Gifts of God
praise and thanksgiving

One of the gifts of God by which man can render praise and thanksgiving to his creator as well as give expression to his emotions, his sorrows and his joys.

On each of the two occasions that were involved in transporting the Ark to Jerusalem, vocalists and instrumentalists were presents (1 Chron.13.8 & 15.16). In the later years of David's life, God through his prophets, directed the establishment of the music organisation for the sanctuary. 1 Chron.23:1-5 (ESV) David Organizes the Levites. "David assembled all the leaders of Israel and the priests and the Levites. The Levites, thirty years old and upwards, were numbered, and the total was 38,000 men…and 4,000 shall offer praises to the LORD with the instruments that I have made for praise."

King Solomon at the dedication of the Temple

2 Chron.5:12-13 (ESV) "and all the Levitical singers, Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun, their sons and kinsmen, arrayed in fine linen, with cymbals, harps, and lyres, stood east of the altar with 120 priests who were trumpeters; and it was the duty of the trumpeters and singers to make themselves heard in unison in praise and thanksgiving to the LORD, and when the song was raised, with trumpets and cymbals and other musical instruments, in praise to the LORD, "For he is good, for his steadfast love endures for ever," the house, the house of the LORD, was filled with a cloud."