The Tabernacle of David #7

  What was the Tabernacle of David? 

It was "things not as seen yet" with the
Ark of the Covenant
for "the Church in the
wilderness"
________

When the Church in the wilderness (Acts.7:38) arrived at Mount Sinai, God wanted to "dwell among" them. (Exod.25:8) In order for God to dwell among them, He required a structure called the Tabernacle. (Exod.25-40) Review Phase 4. The Tabernacle itself had two rooms, the Holy Place and the Most  Holy Place. 
(Exod.26:31-35) God dwelt in the Most Holy Place upon the Ark of the Covenant. (Exod.25:10-22) The Ark of the Covenant was the reason (the purpose) for having a high priest and a priesthood, for having sacrifice and offerings, for the order of how Israel camped around the Tabernacle. This structure was so important, that the "stranger that cometh nigh" would "be put to death."  (Num.1:51;3:38) If the priest failed to wash his hands and his feet in the laver, before he ministered before the Lord, he would be put to death. (Exod.30:17-21) Aarons two sons died because they offered strange fire before the Lord. (Lev.10:1-2) Ministering unto the Lord, "who dwelleth between the Cherubims, above the mercy seat," is serious business! The same is true today around the true Tabernacle which the Lord pitched and not man. (Heb.8:1-5;9:1-26) Review Phase 4. The pattern was that the Ark of the Covenant would  lead Israel from the time they left Sinai, until resting in Solomon's Temple. With this in mind, follow Israel's journey as they left Sinai to go towards the promised land. (Review Phase 2)


The leading of the Ark of the Covenant  ( A type, a shadow, a model) of
the Lord Jesus Christ)      
Paul, the wise masterbuilder (1Cor.3:10) wrote that Jesus is "a propitiation through faith in His blood" (Rom.3:25) This same Greek word is translated mercy seat in Heb.9:5. Atonement was made on the mercy seat once a year with blood, for the Nation of Israel's sin. (Lev.16:1-34, Heb.9:1-26) 

 1   It was the only place of Atonement.(John.14:6) From above the blood stained mercy seat was the only place where God's voice was heard in "all things" concerning the children of Israel. (Heb.10:22, 1Tim.2:5, Eph.1:22-23)

 2   The Ark of the Covenant lead Israel on their journey. (Num.10:13,33-36) John.10:27, John.16:12-13) Wherever the Ark was there was victory.(Num.14:1-45,v.34, Josh.3:1-17, 2Cor.2:14) What the Ark was to the Church in the wilderness, the Lord Jesus Christ is the the Church today.


The Ark lead Israel from Sinai to Shiloh (Num.10:33 - Josh 18:1)
The "Church in the wilderness"(Acts.7:38) left Sinai and travelled through the wilderness and eventually into the land under Joshua.(Num.10:33-Joshua.24) 

 1   When they arrived at "Shiloh" (Josh.18:1) the Tabernacle of Moses and all it's vessels stopped, including the Ark of the Covenant.

 2   [This was a temporarily stop] because the Bible tells us that the Ark moved on to David's Tabernacle (1Chron.15:1 "tent"/ cloth hut)) and then to Solomon's Temple, where the staves were drawn out, and the Ark journeyed no more. (2Chron.5:9 / Exod.25:15) Review Phase 2


While at Shiloh the Ark of the Covenant was taken by the Philistines 
(1Sam.4-6) After entering the land the children of Israel did not possess all the land, (Judges.2:1-11) and "every man did that which was right in his own eyes. (Judges,21:25) The Priesthood was corrupt (1Sam.2:11-17) in the Tabernacle at Shiloh, and "men abhorred the offering of the Lord." (1Sam.2:17) This "wickedness" brought God's judgment, (1Sam.2:27-36, Jer.7:12) upon Israel, and the Ark of the Covenant was taken captive by the Philistines. (1Sam.4:1-11) "But the hand of the Lord was heavy upon them..."(1Sam.5-6:1-18) and the Ark was returned.


The Philistines release the Ark of the Covenant (1Sam.6:1-18)   
When the Ark returned to the people of God, 50,070 men died because "they looked into the Ark of the Lord." (1Sam.6:19-21) Therefore, Israel left the Ark at Kirjathjearim (1Sam.7:1-2) and did not enquire of it for twenty years.(1Sam.7:2. 1Chron.13:3) During this time Saul became the first king of Israel, (1Sam.8-10) but was rejected because of he "rejected the Word of the Lord."(1Sam.13-15) Now David becomes king!


