I don’t know that coming upon this gem hidden within 1 Chronicles surprised me any less this year than last. Or this year than 10 years ago. Even though I have encountered it annually for the past 15 years or so, I never really expect it or anticipate it (like I do Psalm 119 or Romans 8, for example). After wading through a sea of genealogy, I’m glad to get into the more narrative portion of 1 Chronicles, but I always forget about this “psalm” portion. Cue 1 Chronicles chapter 16, verses 8 through 36.

In my ESV, it’s titled David’s Song of Thanks. And as I read it this morning I wonder if part of its purpose is to be an example of what thanksgiving should look like. Just as The Lord’s Prayer models for me what prayer should look like, I kind of feel like David’s Song of Thanks may be there to model for me what praise should look like.

But as enraptured as I am with the song, it’s the pre-song preparation that’s given me something to chew on.

David has taken a second shot at moving the ark into Jerusalem. The first time was deadly — literally (1Chron. 13). This time, instead of winging it and doing it his way, David ensures it’s done . . . how shall we say? . . . the RIGHT WAY! No one but the Levites were to carry the ark of the God, and this time, no one does. And so, amidst joyous celebration, the place where the glory dwells is carried into Jerusalem by the Levites and set inside the tent that David had pitched for it (1Chron. 15:1-16:1).

And where the glory settles, thanksgiving should be sung.

Then [David] appointed some of the Levites as ministers before the ark of the LORD, to invoke, to thank, and to praise the LORD, the God of Israel. . . . Then on that day David first appointed that thanksgiving be sung to the LORD by Asaph and his brothers.

(1Chronicles 16:4, 7 ESV)

This is when David “first appointed” worship in song. Makes sense then that he might want to provide a model for what such a song might look like. But what I’m chewing on is what seems to be presented as the underling dynamic for such a song: Invoke . . . Thank . . . Praise.

Thanksgiving I’m familiar with. Praise has been a pretty common practice since my earliest days of being a Christ-follower. But invoke? Hmm . . . one of these things doesn’t seem like the others. Will need to noodle on it a bit.

Invoke. At first read, I think that this perhaps refers to invoking the name of the Lord, as in calling upon His name. Could be. Invoke the LORD . . .Thank the LORD . . . Praise the LORD. That works.

But I look up the meaning of the original word behind the English word and it opens up another possibility. To cause to remember. To bring to remembrance. Thus, if that’s how the word might be understand, before you can thank God or praise God you need to invoke the memory of God.

Before the heart is engaged in real worship, I’m wondering if the mind first needs first to be engaged in meaningful remembrance. What we know about God needs to inform what we declare about God. Authentic thanksgiving needs to be grounded in an authentic understanding of His mighty and merciful works. When not grounded in and sourced from an appreciation of who God is and what God has done, praise, just like prayer, can be but “empty phrases” (Matt. 6:7). Thus, substance should be behind our singing.

Invoke, says David. Engage the mind. Recall specific works. Meditate on particular, awesome wonders. Bring to mind, again and again, His forever, precious promises.

Then give thanks. Then freely offer the “sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge His name” (Heb. 13:15). Then sing along with David through the rest of 1 Chronicles 16.

Invoke the memory. Then worship His majesty.

Only by His grace. Only for His glory.