“And David and all Israel played before God with all their might, and with singing, and with harps, and with psalteries, and with timbrels, and with cymbals, and with trumpets.”
My Notes
What Does 1 Chronicles 13:8 Mean?
"And David and all Israel played before God with all their might, and with singing, and with harps, and with psalteries, and with timbrels, and with cymbals, and with trumpets." The Chronicler's account of transporting the ark to Jerusalem emphasizes the worship: David and all Israel worshipped with everything they had — "all their might" — and with every instrument available. The list is comprehensive: singing, harps, psalteries (lyres), timbrels (drums), cymbals, and trumpets. Every category of musical expression is deployed.
The phrase "all their might" echoes Deuteronomy's command to love God with all your might (Deuteronomy 6:5). David's worship isn't reserved or measured. It's full capacity — physical, musical, emotional, communal. The whole nation at full volume.
Reflection Questions
- 1.What does 'all your might' worship look like for you — and when was the last time you did it?
- 2.Why do we tend to worship at a fraction of our capacity rather than holding nothing back?
- 3.What would change in your worship life if you stopped protecting your dignity?
- 4.How does the comprehensiveness of the instruments (every category of sound) challenge minimalist approaches to worship?
Devotional
All their might. Not some of it. Not the appropriate amount. All of it. David and all of Israel worshipping God with everything in them and every instrument they could carry.
The list of instruments is meant to be overwhelming: singing, harps, lyres, drums, cymbals, trumpets. Every category of sound. Every tool for making music. Nothing held back. The worship isn't a carefully curated set list performed by a worship team while the congregation watches. It's an entire nation making noise together with all their might.
"All their might" is the key phrase. It connects to the Shema: love the LORD your God with all your heart, soul, and might. The might isn't metaphorical. It's physical. It's the kind of worship that leaves you exhausted — because you held nothing in reserve. David will later dance before the ark until his wife despises him for it. This is worship that doesn't protect its dignity.
Most of us worship at about fifteen percent capacity. We sing softly enough that nobody around us can hear. We stand with our hands at our sides. We maintain enough composure that nobody would mistake us for someone who actually means it. And David says: all their might. Everything. Every instrument. Every voice. Every ounce of physical energy directed at the God who deserves it.
The question isn't whether your worship is the right style. It's whether it's at full capacity. Whatever your style — quiet contemplation, exuberant singing, tearful prayer — are you doing it with all your might? Or are you holding back?
Commentary
Trusted original commentary from respected historical Bible scholars and theologians.
Here is, I. David's pious proposal to bring up the ark of God to Jerusalem, that the royal city might be the holy city,…
played The Heb. word means to sport, to dance(cp. 1Ch 15:29).
with alltheir might, and with singing A better reading…
Cross References
Related passages throughout Scripture