David brings the Ark of the Covenant back and  places it in a NEW place(1Chron.15:1) When David became king he said,"let us bring again the ark of our God to us."  (1Chron.12:38;13:3) "So David gathered all all Israel together...And they carried the Ark of God" back with great rejoicing.(1Chron.13:5-14) When they returned, "David prepared a place for the ark of God, and pitched for it a tent." (i.e. a cloth hut, Tabernacle) However, he did not return the ark to the Tabernacle (tent) of Moses which was at Shiloh. (1Chron.15:1, Josh.18:1-2) This was "things not as seen yet!" [Note: David was not judged by God for doing this, in fact later David said, "All this the Lord showed me to understand in writing with His hand upon me."- 1Chron.28:19] David had God's blessing. [This would be a temporary stop also for the Ark] Now under David's rule, there are two Tabernacles functioning together. The Tabernacle of Moses in Shiloh (Mt. Gibeon) and the Tabernacle of David in the city of David, Jerusalem (Mt. Zion)


David makes the Ark of the Covenant available to the Levities
(1Chron.15:14-29;16:16) Before the reign of David the Ark was kept in the Most Holy Place, and only the high priest could could enter there once a year. (Review Phase 4) The priests were responsible for offering the sacrifices,(Lev.1:5;2:2;3:2;4:5;5:6) and the Levities were responsible for the taking down, transporting and setting up the Tabernacle. (Num.1-4) Now David is making a change for the Levities. (i.e. expanding, or giving a greater understanding of how to maintain the presence of God) 1Chron.23:25-26,30. Instead of the Levities taking down, transporting and setting up the Tabernacle of Moses, they were to "maintain" or house the presence of God through their praise and worship. (Psalm.21:3) Now there is the Tabernacle (tent) of Moses and the Tabernnacle (tent) of David with the Ark of the Covenant. Now the "Ark of God the Lord that dwelleth between the cherubims" was not exclusive to the high priest, but available to the Levities and the priests. (1Chron.16:37)

           A brief summary of the Tabernacle of David            
It is the availabilty of God's presence to all while worshipping by singing and being
accompanied by stringed, wind and percussion instruments.

       The Prophets Amos said the Tabernacle of David will be built again (Amos.9:11-12)     

Where does this happen? Apply the pattern given in Phase 6 of our series. It did not happen while Amos was alive.(Amos.1:1-2, 1Chron.12:38-2Chron.31) It did not between Amos and the Babylonian capivity. It did not happen in the captivity. It did not happen after the 70 year captivity. It did not happen during the 400 year silence between the Old and New Testaments. Now, Amos.9:11-12 comes through the Cross! [Remember: What Amos said must take place between the Cross and the Second Coming. It cannot go through into the Millenium. (Acts.3:19-21, Rev.10:7, Rev.11:15)

  The apostle James interprets the Tabernacle of David into the New Testament Church (Acts.15:1-16)   

After the death, burial and resurrection of Christ, the disciples were to wait in Jerusalem for "the promise of the Father."(Acts.1:1-4, Acts.2:1-17) the Baptism in the Holy Ghost. The purpose of God was that they would be witnessess unto Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and to the uttermost part of the earth. (Acts.1:8) Instead they stayed at Jerusalem.(Acts.2-11) Review Phase 2. Therefore God allowed persecution over Stephen, and spread the Church anyway. (Acts.7-11:19) Next, the Samaritans recieved the Word, (Acts.8:5-17) then the Gentiles recieved the Word. (Acts.10:1-48;14:1-28) This caused a great commotion in the Church, and the apostles and elders came together "for to consider this matter." (Acts.15:1-7) It was at this meeting that the apostles James, infallibliy interpreted Amos.9:11-12. He said, "to this (i.e. the Jew and the Gentile being reconcilled together in Christ) agree the words of the prophets; (Amos.9:11-19, Isa.16:5) as it is wriiten, After this I will return and I will build again the Tabernacle (cloth hut) of David." What David did typically is a picture, a model of the New Testament Church. Through Jesus, we are made a royal priesthood. (1Peter.2:5-9, Heb.13:15) We have access to God's throne. (Heb.10:19, Heb.4:16) We are to worship according to the pattern that God gave David.(1Cor.14:26, Eph.5:19, Col.3:16)

   Now look at the blueprint (Phase 2) 
Solomon's Temple followed after David's Tabernacle

The apostle Paul uses this blueprint. He said "For this cause" (the cause that we are being built a holy Temple - Eph.2:11-22) God had made known unto him the mystery of Christ, that the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, of the same body, partakers of His promise in Christ, (Eph.3:1-12) the Tabernacle of David.

   Whenever you see Jew and Gentile together in the epistles, think Tabernacle of David.  

There is no record  proclaiming where the first century Church attained to a completed Temple.
They only attained to David's Tabernacle, and went into a spiritual decline. (Review Phase 2) It is though they turned around in the land and went back to Egypt. (The Dark Ages)

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Other thoughts