And these are they whom David set over the service of song in the house of Jehovah after that the ark was in rest.
This verse pauses a long list of Levite names to record a decision: once the ark had a resting place, David put men in charge of song. Why did praise wait for rest, who could sing, and what does the pattern picture for us?
The Levites named in this chapter had an older job. Their families had carried the tent of meeting and its furniture across the desert. Only when that travelling ended did a new service begin.
The book of Numbers teaches us that their service was to carry the tabernacle and its utensils through the wilderness. The most precious burden, including the ark, was entrusted to the Kohathites. But here we find something else. After the ark rested, David appointed men from among the three families of the Levites for "the service of song in the house of the LORD."
The verse dates the appointment — after the ark rested. One writer shows why that order matters:
While the ark was moving from place to place, with no sure resting place for the Lord among His people, there was no service of praise. It is not until David brings up the ark to its resting place that the song begins.
One writer asks what all this care over the singers' family lines means:
Now the family line of each singer is traced back to Levi. There is no such care shown for any other branch of Levitical service. Why such particular care about the singers? Because no one may sing except those who have the right. And who now has the right to sing? Redemption gives the right. Should there be songs for slaves? Whether the slave is willing or groaning, deliverance must come first, and with it comes the appointment to sing. The care with which God, through David, gives the service of song to these three leaders has a meaning for the church now, where all are, or should be, singers, making melody in the heart.
David did not draw the leaders from one branch only.
In each of these three families one Levite stood out above the rest because of the gifts he had received from God: for the Kohathites, Heman; for the Gershonites, Asaph; for the Merarites, Ethan.
Heman's own line is worth a second look. It runs back through Korah, who died under God's judgment in the desert.
As a descendant of Korah, he had good cause to praise God for His rich mercy. Dathan and Abiram died with their children, and Korah shared their fate. Yet Scripture records, "the sons of Korah did not die" (Num. 26:11). God spared them in His sovereign mercy, so no one was better suited to sing of the goodness and mercy of God.
The same chapter that appoints the singers also describes what Aaron's sons did at the altar. The two duties belong together.
The priesthood alone was called to portray the work of Christ. Hebrews 2:17 describes Him as "a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people." The Levites, on the other hand, depicted service and praise in connection with this work.
Their appointment filled their days, and it points beyond itself.
This was the work of the singers — praising the Lord "day and night" (1 Chr. 9:33). It is a shadow of what will occupy the redeemed forever in heaven (Rev. 5). It is a blessed service — if it can be called service — and the Church has the privilege of sharing in it here on earth while it waits for the return of our blessed Lord.
Commentators apply the picture in more than one direction. Some look on to the reign of the Messiah. Then "the ark shall rest in its place prepared by the true David," and earth and heaven will sing together (The Bible Treasury). Others read the rest of the ark as already accomplished:
We are still passing through the wilderness. We have the blessed privilege of bearing the testimony of God in our lives until the wilderness ends. But we also know that the true Ark, our Lord Jesus Christ, is no longer here. He is in the scene of rest. It is our privilege to join in the service of song that brings delight to His heart and to the heart of His God and Father.
- Rest first. David appointed no song while the ark was still travelling. Praise begins where God has a resting place.
- Redemption gives the right. The chapter traces each singer's line with care. Song belongs to the delivered, not to slaves.
- Gift appoints. David chose Heman, Asaph and Ethan from the three Levite families for the gifts God had given them.
- Mercy supplies the voice. Heman came from Korah's line, spared when judgment fell — so no one was fitter to sing of God's goodness.
- The song continues. Priests pictured Christ's work. The singers pictured the praise that answers it, day and night — a service the church shares now, and one that never ends in heaven.
And they ministered before the tabernacle of the tent of meeting with singing, until Solomon had built the house of Jehovah in Jerusalem; and they attended to their office according to their order.
The tabernacle was God's tent among His people, and David gives the singers one task before it: song. Why did organised praise begin only now, and what does it teach about worship today?
Praise does not begin in the wilderness. It begins when the ark — the chest holding the covenant, the sign of God's presence — comes to rest in one place.
While the ark was moving from place to place, with no sure resting place for the Lord among His people, there was no service of praise. It is not until David brings up the ark to its resting place that the song begins.
The men now singing are the same families who once had a very different job.
The book of Numbers tells us what their service was. They carried the tabernacle and its equipment through the wilderness. The Kohathites were trusted with the most precious burden of all, including the ark. But here, "after the ark rested there," David appointed men from all three families of the Levites. Their work was "the service of song in the house of the LORD."
Song came into Israel's worship with the kingdom. Gibeon, a town outside Jerusalem, still held the old tent and its altar.
The king then set up a service of song in connection with the worship of God. Israel knew nothing of the kind until the throne was set up… In David's day the ark was in Jerusalem, while the tabernacle with the bronze altar stood at Gibeon. That made it plain that things were not in perfect order. So what could be done? The king arranged it all. At Gibeon the ritual given through Moses would continue, but now with a service of song added.
Each of the two places taught something the other did not.
Everyone could see two things. The tabernacle showed how to approach God, and that way is, and must always be, by sacrifice. The ark showed, day by day, what service suits those who are where God's presence is known. That service was, and must be, song.
The chapter takes unusual trouble over the singers' family lines, and one writer asks why.
Heman came from the sons of Kohath, Asaph from Gershom, and Ethan from Merari. The family line of each one is traced back to Levi. No other branch of Levitical service gets such care. Why such particular care about the singers? Because only those who have the right may sing. And who now has the right to sing? Redemption gives the right. Should there be songs for slaves? The slave may be willing or groaning. Either way, deliverance must come first. With deliverance comes the appointment to sing.
The singers' work never stopped, and one writer sees heaven in it.
This was the occupation of the singers — praising the Lord "day and night" (1 Chron. 9:33). It is a shadow of the endless occupation of the redeemed in heaven (Rev. 5). It is a blessed service, if we may call it service. The Church has the privilege of enjoying it in advance on earth, while waiting for the return of our blessed Lord.
Believers are in a double position. We are still on the journey, but Another has already reached the rest.
We are still passing through the wilderness. We have the blessed privilege of carrying the testimony of God in our lives until the wilderness ends. But we also know that the true Ark, our Lord Jesus Christ, is no longer here. He is in the scene of rest. It is our privilege to join in the service of song that brings delight to His heart and to the heart of His God and Father.
- Rest first. No one sang while the ark was still moving. Praise began when God's presence had a resting place among His people.
- Released for song. The same families once carried the tabernacle through the wilderness. When the carrying ended, David gave them a new task: song.
- Right to sing. The chapter checks the singers' descent as it checks no other service. Redemption, not preference, gives the right to praise.
- Order for a season. The king set this up for an imperfect time, and it held only until the temple stood. Sacrifice at Gibeon showed the way to God; song before the ark showed the service of those already in His presence.
- Rehearsal now. Praise day and night is a shadow of heaven's endless occupation. The true Ark has already entered rest, so our song can start before the journey ends.