我们从历代志上22章中得知，神不允许大卫王为祂在耶路撒冷建造圣殿，因为他曾经打了多次的仗，流了多人的血。然而他却做了大量的工作，以使他的儿子所罗门，也就是下一个君王能成功完成建造圣殿的工作。大卫预备了大量的金银，还有木材和石头。他也预备好了建造圣殿的工人。
在某些圣经翻译版本中，大卫王被称作“以色列的歌唱者”和“以色列的美歌者”（撒母耳记下 23:1）。他想确保神的百姓在圣殿建成以后仍然继续以诗歌敬拜耶和华，所以他指定了四千利未人来担任颂赞，其中有二百八十八人是善于使用乐器的。
如今，世界各地的教会聚集敬拜神时仍贯彻这个传统。有些使用极好的管风琴和技艺精湛的风琴演奏者，有些使用电子琴、吉他和鼓，还有些教会是喜欢以清唱的方式来赞美神的。无论使用哪种方式，愿你的赞美都是诚挚发自内心的，并充满喜乐。
因为神配得一切赞美，在敬拜中我们都被邀请一同参与，而不是把音乐只留给专业人士。我们也不应只在每周一次的崇拜聚会中赞美神，而应该是， “凡有气息的，都要赞美耶和华。”
父神啊，今天愿我们颂赞祢时，全然呈献我们的心，因为祢配得“尊贵、荣耀和颂赞”！奉耶稣的名祷告，阿们。
历代志上 23:1-5 ; 25:1, 6-7
1 大卫年纪老迈，日子满足，就立他儿子所罗门作以色列的王。
2 大卫招聚以色列的众首领和祭司利未人。
3利未人从三十岁以外的都被数点，他们男丁的数目共有三万八千；
4其中有二万四千人管理耶和华殿的事，有六千人作官长和士师，
5有四千人作守门的，又有四千人用大卫所做的乐器颂赞耶和华。
1大卫和众首领分派亚萨、希幔，并耶杜顿的子孙弹琴、鼓瑟、敲钹、唱歌。他们供职的人数记在下面：
6都归他们父亲指教，在耶和华的殿唱歌、敲钹、弹琴、鼓瑟，办神殿的事务。亚萨、耶杜顿、希幔都是王所命定的。
7他们和他们的弟兄学习颂赞耶和华；善于歌唱的共有二百八十八人。
"Let everything that has breath praise the LORD. Praise the LORD." — Psalm 150:6
In 1 Chronicles 22 we learn that King David was not allowed to build the temple for God in Jerusalem because he had been involved in too much war and bloodshed. Yet he did an enormous amount of work to enable his son Solomon, the next king, to succeed in that task. David provided huge amounts of gold and silver as well as wood and stone. He also prepared workers to build the temple.
King David, who in some Bible translations is called "Israel's singer of songs" and "the sweet psalmist of Israel" (2 Samuel 23:1), wanted to make sure that God's people would continue to worship the Lord in song once the temple was built. So he appointed 4,000 Levites to praise the Lord, of which 288 were skilled in the use of musical instruments.
Churches around the world carry out this tradition today as they gather to worship God. Some use wonderful organs and skilled organists; others use electronic keyboards, guitars, and drums; and still others prefer to use only voices to worship God. Whatever means you use, let your praise be heartfelt and filled with joy and sincerity.
Because God is worthy of all praise, in our worship we are called to join in, not leaving music only to the professionals. Nor should we confine it to church services one day a week. Rather, "Let everything that has breath praise the LORD."
Father God, may we lift up our hearts in praise to you today, for you are worthy to receive "honor and glory and praise!" (Revelation 5:12). Amen.
诵读: 楚云
片头: 张妙阳
