of David's stay at Adullam,--the thirty-fourth. The supposition that it dates from that period throws great force into many parts of it, and gives a unity to what is else apparently fragmentary and disconnected. Unlike those already considered, which were pure soliloquies, this is full of exhortation and counsel, as would naturally be the case if it were written when friends and followers began to gather to his standard. It reads like …
Alexander Maclaren—The Life of David Covenanting a Duty.
The exercise of Covenanting with God is enjoined by Him as the Supreme Moral Governor of all. That his Covenant should be acceded to, by men in every age and condition, is ordained as a law, sanctioned by his high authority,--recorded in his law of perpetual moral obligation on men, as a statute decreed by him, and in virtue of his underived sovereignty, promulgated by his command. "He hath commanded his covenant for ever."[171] The exercise is inculcated according to the will of God, as King and …
John Cunningham—The Ordinance of Covenanting Chronicles
The comparative indifference with which Chronicles is regarded in modern times by all but professional scholars seems to have been shared by the ancient Jewish church. Though written by the same hand as wrote Ezra-Nehemiah, and forming, together with these books, a continuous history of Judah, it is placed after them in the Hebrew Bible, of which it forms the concluding book; and this no doubt points to the fact that it attained canonical distinction later than they. Nor is this unnatural. The book …
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament Links 1 Chronicles 29:20 NIV1 Chronicles 29:20 NLT1 Chronicles 29:20 ESV1 Chronicles 29:20 NASB1 Chronicles 29:20 KJV
1 Chronicles 29:20 Commentaries
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