Songs and Mission – Part 2, praising God before the nations
The promise that God would bless all peoples and nations on earth through Abraham’s offspring (Genesis 12:2-3; 18:18-19) was embraced in the understanding and songs of the Israelites during the kingdom period. The Israelites were to maintain their relationship with Yahweh in the Promised Land. As they continued to obey him, they would experience his blessings. The nations would wonder who the god was whom they served and the Israelites were to point the peoples to Yahweh.
The Psalms are a collection of songs sung by the Israelites in worship from the time period in which the kings ruled. As reflected in the Psalms, the Israelites knew Yahweh as righteous, just, merciful, compassionate, loving, and faithful.
God promised to David that his son would build the temple. The temple symbolized that God chose Israel to be his people and he chose to dwell among them. It reminded them of God’s covenantal and unique relationship with them, which included their deliverance from Egypt (Exodus 6:6-8; 19:4-6) and part of the covenant with Abraham (Genesis 12:1-3).
David believed that God’s promise to establish David’s family forever on the throne of Israel was part of the fulfillment of the promises with Abraham and the Israelites. David was selected as God’s chosen king, as the Israelites were selected as God’s chosen people. Through this kingship, God would protect and bless them forever. He would use Israel to demonstrate to the other nations his love, holiness, and sovereignty so that all people would know and worship him.
After Saul failed to worship God alone and attempted to control God’s mission, God chose a new king for Israel. This time it was someone after God’s own heart. In the Hebrew understanding, the heart was the seat of the will; therefore, God’s will was David’s will. David understood that God’s will was for all of creation to know and worship him (1 Chronicles 16:23-36). David served God and relied on the daily strength the Lord gave him, not his own. Recorded in the scriptures are descriptions of his righteousness, justice, faithfulness, obedience, and his conversations and intimacy with God.