January 11, 2026, Sunday School Lesson

Worshipping God in His Sanctuary

Lesson Text: 1 Chronicles 16:23-33

Related Scriptures: 1 Chronicles 16:1-7; Psalm 19:1-6; 96:1-13; 145:1-21; Revelation 7:9-12

TIME: about 977 B.C.

PLACE: Jerusalem

Golden Text “let the heavens be glad and let the earth rejoice; and let men say among the nations, The Lord reigneth” (1 chronicles 16:31).

LESSON OUTLINE

1. THE CALL TO PROCLAIM THE LORD – 1Chr. 16:23-29a

2. THE CALL TO WORSHIP THE LORD - 1 Chr. 16:29b-30

3. THE CALL TO REJOICE IN THE LORD – 1 Chr. 16:31-33

QUESTIONS

1. What was the first reason the Chronicler gave that the Lord should be praised?

2. What forgotten principle did the Chronicler remind the people of?

3. What did the Chronicler say about the gods of the nations?

4. What reasons did he give to encourage the people to proclaim the Lord’s greatness?

5. What was the historical background of the Chronicler’s readers?

6. What was the first element of worship the Chronicler encouraged?

7. How are worshippers called to approach the Lord?

8. What is the proper attitude of worship?

9. What scope did the Chronicler picture for the Lord’s worship?

10. Even though Israel no longer had the ark, what truth did the Chronicler remind the people of?

ANSWERS

1. The first reason to praise God is simple. The Lord should be proclaimed because He is able and willing to save His people from both physical and spiritual calamity.

2. Next, the Chronicler urged the people to follow a principle that had been emphasized in the past but apparently had been forgotten. God’s glory, displayed in His work of creation, was destined to be declared among every nation, not just among the Israelites (Isa. 66:19-24

3. The Chronicler warned the people that the gods of the nations, in contrast with the one true God, were powerless to perform even the smallest act of deliverance (cf. 1 Chr. 16:25-26; 2 Chr. 14:11-15). The false gods were not only incapable of saving anyone, they were also absolutely impotent in the realm of creation. The Chronicler described the false idols of the day as utterly powerless, vain, and worthless (1Chr. 16:26).

4. The Chronicler encouraged the people to faithfully spread the news about the Lord because of His works of salvation and creation, and because He alone is worthy of such praise.

5. Recall that the people had just returned from years of captivity at the hand of the conquering Babylonians (cf. 2 Chr. 36:22-23). By the time Chronicles were written, the altar and the temple had most likely been rebuilt; however, temple worship had apparently stalled due to the sin of the people (cf. Ezra 9; Neh. 13:15-31).

6. First, the people were instructed to bring an offering and come before Him (vs. 29).

7. Those approaching the Lord to worship Him must also be dressed for the part, so to speak. They are to worship the Lord in the splendor of holiness (vs. 29).

8. Finally, those who seek to worship God by bringing an offering to Him must do so with an attitude of reverence and fear.

9. Amazingly, the Chronicler did not stop there. After calling all the families of the earth to rejoice in the Lord, he likewise commanded all the created order to sing praises to Him. The end goal is that everyone and everything – including the heavens, the earth, the sea, the fields, and even the trees – will joyously adore the one true God, who alone created all, who alone can save, and who alone ultimately comes to judge the earth.