The Tabernacle of David
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"In that day (the latter days) will I raise up the Tabernacle of David
that is fallen, and close up the breaches thereof; and
I will raise up his ruins, and I will build it as in the days of old." Amos 9:11
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Some background is necessary to understand what the Tabernacle of David
was, and what it will be.
God's Holy Presence
In the beginning, Adam and Eve were with
God in the Garden of Eden. Their fellowship with Him
and their access into His presence was unhindered.
After Adam and Eve sinned, God put them out of the
Garden (Genesis 2 and 3). Man could no longer enjoy
God's presence. Man could no longer walk in the
holiness of God. Fellowship with God had been
broken. To walk in God's presence, fellowship with God
needed to be restored.
The Holy of Holies
After some time God instructed Moses to build a
Tabernacle. Within the Tabernacle there was a special
place called the Holy of Holies. God told Moses to
build the Ark of His Covenant with the Mercy
Seat.
The
Tabernacle
of Moses
This Ark was placed in the Holy of Holies and God's
Presence rested on the Ark (Exodus 35-39). God
prescribed that the High Priest was to enter the Holy
of Holies once a year, on the Day of Atonement, to
make sacrifice for the atonement of Israel's sins
(Leviticus 16, especially verse 34). This was the only
time during the year that anyone could come to the
Ark. What a change from God's original purpose in the Garden of Eden!
During one of its wars with the Philistines, Israel
took the Ark into battle with them, in hopes of having
better success. The Philistines captured the Ark, but
God punished them so severely that they returned the
Ark to Israel after seven months. It finally came to
rest in Kirjathjearim in the house of Abinadab. There
it rested for 20 years (I Samuel 4 to 7). During this
time, the Holy of Holies in the Tabernacle of Moses
was empty!
The
Tabernacle
of
David
When David became King over all Israel, he captured
Jerusalem, and determined to bring the Ark there. David did not use the prescribed method of transport, and God killed Uzza for touching the Ark. The Ark was placed in the house of Obededom and remained there for three months. During that time David found the proper
way to transport the Ark. With much praise, worship,
and sacrificing, he brought the Ark to Jerusalem.
According to the Law of Moses, David should have
returned the Ark to the Holy of Holies in the
Tabernacle of Moses that was on Mount Gilboa, but he
did not. Rather,he made another Tabernacle on Mount Zion and placed the Ark in it (I Chronicles 13 to 16). This came to be known as the Tabernacle
of
David.
David appointed singers and musicians to worship and prophesy with instruments before the Ark. He appointed enough so that they were there in the presence of God, worshiping and prophesying 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 52 weeks a year for all the time that David was King. I Chronicles 25 sets forth details of the prophetic worship in David'sTabernacle.
Some of the sons of Asaph, Heman, & Jeduthun were set apart for the ministry of prophesying, accompanied by harps, lyres, & cymbals. These men were under the supervision of their fathers for the music of the temple of the Lord, and under King David's authority. There were 24 groups of 12 musicians (a total of 288) who were set apart to provide prophetic worship, thanks, and praise to God. Each group had its own hour, every day for 30 years. All were in service, both the gifted and the beginner. During this time there do not appear to have been any restrictions on anyone's visiting the Tabernacle
of
David
God's Presence was freely available there to all who wished to come - as it was in the Garden of Eden. David had the revelation that praise and worship attracted the Presence of God (Psalm 22:3). So, he made sure that there was constant praise and worship. It was also in this atmosphere that David received many of the Psalms that were recorded.
The
Ark
Moved
To Solomon's
Temple
Sad to say, this free access to the Presence of God lasted just a short time. David's son, Solomon built the first Temple in Jerusalem, and moved the Ark to the Holy of Holies there. Once again, the Presence of God was only accessible by one man, once a year.
In Amos 9:11 we read, "In that day (the latter days) will I raise up the Tabernacle
of
David
that is fallen, and close up the breaches thereof; and I will raise up his ruins, and I will build it as in the days of old."
This is again mentioned in Acts 15:16-17 to include the Gentiles who have turned to God, also. While this undoubtedly refers to the restoration of Israel in the last days, it is believed that it also refers to the restoration of Davidic, prophetic worship in the last days; singing and playing instruments, according to the instruction of the Lord.
Over the centuries, God has led men to establish 24-hour worship and intercession. For example, in 555 Comgal instituted 24-hour worship at Bangor, Ireland. It continued for 250 years and resulted in one of the most successful missionary thrusts in church history. Also, in 1727, a continual prayer meeting began among the Moravians at Herrnhut that would last for over 100 years. They believed that even as the fire on the altar of the Temple never ceased to burn, so also should the prayers of the saints continually rise to God as a sweet savor. The undergirding of this prayer meeting instilled in the Moravians a fervent zeal to see the Gospel taken to the ends of the earth, and they sent many to the mission field.
Restoration
of
the
Tabernacle
of
David
Now, in these last days, according to the Word of God, the Tabernacle
of
David
is going to be restored. As it was in David's time, once again God's people will have free access to His Presence. Wherever the people of God gather to minister to God in worship and praise, He will be pleased to come in His mighty presence to meet with them. We have learned that just to be in His presence brings healing, deliverance, and salvation. When He comes in manifest presence, we receive from Him easily. I also believe that there will be places all over the earth, like Bangor and Herrnhut in times past, where "Tabernacles of David" will be lifting
up worship to God 24 hours a day, every day. It will be such that God's people, no matter where they live, will have convenient access to such a place. They will be able to go and be refreshed in His Presence.
In fact, we are already hearing of such places in many cities. Amen - may it be so, Oh Lord!
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