This hymn (vv. 8-36) was probably one of many that the people sang on this occasion. It expressed the hopes and thoughts of the Israelites assembled that the returned exiles needed to emulate. This thanksgiving song is a medley of several psalms (105:1-15; 96:1-13; 106:1, 47-48). It stresses that the intended result of Israel's worship was the salvation of the nations so that they, too, might come and worship Yahweh (cf. Exod. 19:5-6; Isa. 42:6; Zech. 2:10-11).
The hymn began with a call to worship that embraced the nations (vv. 8-13; cf. Isa. 12:4). Then the people extolled God's greatness and glory (vv. 14-22). They stressed God's unmerited favor toward Israel's patriarchs in this section. Another call to worship (vv. 23-24) led to another section of praise that emphasizes Yahweh's superiority over the nations' gods (vv. 25-26) and His creative power (vv. 27-30). The final part of the hymn called on all people to turn to Yahweh in trust and obedience in view of His coming to judge and save (vv. 31-36). Throughout this hymn the emphasis rests on God's deeds, God's words, God's greatness, and God's worth.
David let the sanctuary remain at Gibeon and provided for worship and sacrifice to continue there (vv. 39-40). He appointed Zadok as the priest in charge of that tabernacle. Throughout Israel's history the ark was a symbol of God's grace and the altar was a symbol of human response to that grace. Normally they were together, but in Saul's day they were separate.55The ark was in Philistia, Bethshemesh, or Kiriath-jearim, and the tabernacle was at Shiloh or Gibeon.
Chapters 13-16 help us focus on the presence of God as what is essential rather than on ritual that, though important, is only a means to an end. Worship is appropriate in view of who God is, but for worship to be acceptable God's people must worship Him as He has prescribed. Furthermore worship must be God-centered rather than man-centered.
