In brief
Asaph is a Levite whom David appoints chief of the singers before the ark of the covenant in Jerusalem. He sounds the cymbals and leads the praise with his brothers. Twelve psalms bear his name, Psalm 50 and Psalms 73 to 83. Psalm 73 tells of his crisis of faith over the prosperity of the wicked, and of the peace he found in God's sanctuary; Psalm 78 passes the people's history on to the children. His descendants, the sons of Asaph, are still singing when the exiles return. He is remembered as a sincere worshiper who tells God his doubts.
What does the name Asaph mean?
Asaph is a Hebrew name generally linked to a verb meaning "to gather" or "to collect." The Bible does not comment on this meaning. David's singer must be told apart from other men of the same name, such as the keeper of the Persian king's forest in Nehemiah 2:8.
The story of Asaph
Chief of the singers before the ark
1 Chronicles 16:1-7When the ark is set in the tent David pitched, the king assigns Levites to minister before it, to invoke, thank and praise Yahweh. Asaph is the chief and sounds the cymbals. “Then on that day David first ordained to give thanks to Yahweh, by the hand of Asaph and his brothers.”
The song of the ark's day
1 Chronicles 16:8-36The psalm entrusted to Asaph that day calls people to praise Yahweh, tell his wonders among the nations and remember his covenant with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. It declares that “all the gods of the peoples are idols, but Yahweh made the heavens,” and proclaims: “Oh give thanks to Yahweh, for he is good, for his loving kindness endures forever.”
A continual service
1 Chronicles 16:37David leaves Asaph and his brothers before the ark of the covenant “to minister before the ark continually,” as every day's work required. Praise is not kept for great festivals: it becomes a daily ministry in God's house, entrusted to Asaph and his family.
The foot that almost slipped
Psalm 73:1-16In Psalm 73, Asaph admits: “my feet were almost gone. My steps had nearly slipped.” He envied the arrogant when he saw the prosperity of the wicked, proud and violent, yet always at ease. He came to wonder whether he had kept his heart pure in vain. Thinking it over alone gave him no light.
Peace found in the sanctuary
Psalm 73:17-28Everything changes when Asaph enters God's sanctuary and considers the final end of the wicked. He admits he was senseless, like a beast before God. Then he confesses: “Whom do I have in heaven? There is no one on earth whom I desire besides you.” God is the strength of his heart and his portion forever; drawing near to him is his good.
Passing it on to the children
Psalm 78:1-8Psalm 78 is a song of Asaph that tells the people's history to teach the coming generation. What the fathers told, “We will not hide them from their children,” so that they would put their trust in God, not forget his works, and not be, like their fathers, a rebellious generation whose heart was not steadfast.
Test your knowledge
What Asaph teaches us
- Your praise counts on ordinary days too: Asaph served before the ark day by day, not only at great festivals.
- You may tell God that your feet almost slipped; Asaph's psalms leave room for honest doubt.
- When the prosperity of the wicked troubles you, enter God's presence: that is where your view is set right again.
- Tell children what God has done; faith is handed on when we do not hide its story from the next generation.
Key verses
Asaph's confession after his crisis: nothing in heaven or on earth compares to God, the strength of his heart and his portion, even when his flesh and heart fail.
The day the ark enters the tent, David for the first time entrusts the praise of Yahweh to Asaph and his brothers: the start of a ministry of song that his descendants will carry on.
Asaph refuses to hide from the children the praises of Yahweh, his strength and his wondrous deeds. Passing on the faith is at the heart of his song.
Bible verses to meditate on
Sermons about Asaph
- Set Your Eyes on the Right PlaceThe preacher presents Asaph as a Levite and worship leader who opens his private journal in Psalm 73: his crisis of faith came from fixing his attention on the wicked until he could no longer stop looking at them.
- 1 Chronicles 15: The Worshiper Who Longs for God's PresenceIn this reading of 1 Chronicles 15, the preacher dwells on the singers David appoints for the ark's ascent to Jerusalem: the text names Heman, Asaph and Ethan among those who lead the praise.
Frequently asked questions
Why did Asaph almost lose his faith?
He tells it himself in Psalm 73: he envied the arrogant when he saw the prosperity of the wicked, who seemed to escape all suffering and thrive in their pride. He wondered whether he had kept his heart pure in vain. His peace returned when he entered God's sanctuary and considered the final end of the wicked (Psalm 73:17).
What does the name Asaph mean?
Asaph is a Hebrew name generally linked to a verb meaning "to gather" or "to collect." The Bible gives no explanation of it. The name is also borne by other men, including the keeper of King Artaxerxes' forest who supplied timber to Nehemiah (Nehemiah 2:8), not to be confused with David's singer.
Where can I find the story of Asaph in the Bible?
Asaph appears in the books of Chronicles, notably in 1 Chronicles 15 and 16, where David appoints him chief of the singers before the ark, and in 1 Chronicles 25, which organizes the singers' service. His name stands in the title of Psalm 50 and Psalms 73 to 83. Ezra 2:41 and 3:10 mention the sons of Asaph at the return from exile.